Christmas eve

The ice hung on most of the day, but started thawing to the point where people were able to drive, and even make it up the hill to our house. Some of us went to the candlelight service at the church. Later we had a noisy gathering, sharing gifts, playing games, eating rice porridge with huckleberry soup and many other treats. John did drive to Seattle in the morning to pick up Benjamin from the airport. He was number 600 on the waiting list to fly here.