Well, there is no snow here and none in the forecast. The problem with that is the difficulty in finding some Christmas spirit. I went over to NEX II the other day to visit the dive shop. As I walked through the parking lot I caught the lovely scent of pine and spruce on the breeze. I was downwind from the lot where they sell the real trees. I stood there a moment bathed in the sweetness of a northern forest, remembering the feel of pine needles underfoot and the brush of boughs as I walked between the trees. It was a homesick moment.

I have not finished my Christmas shopping yet. My gifts will be very late, I'm afraid. I could make up all kinds of excuses but that won't get the boxes home any earlier.

Tomorrow the Traditional Seafarers are going into the woods near Pagat to check on a breadfruit log that may be big enough to allow us to build another canoe. It's been lying on the ground for some time now and may be infested with termites but we need to go check. We'll saw off the ends and see what it looks like.