Christmas 2018

 This cotton field is next to our RV resort in AZ.   In previous years, we've arrived in January and the fields are just dirt.   It was a big surprise to find out what they grow.   I had no idea cotton was a big crop down here.   I wanted to walk over and pick a little boll but it was a busy road and I'd probably be arrested for thievery or trespassing.    I remember very well, in a classroom in North Dakota as a young child, holding a cotton boll that someone had brought in.....I was amazed .   To me, it was only something I had read in books and there was no reality to it.  


And then we came to Connecticut.   We awoke on Christmas Eve to beautiful snow ... just enough.

 We had to make cookies altho Santa only took one bite and I don't think any of the dozen or so were ever eaten.    But it is required.
 

On Christmas Eve, we usually go see the latest Star Wars movie and then go to our favorite Italian restaurant, Franco's .     Alas, there was no Star Wars so we saw Bumblebee.....about the cute yellow Beetle that becomes a Transformer.   Cute but not Star Wars.    But the veggie pizza, the grinders and the pasta dishes were perfection.  

 As usual, the Christmas gifts were perfect and generous and the food was a mix of tradition and favorites.      Mason was very patient when he got up at 5 am and waited and waited for the rest of us.    Finally, he took out his saxophone and played revelry to get us up and moving.    It worked.   He now plays 3 different instruments and is trying his best to figure out the piano.   He has quite a talent.  

 

Before dawn on the 26th, the house was up and moving furniture.    New family room  furniture had been ordered to arrive before Christmas but it was delayed.   So we got to be slothful and eat and drink on the old stuff on Christmas.   But no more.     Andy and I were moving out the  old ottoman and someone captured us.    Not sure where Andy is getting his height but having a strong, tall and helpful young man around is a good thing.  

 Caesar still lives altho the whole cricket thing is time consuming.    I bought 50 on Thurs eve and they were gone by Sat morning.   So I got 75 the next time.   They are 10 cents a piece and he gobbles them in a flash.....the crunching is a bit unnerving.   The alternative is to feed him some kind of roach (no thank you !! ) or some creepy worm.     He does come out and crawls around their arms and shoulders......but he's fast on the floor.    The cat seems to have no interest.   Nor do I.....unless we're separated by glass.  

And so we head back to cold AZ.    We'll stay put for awhile with no plans to wander..... Tis the season of Pickleball tournaments and working on the golf game.    

December shows up.....

I worry about this lone heron.     He's been a resident for a few years and some say he once had a mate.      He stands along the edge of the pond but now it is mostly frozen.    From what I've read, they can survive cold and snow but most go south.   I wish he would so I don't have to worry.  

 

Almost 3 years ago, our favorite Ford Explorer got smashed by a kid in an old heavy jeep.   Since then, we have pondered the need for another car.    

    We've adopted Aunt Romayne's Beetle but it  mostly goes to pickle ball.     The big Jeep is great for climbing mountains but not for comfort on the roads nor, in my opinion, safe on the busy interstates....it doesn't even have a back up camera.     We have driven many different brands and models and read all the reviews and pondered the need/desire for 2 cars .... ( I don't consider the Beetle a car for most purposes...but it is cute ).       Finally, we made a decision and now we have a German majority in the garage.  (45 years difference in their age)  There is still room for the mountain climbing Jeep and the golf cart.    

It's a beautiful car with all the bells and whistles and will probably be our last car......after all, we keep cars about 10 years  and will we still be driving at 85 ??   Aunt Romayne drove until she was about 93 so maybe we will...... !    But then  we'll get a driverless model......

We had to drive over to Glenwood Springs for the nearest dealer.    The 2.5 hr drive was quite beautiful this time of year with the fresh snow and clouds.     Coming home was a different story.    I -70was closed for hours and we had to navigate the back roads in order to keep moving.  It took us 4 hours and one of us drove in comfort and the other drove the Jeep.   

We're delaying our departure to AZ by a few days but beginning the process of list making and organizing.    

I'll miss our morning sunrise.......