Season is here meh son

Is it just me or did season start earlier this year? The Gentlemen of Jones had the lights up on the poles just after Thanksgiving. They were almost complete in the town proper before the first of December. By the time i came through at night a week later they were up all the way to Pueblo. All the new ones look spectacular when lit and Christiansted looks so very festive. Its worth a drive through town at night just to gaze. Maybe i'll have a pic next week.

Starving Artists was probably the first real kick off event. i didn't go to that one this year...just totally forgot about it. So for me it was the boat parade that kicked it all off on Saturday, then Sunday the Botanical Gardens did their Christmas Spoken here.

This morning a friend trying to get through town ran into hoardes of people following some band...maybe it was Stanley and the Ten Sleepless Nights. They had so many tramping along that she had to take a real circutous route to make it to swim with us in time. Isn't this early or is it just me?

In the stores yesterday i noticed the big potatoes and the good applesauce were in short supply. i guess those celebrating Hanukkah have been cooking up some yummy Latkes.

Along the road my man that sells the sorrel every year came through with a really lovely looking batch from his field. i loaded up, brought it home and started to peel and yes my fingers turned a lovely red. We have steeped some really tasty stuff this year. i love its rich deep red color...really makes you feel like the season is here. You just can't have the season without sorrel.

If you don't know how to make it here it is. 

3lbs Sorrel...peel all the red stuff off the seed...toss the seed or save some and plant.

Ginger about the size of your palm...slice it up

Boil a big...like lobster size pot of water, put the sorrel and ginger in and let steep over night.

Strain and sweeten to taste. i usually leave it unsweetened and let everyone do their own thing.

People are coming home too. Everyone is making trips to the airport picking up family and friends. Its like old home week out there every time anyone goes. This time of year brings everyone back because its the best time of year to be here. So much celebrating, so much good food, so much great music.

And the biggest meteor shower of the year is this week. They say the best time to watch is the early morning of the 14^th. If its clear it might be worth waking up around 3:30am and going outside for a look.

The annual Christmas Bird Count for St. Croix is this weekend too. Sunday maybe you will see those of us counting stopped in the road with our binoculars up to our faces. Don't get mad if we have held you up this is important stuff we are counting.

Tonight in Gallows Bay there will be live holiday music, quelbe and fire dancers and Santa ready to avail his lap for all the little kiddies needing to make their wishes known. Tomorrow night is Art Thursday, there is so much going on its hard to know what to do and what to skip.

But the Season is definitely here meh son.

See ya next week.