Merry Christmas to All!

Our Thanksgiving with the work crew here at the resort was very nice.  One of our coworkers fried two turkeys, and as usual, we had more food than we could eat to go with them.  With people from California, Canada, Spain, the northeast and Texas, we had quite an interesting and delicious mix of foods, as well; it will be a memory we carry with us. 

We got our Christmas decorations up early this year.  Max bought several strings of LED Christmas lights, and it was the easiest and fastest decorating job we've ever done!   

Some people carry holiday decorations and/or buy new ones each year and then throw away when the holiday is over.  I am sure we'll hang onto these lights for later, and that will be the extent of our decorating.


I know our friends and family in Texas battled the cold weather through Thanksgiving.  We were thinking about you!  We had quite a bit of cold weather through here, as well.  Funny how we came out to winter in California, thinking it would all be warm weather and beaches.  Instead, we've burned through a lot of propane $$$'s and 17-degree nights.  They say it's been the coldest and driest winter in years and years.  Guess we brought that weather with us.  So sorry, California!

About a week ago, several of us drove out to a local winery for their holiday dinner and festivities.  

Max, Paula, Graham, Bonnie, Bob, and Alice in front.

I'm a sucker for a nice fire, and theirs was very inviting.

The local Paso Robles high school choir entertained us with traditional Christmas carols.

Turkey, ham, DEEE-licious garlic mashed potatoes, and a bread pudding
with caramel sauce that was the best ever.  YUM!

When I need a bigger dose of holiday cheer, I talk Max into taking me for a cruise to see Christmas lights, and that's what we did this past Sunday.  We drove over to the coast to the small town of Cambria and visited their Christmas Market.  It also gave us an opportunity to try out the new camera we bought ourselves for Christmas.  On the way, we got to enjoy another beautiful Pacific coast sunset.



The mini German town Christmas was just what we needed to get in the holiday mood.  It was a beautiful, mild night, and we truly enjoyed the lights, visiting with the locals, and snacking on a tasty bratwurst.  Now, the mulled wine was another matter.  I'm pretty certain we'll never be ordering that again.  :)

Later that evening when we were back at the Turtle, we walked outside, looked up, and were met with this nice surprise--a moon halo!  Our old camera would have never been able to capture this image.  I think we're going to have lots of fun with our new toy.

 

That's about it from the Turtle for now.  We will be leaving on Saturday, driving to Phoenix to spend Christmas week with Max's mom, brother and sister-in-law.  Then on our way back here, we're going to swing up through Las Vegas for a couple of days.  If anybody wants to join us, come on!

 

We will be thinking of and missing our friends and family who are far, far away this next week.  May you have a wonderful Christmas filled with family and blessings galore!

 

All our love,

 

Max and Paula