It’s almost time! Time to ring out the old and ring in the new. To Drop the Ball. (Not THAT ball, the one in Time’s Square, silly.) To party like there’s a great tomorrow ahead.

Here at Clan Central we’ll not be doing any heavy-duty partying; more like dominoes and punch until it’s really late. Say [...]

The morning dawned bright and beautiful, cold and crisp. Santa’s Elves (the ones who hang at the Underground most of the year) had laid out the stockings and stuffed them chock-full of goodies. Candy, nuts, and more. I got a Space Shuttle to build (Nanoblock model). Paula Jo got several Italian-style sodas, a favorite vice [...]

Not much happening here. We’re holding a small gift-sharing after a light supper of crackers, cheese, leftover ham and turkey, and a few other odds and ends. A surprisingly satisfying meal, though! Three of us are a bit under the weather, so it’s a good thing we don’t have a lot of family and friends [...]

If you’re still looking for the perfect item for the cook in your life, have we got a deal for you…

The Chile Underground’s very own Holiday shopping Elves have been drinking egg nog and surfing the web for naughty sites and accidentally found this article with truly awe-inspiring options for family and friends who [...]

You’ve probably decorated your Christmas tree already. Did you include some edible ornaments? The classic item: candy canes. However, there’s something to be said for making some others. First, though, the disclaimer: make sure the kids are old enough to understand, and that you don’t have dogs who love to munch stuff from the [...]

1. Feast Meets West: What’re Your Christmas Meal Favorites? It’s never to early to plan for Christmas dinner,...

It’s about two weeks until Santie Claus comes sliding down your chimbley with all those lovely gifts. (Or lumps of coal; depends on you.) Between now and then I bet you’ll host a party or two. With adults. And I bet you’re worried about serving the same ol’ same ol’ in the way of [...]

Now here’s some Holiday ideas a Real Man can use! CNN’s Eatocracy recently posted a note about new gift guide. Kevin Diedrich is the bar manager at Jasper’s Corner Tap & Kitchen in San Francisco. He offers five good options in the list:

Give the gift that gives all year: Sign them up for a [...]

1. Follies Extra: A Multitude of Uses for Beer (Besides Drinking) This entry is part of a series, Follies 2011» While...

No, not the Chile Underground; why mess with perfection? However, in December I usually work hard on two things: Editing the document I built during November’s NaNoWriMo challenge, and refurbishing, reworking and relaunching some of my other websites. In this case, that includes launching a new one; The Accidental Novelist. So I’ll be posting [...]

1. Warning! Site Construction Ahead! My old and trusty blog writing tool, Zoundry Raven, has...

It’s never to early to plan for Christmas dinner, in my opinion. (Well, as long as it’s already December, I mean.) Having just waded through massive piles of great provender a few days ago, it may be hard for some of you to set your sights on the next Big Meal. Well, we here [...]

1. Time to Move to the Ranch and Prepare to Feast Fun at the White House (Boerne Branch) is over...

Fun at the White House (Boerne Branch) is over and done. We’re packing so we can move along to the Ranch, where the whole Christenson Clan is expected to show this year for the Big Feast.

How many will there be? Well, lessee; Four plus four, plus another three (and a half!); carry the one… [...]

1. Today is National “Talk Like a Pirate” Day; Prepare to Be Boarded… Yep, it’s that time again; time to “Arrgh!” with...