About noon, after reading the paper and working the puzzles, the temperature got above 32 degrees and Bob hooked up the water. Bob's cousins from Missouri called and reported very cold weather with a wind chill well below zero. Bernie caught a mess of fish ice fishing and had very cold hands trying to clean them all. I can't even think about how cold that was. We had a nice chat with both of them.
I made a deer sausage and cheese plate complete with Chocolate Mice among the cheeses. Then I got ready to go over to Peggy and Michael's. We had to drain the hoses before we left in anticipation of freezing weather again tonight.
All was festive at Peggy and Michael's place. It was fun to meet her family members. Their Christmas Eve tradition of shrimp, fried oysters and fish sounded like a winner to me. It was all just about ready when we got there. We soon sat down and enjoyed a splendid meal. And oh my, did Peggy have the baked goods! I had to try them all of course.
After dinner we played games; Mexican Train Dominoes and then Golf (a card game I had learned to play with The Chicks in Branson. Jeannie taught us and said her Texas Uncle had introduced her to the game.) There was some debate on the rules for the Train Dominoes, but Peggy sorted it out with a phone call. We had quite a good time and were very pleased to share in their hospitality. Our friend, Glenda, was their as well that made it even more special. Our card game broke up around 11:00. Michael reported 29 degrees outside and we said our goodbyes.
Back home we showed 34 degrees. We cranked the heaters up higher and crashed on the couch and recliner in the glow of our candy cane. We recollected the events of our first year of travels for a while then turned in.
It's 1:15 a.m. and 34.4 degrees.