Santa has come early to Hillmomba.
Farmer H has a standing order to assist Santa on the first Saturday in December. The Parents As Teachers program at a nearby school district has tapped him ever since our boys were PAT age. That's a considerable long time.
Farmer H Santa has already purchased the gifts he hands out from his tote sack. He even splurged on a new suit a couple years back, and silkier whiskers. He has an antique pair of glasses to perch upon his nose. If ever a man was meant to assist Santa, it is Farmer H. Though he might not be good in the kitchen, or behind the wheel, or eloquent in the speech department...he makes one good Santa's helper.
The Pony helped our celebrity-about-the-Mansion today in decorating the grounds for the upcoming holiday. Of course the strands of lights are left up year round. What kind of Hillbillies do you think we are? Yes, they're clipped onto the gutters and soffits, connected to a light switch in the garage. No Chevy Chase in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation for us. I don't flip off the garage light at the moment Farmer H Santa puts two plugs together. We could display our lights in July during fireworks if we desired.
The guys also set up the plastic Santa and red candles on the front porch, decorations that used to grace my Grandma's front porch when I was a kid. Sentimental, not flashy. They're fine by me. Farmer H Santa also has big balls. He didn't, until I gave him some. They came from Big Lots. To hang on the big cedar tree next to where the #1 son and The Pony park their trucks.
As far as I know, not a drop of blood was spilled today. Unusual for a decorating session. The Pony is thin-skinned, and used to break a bulb into his palm every year. Now that the lights stay up, with only those lining the section of white fence out front needing to be strung each year, I suppose he has grown tougher.
Tomorrow is faculty meeting first Monday, so I imagine The Pony and I will see the lights of downtown Hillmomba adorning our path on the way home. If Farmer H Santa beats us to the Mansion in a rush to prepare for his bowling league, we may also see Farmer H Santa's own handiwork greeting us as we cruise down the driveway.
I really need to hop to shopping. Tomorrow is Cyber Monday, right?
Sounds like you country folks are going to be all gussied up with yard decorations.
ReplyDeleteHere in BigCityland, we just glue some glitter around the bullet holes in our houses.
Making things shiny always adds to the festive feelings...
Sioux,
ReplyDeleteWell, you have better raw material to work with. Out here, the neighbors mostly just THREATEN to shoot Farmer H. Except those boys. They shot the roof of his cabin, with him inside. It's hard to decorate up on the roof.