11 Weeks Until Christmas

11 weeks to go now until Christmas and there are growing signs of the season everywhere here.

I’m not going to talk about Santa’s sleigh here. First of all there’s nothing new to report. They are working on the problem. Second of all, I’m tired of talking about it and people getting upset with me for reporting the news. So until there is something new for me to report, I’ll not be saying anything new.

I didn’t go to Canada with Mrs. Claus. Not that I wouldn’t have gone with her. But she gave me some assignments to take care of here while she is gone.

First is the weather department. Elf Seymour Snow started sending out his extended forecasts this week. Looks like we’re going to be getting a lot of snow early this year. Big surprise, eh?

Next, the big shipment of pumpkin Mrs. Claus has ordered is coming in this week.

We really can’t grow pumpkin at the North Pole. They have tried for years, even Mrs. Claus has. But they just need a lot of heat and a long time to grow and we don’t have either here at the North Pole. We have to have it brought in from other areas of the world.

You would think Mrs. Claus would have canned pumpkin brought in because it’s easier and cheaper that way.

No.

Mrs. Claus has to use fresh pumpkin in all that she uses it for.

The North Pole consumes a lot of pumpkin. Mrs. Claus’ pie is famous and it’s a favorite. She makes a ton of them.

But she also uses fresh pumpkin for cookies, cakes, pastries, candies, soups, casseroles, you name it. Lots of pumpkin goes into things between now and Christmas at the North Pole.

So I’ll be receiving the first load of pumpkin and heading up the team to process it. We will immediately clean, bake and mash this first batch.

I actually look forward to do this, it will be a nice break from the routine.

By the way, thanks for all your recent messages. I’m reading them all. You have been most kind recently and I really appreciate it.

My friend, Elf Hugo, has set up my own special box and has given me a key to the North Pole Post Office. I can go over there now any time I want to check my mail. Yes, I get most of my messages on my computer but I love all the sweet handwritten notes and colored pictures you send in. I see myself using that key a LOT.

That’s all for this week, friends. Stayed tuned for a lot more coming from the North Pole in the days and weeks ahead.