TRADITION, tradition, TRADITION, tradition

This post should be announced using the song "Tradition" from Fiddler on the Roof.  We have many Christmas traditions!
First, the sausage making tradition -

 You begin by inviting as many family members over as want to mix up raw meet with their bare hands.  This year only J and his daddy, J, need to get any extra sausage.

 After all the ingredients are all properly mixed up, you have to taste test it. 

 Then you put the whole cold mess inside the antique sausage stuffer, just like the one L's grandparents and parents have used for more than 100 years.  You slip some casings (if you don't know what those are, you probably don't want to ask...) then you wind the handle and press sausage out into the casings.  It's good, messy fun and the outcome is delicious.

 It takes some major concentration...

Looks weird, tastes great!  (You really notice when you've gotten too short of a haircut when you post your pictures for the whole universe to see on a blog!)

We use the sausage mostly for breakfast and also give some away to people in our neighborhood for Christmas.  The looks on their faces when you show up with raw meat is priceless!  Then you see them after they're cooked and eaten it and they are fans of this unique gift for life!