Getting ready for the holidays

Met a young father of 4 small children this morning so I could show him how to find the cabin. Once again I'll be hosting a few "Santa Hunts" before Christmas. Parents with their small children take a hike after dark in the woods and 'find' a cabin where Santa is sleeping in a rocker by the fire. The children get to come inside and sit on Santa's lap while rocking in front of a fire. Pretty magical if I do say so myself. Wish I could share the experience with more but unfortunately it is by exception and only a few get to experience this special arrangement.

Still amazed how much light is generated by LED bulbs. Being off the grid, its important to have low wattage loads and at Christmas, it is great they now make these for trees and trim.

Tree is up and the cabin is decked out.

Picture from 2012 and the Santa hunts at the cabin

Dinner for 2 with a window seat

Cabin is ready for the holidays

A stocking for each of my 3 kids

Took the deer mount down so as not to scare the kids. Santa didn't kill a reindeer

Ready for the big guy

Busy days at the cabin

Posts on this blog clearly run behind and are failing to document all the activities ongoing at ManCamp and the cabin in the woods.

Much work has been ongoing preparing for inclement weather. Both 100 lb tanks of LP have been filled, firewood has been cut and the cabinets have been filled with food. There are plenty of  beverages and water for a weekend or week long stay.

Wood roaches were a real end of Fall problem that had to be addressed. Their decision to move into the cabin was strategically bad. Three gas treatments appear to have solved the seasonal problem. Clean up of their dead bodies has been reduced to the one or two finds under a table or chair; unlike the scene in October where a pint jar of dead bodies were sucked up in the vacuum.

The 2013 Christmas tree is now up and holiday decorations are sprinkled throughout.

Santa Claus has been using the cabin for filling out his good and naughty lists this year and I have been fortunate to catch him in front of the fire at work.

Santa has once again returned to the cabin to prepare for another Christmas season.

Overdue Update

With so much going on it is becoming difficult finding time to update this blog. The cabin is unchanged and traveling through time with the seasons. The good news to share is the cabin hasn't changed and is still every bit as welcoming today as it was 2 years ago.

We find time passes us by and our lives spin on at a fast pace while some things remain the same. Visits to the cabin remain special regardless of frequency, time or duration. Visitors continue to arrive; both those on two legs and 4.

So very thankful great aunt Beulah's family donated her chest of drawers as a cabin asset to cherish and protect from the weather of time.

Recent visitors include 1977 Waverly High School graduate, Mike Patterson who has made a career as an Air Traffic Controller in Indiana, Joe and Cathy Teeters, and my cousin Jerry Sergent from Ashland, Kentucky.

I can't close without thanking Chris and Ed Burkitt for visiting the cabin and bringing over 40 pickled eggs for the bar counter. They have always been good friends and favorite associates so their visit was very special; even Laura came to the cabin. This is the little lady's 5th trip in 5 years to my home away from home.

Mike Patterson enjoying Cabin Time

Two fine people in my life: Joe and Cathy Teeters.

There is nothing better than a big jar of pickled eggs on a cabin
counter.

Cousin Jerry hauled great aunt Beulah's chest of drawers from
Lost Creek in Willard, Kentucky to the cabin. What a beautiful
piece of furniture.