CHRISTMASY SATURDAY

Well Saturday at Outdoor Resorts was full of Christmas fun. There was a Golf Cart parade. Some really cute entries went rolling by our place. There certainly was the spirit of the season here. On Saturday evening there was a Christmas Concert that was great fun. They did many favorites with a World War II canteen theme. Dad, Ron and I went and had a nice time.

I am also including a snapshot of this morning's beautiful sunrise. Living here always reminds me of a song from CAMELOT. It says, "The rain must never fall til after sundown. By 9:00 pm the moonlight must appear." We did have a little rain last night while we were in bed. Most of the time the clouds just catch on the mountains as you can see in my photo. All in all it is almost too perfect here this time of year.

BEGINNING THE CHRISTMAS SEASON AT OUTDOOR RESORTS

Well this week we had a visit from Mother. Ron brought his Mom out on Monday evening. She just left this morning. While she was here I did a lot of decorating. I even managed a real tree and placed it between the chairs in our main room. I may be in a trailer in the desert. But it is the Christmas season just the same and we have made a cozy little Christmas feeling here. Dad even allowed me to put up his little tree.

Tomorrow there is a golf cart parade with many decorated golf carts. My men weren't too keen on decorating their carts, but we will go see the parade. Then tomorrow there is a Christmas concert. Sounds like fun and I look forward to it. So everything is good.

On Thursday we left Los Osos and headed south. Dad, Ron and I had lunch with Ron's mom in L.A. Then Dad and I left Ron with his mom and went on out to Outdoor Resorts. We were there Thursday and Friday. See Dad's new car.

On Saturday Steve drove out for a visit with Dad and I went into L.A. for an Artshow opening that Rick was having in Echo Park. It was a fun opening as many family members gathered and enjoyed the evening. This art of Rick's is so fantastic with a totem pole theme. Quite unique actually.

Sunday Ron, Rick, May and I stayed in L.A. with Mother again. Rick, May and I went to a Thai Restaurant for lunch. There is nothing quite as delicious as having May help you order Thai food, very spicy and extra yummy.

On Monday May flew home. Rick and his friend, Gabe, drove north for Portland. I drove back to join Dad in the desert. He and I did some banking and major grocery shopping. Ron and his mom came out later in the day.

FINALLY LEFT ASHLAND ON NOVEMBER 29TH

A week ago today we left Ashland. The scenery was spectacular. Mount Shasta was particularly breathtaking.

Our first stop was at Patty and Scott's in Los Osos. Melissa was there with her beautiful family. Melissa even made us dinner, the best chicken dish I have ever tasted. I must get that recipe. Our visit there was warm and wonderful as always.

MAYBE NOT FINAL SNOWSTORM

This morning we awoke to more snow. Some pictures here are demonstrative of why we are probably won't be leaving today.

Aside: Lisa, look at the snow on your car.

Lovely for the holidays. Not good at all for travel. If it looks like this at our house the mountain must be impassable.

I also included a picture of Yogi with our little neighbor, Seta. She came over to borrow Yogi for a couple of hours last evening. Seta and her family took care of Yogi when we went to Italy. They really do love him. Last night they dressed him up like a prince which is just what they claim he is. So I snapped af picture of them for our memories.

A FINAL SNOWSTORM

Actually this snowstorm is a final one for me, but the first of the season here in Ashland. God is good. He blessed me with a little white holiday weather before we head south.

This morning we awoke to this glorious snow. As you can imagine Dad and Ron are less than pleased. They are afraid this will postpone our departure tomorrow. I seriously doubt it as the sun is out now and already melting everything.

You can see by Dad's silly expression how happy the snow makes him. Yogi, too, would rather not step outside in this weather. "Twinkletoes" I like to call him.

Wish us luck tomorrow with our trip.

FRUITBREAD SATURDAY

Most of today was dedicated to the making of fruitbread. Making twenty loaves of this bread takes some time. Many hands got into the kneading of the huge mound of dough. We luckily had Dad's advice. So things went pretty smoothly.

Rick was supposed to head south to San Francisco and then Los Angeles. He has an art show in L.A. next weekend. He was only 3-4 miles from our house this afternoon when his car overheated and quit. So he had it towed back to Ashland and we are blessed with his company one more day.

The fruitbread was all finished by 7:00pm. We tasted it and decided a good year once again. We ended the day by trying our Italian dessert with incredible chocolate and proudly checking out our fruitbread.

We had another enjoyable dinner, in spite of the USC/Notre Dame game in the background. How much football can some men watch? Plenty, I guess.

A RELAXING FRIDAY

Friday was a laid back kind of day. We relaxed and visited most of the day. Ron, Amy, Rick and May do some jogging most days. (Must be one of the ways they all keep in such great shape).

In the afternoon more football for the guys, University of Oregon vs. Oregon State. Unfortunately for Rick his alma mater lost. May, Amy and I headed for the Northwest Nature Shop where they were giving away wine, cheese and chocolate treats. It is a really creative place to Christmas shop with so many nature type gifts for people of all ages. We also visited some of our other favorite Ashland shops.

By late afternoon we were ready for some hot drinks. We went to The Black Sheep, an English style pub. Hot toddys were consumed and I had hot apple pie (that is one scrumptious drink). My Dad, Ron, Ronnie and Rick joined us around five o'clock. We all anxiously awaited the lighting ceremony in the plaza. At 5:30 the switch was thrown and literally millions of lights all over town were lit. It is always such a fun event.

When we got home we tried one of the wines from Italy that finally arrived today. We also played Dad's favorite card game. It took two and a half hours but Dad finally won after a last stand against Amy. Such fun!

A WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING

Ron and Amy drove down to Ashland Tuesday evening. Rick and May came on Wednesday evening. With Dad and the kids here we had a wonderfu Thanksgiving day. Lisa called us all from Italy and we had a very long talk. She is having such a marvelous time over there. It is great to hear all about her exciting adventures.

We had friends, Sue and Dick, join us also for Thanksgiving dinner. Of course three football games were watched Such a lovely day with everyone.

LAST WEEKEND IN PORTLAND

Last weekend I drove to Portland to visit the kids and to pick Ron and Dad up when they flew in from Burbank on Saturday evening.

Friday night there was a party at Rick and May's.

Saturday Ron and Amy took me out to breakfast at a lovely place, Cadillac's. After that Amy and I went to see the Borat movie. Then we went to Trader Joe's and picked up the fruitbread fruit. We will make it next weekend when everyone is in Ashland. At 6:30pm Ron and Dad arrived. It was great seeing them againing. Amy made delicious split pea soup from her Grandma's recipe---the best. Rick and May came by and also Amy's brother, Aaron, and his fiance, Christina. Ron and Amy demoed a little salsa dancing for us.

Sunday was, of course, football for the men from early morning into the night. They first game of the day was enjoyed from a sports bar. Amy, Christina and I went to Mass and then a little shopping and then burritoes at Cha Cha Cha's. Excellent.

Monday morning we headed back to Ashland to get ready for Thanksgiving.

Beautiful Ashland Fall

OK, I promise this is the last of my Fall photos. I am just so excited by the beauty I see all around me.

So here are some early morning sunrises and the deer in our backyard and the first snow on the mountains surrounding Ashland.

What can I say? I am in love with the season.