Merry Christmas

Christmas Eve Bonfire

Luminaires along a walk on Christmas Eve

Here it is Christmas Week - to everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, Seasons Greetings or Happy Holidays!!! Too bad that gift receiving is limited to Christmas Day - I would love to have that go on all week. 



The table is all ready for Christmas Dinner

To start the week we moved into a friend's lot in Yuma where we prepared for the big day.  On Christmas Eve we sat around a bonfire at Arnie and Donna's spending the evening eating, visiting, eating, oh, and of course a wee bit of holiday cheer.  The weather was beautiful and so enjoyable - a sharp contrast to the weather back home.

Christmas morning was exciting as we opened our gifts.  Of course, it lacked the thrill of watching the little ones as they so excitedly looked to see if Santa really believed that they had been good.  Christmas dinner was truly a feast as we all (four couples) brought some of their specialties. While the weather was a bit cooler, the morning saw sunshine and since our dinner was inside, the cool, cloudy weather later in the day was just fine. Once again the fellows cooked a garbage can turkey which was most delicious.






Fish Creek on our way to the wind caves

On Boxing Day it was off to Borrego Springs for our annual New Year's get-together.  A cold wind blew for the first couple of days but the sky was clear and the sun has some warmth.  This is the time of a full moon which is always a great sight as it peers over the mountain.



The old mining road from Julian

One of the fun trips is across country to a little town  in California - Julian which is an old gold mining town in the Cuyamaca Mountains which is now known for it's apple pies. The cross-country route is usually one taken by miners in years past and is often scenic, sometimes rough, often narrow, but always fun.  This is a trip I always look forward to as it is a great route.




Out in the Anza Borrego Park, in an area of minimal vegetation, we came across these Palm trees at various locations.  Of course they are aptly named
Uno Palmo
Five Palms
Seventeen Palms

Tucked into a cluster of Palm trees at Seventeen Palms is a mailbox.  Inside is a book (actually several books) that is signed by all those who stop to visit.


We would like to wish everyone a very Happy and Healthy New Year!