Idaho Christmas

 A second consecutive Christmas in Challis, Idaho.  Some highlights:

• After a four-hour drive from Hailey airport, I arrived just as my nephew Jesse was being given his present early -- a small, extremely lively kitten.  Beige in color, or "champagne" as Jesse suggested.  After some discussion, he will retain the name his temporary foster people had given him -- "Leif," after Leif Erikson.  Leif was the star of the holidays, much to the dismay and jealousy of older resident border collie Molly.
• Temperatures dipped to the 10-15 degree (-12 to -9.5 C.) level each night.
• Snow was on the ground everywhere, although the roads were good, when I arrived.  We had a heavy snow on December 24.
• Walks in the deep snow around Kathy and Andy's property.
• On-going project by Jesse and Andy to film life on the Challis property.  This included video scenes of one of their horses dragging downed limbs to the site of a future bonfire.
• Decision to cancel the planned Christmas bonfire, because of inclement weather and temperatures.
• Visit overnight by Santa, rewarding all of us young girls and boys.
• Watching "A Christmas Story," for the nth time.  "I triple dog dare you!"
• Hauling in wood for a continuous fire in their enormous stone fireplace.  Staring at the fire in a trance, a primordial experience originating with the cave men.
• Gazing at the snowy hills surrounding the Challis Creek Valley.
• Discovering that neighbors in some places still arrive unannounced with Christmas cookies and a few minutes of chatting. 

A brief visit, but an enjoyable one, in a far different climate -- weather and social -- than my home in Seattle.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!