I am not announcing what the prize is today but just that a great prize will be announced. So it is more of an announcement announcement. The John The Baptist of Yuletide Christmas and Xmas Beer Blog 2010 Photo Contest prize announcements. Prepare ye. I know that sort of mixes Easter with Advent but you see my point, yes? To add to the ecclesiastical muddle, I think it is even sort of a Holy Grail of these sorts of things. More later. In a few days.

To the photos. I think I have taken US Thanksgiving off. Well, I took Friday off to loll around worrying about excess and then went shopping in New York yesterday so that has to count for something, right? Speaking of the Empire State, Jeremy Craigs of North York, Ontario sent in these four photos:

Justin Rumbach of Jasper, Indiana has boldly submitted just one photo but makes a bold claim to the artsy fartsy black and white award being offered as part of this year's contest. If that is how I decide to award the prizes, that it. I have no idea how to award prizes this year, by the way. If you have any ideas let me know.

Jason Zeisloft of Marietta, Pennsylvania submitted these two which are not in the running for the artsy fartsy black and white award. But they are up there with the personal moments with beer entries as he explains: "The first is my first beer after buying our house. It was as hot as can be out, so we put up a pop-up swimming pool, and I cracked open a Flying Dog Raging Bitch. The second was from when we were on our honeymoon in St Lucia. I passed over the adjunct lager for a pina colata to drink while reading The Complete Joy of Homebrewing on the beach." The man took Papazian on his honeymoon to the Caribbean. Seems to me that Mrs. Zeisloft might be deserving of a prize. Just sayin'.

More travel photos - and more entrants whose first names beginning with the letter "J" - as Jeff Wayne of Tampa, Florida sends in these three photos from three separate vacations. I assume they are separate as they are from Yosemite, Iceland and the Caribbean. Me? I get to Watertown, NY every couple of months.

Finally for now, we have Derek Hyde of Kelowna, British Columbia sending in these three photos including one in the innovative baby and homebrewing category.

More later. More photos and stuff. I am thinking a lot about the stuff these days. Stuff makes it all go round. And photos. Them, too.