A 2008 Merry Christams greeting

[nissanneill]

Hi fellow forum members,
I thought that I would get in early and wish you all a safe, fulfilling and Merry Christmas, from those of us "down under".
It is overcast and raining here at the moment but the forecast for our Christmas day is 'HOT'!
I hope that you all get what you want from Santa, (and if you don't, then there's probably a very good reason), so go out and buy it for yourself.
I'm putting in or a commercial dough mixer and will get one prior to the day.
All the very best

Neill

[Archena]

Re: A 2008 Merry Christams greeting

Merry Christmas to you as well! The forecast here is for wet and cold. But at least the white stuff isn't supposed to get down this far. Snow is evil, just so you know.

Santa's bringing me Lasik surgery for Christmas. I'm hoping for a food processor, too.

[egalecki]

Re: A 2008 Merry Christams greeting

Oooh. I had Lasik several years ago. Best insane amount of money I ever spent. No glasses. No steamed up glasses. No rained on glasses. No trying to find sunglasses you can wear with your glasses. No forgetting that you don't have your regular glasses with you, so you have to shop in the dark with your prescription sunglasses on. No contacts to lose, tear, run out of or forget to take out or get hair under, or dust under. The list is endless.

I need sunglasses now more than I used to- but now I can wear the cheap ones, so I just have a pair of cheapos in all the cars and I have a good pair in my purse. I'm getting close to the age of needing reading glasses, but I'd have needed them at some point anyway. Now I can get some cool looking ones instead of having bifocals!

As I'm sure you can tell, I'm delighted with my choice- I hope your surgery goes well.

Merry Christmas to all! We're supposed to have normal temps right now, which probably means no snow. Who made up this "white Christmas" stuff anyway???

[sarah h]

Re: A 2008 Merry Christams greeting

If it's not looking "White Christmas"-y where you are, it sure is here - unseasonably cold too - minus 21C here this morning! Photo below is my poor (still-not-finished) oven last night; think I may be doing mostly indoor baking for the foreseeable future ...

I would LOVE to have Lasik surgery but my ophthalmologist tells me I can't due to a thin cornea so I'm stuck with the glasses as I can't wear contacts either. Archena and Elizabeth, I'm highly envious!

Anyway, Merry Christmas to all!

Sarah

[egalecki]

Re: A 2008 Merry Christams greeting

wow Sarah, that's a lot of snow (for us, at least). I have found that if I'm forced to bake inside, using two racks with baking stones (or in my case, one baking stone and one rack of unglazed quarry tiles) works ok. Not perfect, and I swear it takes nearly as long to heat up as my wfo, but if it's nasty out, I've resorted to it. It doesn't get as hot as the wfo, but using the tiles both above and below gives me a pretty good crust and color. I use a small cast iron pan and hot water for the steam.

I had to do this yesterday after I got stuck at the barn too long to get the wfo heated up before having to go to a basketball game... dh can heat up the oven, but I haven't asked him to fire up the wfo yet! He's not nearly the pyro I am...

Thanks for the snowy pictures. I don't know if I want snow here or not... I can drive in it fine (used to live in Northern Ill. and Indiana) but all the other idiots out there scare me! They seem to think that 4 wheel drive means they can go as fast as they want... but it doesn't guarantee stopping!

[Jed]

Re: A 2008 Merry Christams greeting

And a Happy Holidays to all...

We had our first snow last night... Finally!

We like the snow and live about 20 minute drive from a great ski hill, and lots of cross country skiing and snow shoeing near by.. All good.

It helps to keep access to a good hot tub and sauna!

JED

[Archena]

Re: A 2008 Merry Christams greeting

Thanks for the encouragement of Elizabeth. I'm really looking forward to it.

Don't be too envious Sarah. I'm already old enough that I'll still need reading glasses. And from what I've read and what they're telling me the procedures are changing, who knows maybe sometime in the future they'll be able to do it for you.

Snow is evil. White Christmas is a marketing ploy invented by Courier and Ives.

Merry Christmas everyone!

[nissanneill]

Re: A 2008 Merry Christams greeting

Well, it is now 7:25 Christmas morning and all is quiet.
We are expecting a 32˚C clear skies.
But that will change in an hour or so when we meet the rest of the family and children for breakfast.
I am looking forward to it.
I wish you all a very Merry and Safe Christmas, I know you have all been good and I hope that you all receive your Christmas goodies.

Merry Christmas!!!! Ho Ho Ho from down under.


Neill

[egalecki]

Re: A 2008 Merry Christams greeting

Merry Christmas, Neill.

I hope everyone has a wonderful day- eat too much, and have a wonderful time with friends and family!

[Dutchoven]

Re: A 2008 Merry Christams greeting

Thank you all, everyone, for your comradeship(is that a word?)and best wishes for a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year 2009.
Drink to all the good food, great friends and ever increasing great oven builds!
Dutchoven and Becca

[james]

Re: A 2008 Merry Christams greeting

Thanks for the friendship, all the great ovens and the great food, and everyone's wonderful sense of help, community and cooperation.

Happy Christmas and best wishes for a 2009 full of friends and family.
Auguri,
James

[Frances]

Re: A 2008 Merry Christams greeting

Happy Christmas everybody! Its great knowing you all...

May your ovens always be hot and your beer always be cold.
May your crusts be crisp and your pizzas plentiful.
May you and your families be happy and safe.

[Archena]

Re: A 2008 Merry Christmas greeting

Merry Christmas!
A wonderful holiday to you and yours!
God bless!

[Les]

Re: A 2008 Merry Christams greeting

Merry Christmas all!

It's 7:31 AM, didn't get a whole lot of snow, but it is a white Xmas (for what that is worth).

Les...

[nissanneill]

Re: A 2008 Merry Christams greeting

Good one Les,
you enjoy mate, (although they seem to be coming way too fast these days),
but ours is over and was a lovely spotted cloud 32˚C day. What we call shorts and T-shirt weather.
The best thing that I got yesterday was the message that another grandchild is on it's way! The way it's going over here, I will have 4 grandchildren next Christmas (as I only have 2 15/16ths at the moment).
All the very best.

Neill