We have done no Christmas-season decorating here at the House of Saxman and it feels a little weird that the Big Holiday itself is just a couple days away. Still, yesterday was the burner-triangle neighborhood Christmas Crawl, and we’re driving down to California tomorrow, so holiday-time it must be.

My unusually large immediate family have all rented a cabin together up near Lake Tahoe. We’ll be piling in for three days with all of our significant others. Since many of us now have second families to celebrate with, the big family gathering is rolled back a day late.

We’re all chipping in one dish or another for the various meals. I just finished stemming and stuffing five and a half pounds of mushrooms – one batch with crab and green onion, the other with spinach and herbs. Such an amazing pile of food! It’d keep Ava and me satisfied for a week, but it’s just one side dish for one dinner for the whole group.

Well, I’ve done this drive more times than I can remember, so I’m sure it’ll go by quickly. I probably won’t post much until New Year’s, so… hope you’re all having a good holiday yourselves, and I’ll see you in 2013.