Merry Christmas Everyone!

I love Christmas. Always have, always will. When I was a child one of my favorite

things to do was to get up early on Christmas morning and sneak downstairs

so that I could light the tree and just sit and look at it. I wouldn't shake presents or even

pick them up or look at the tags. I just loved looking at the tree all by myself.

So here are our little trees that we put out now-gone are the huge trees of my childhood

and my children's childhoods. But the magic is still there for me.My sweet dear husband does not have the happy memories of Christmas like I do.

However, after many years of Christmases with me, he does enjoy all the trimmings that I

scatter around the house. Such as this Santa Shrine next to "his" chair!!! Ho, ho, ho.

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without a kitty curled up somewhere.

Nor would it be Christmas without our wonderful neighbors Tom and Steve.
This was taken at Portland Wine Merchant's Friday wine tasting last week.
Great place to taste wine on 35th and SE Hawthorne.

Besides loving Christmas, I love to feed people. Probably because I love to cook?
There just isn't anything better than the fellowship of sharing a meal with
good friends and family.

Here's a shot of Russell humoring me as I take yet another photo of him.

Two of my many dear in-laws Rick and Debbie also humoring me and my camera.

Our dear friends Sandy and Arnie.
Miracle friends that survived a horrific accident two years ago.

Here's my eldest son, Phillip, home for the holidays after not being here for two years.

He's holding our littlest nephew, Jonathan.

Merry Christmas everyone and Happy New Year!!!!

Jones Family Dinner 2007

Once again, Bob and Jennifer hosted a

wonderful family dinner- from the delicious

appetizers to Grandma Bebe's Apple Cake-

everything was delicious-especially being

served with Bob's carefully chosen wines!

Thanks Bob and Jennifer!

Jennifer and Cadence-not quite a year old.

Barbara, Greg, Dr Jones and Rick


Bob with Cadence.

Making Cookies with Amesia

It wouldn't be Christmas without making cookies with a kid!

Has Your Christmas Come Out of the Closet ?

Yesterday Russell and I were driving around and I noticed

a house that not only was all decorated with Christmas lights.....

but, GASP!, already had a Christmas tree up and decorated in the window.

What??? Thanksgiving's turkey is on it's last leg and Christmas Trees are up?

I don't know about you, but my Christmas is securely in it's closet under the stairs and

won't be coming out for at least another week......

However, the Christmas Elves and I are hard at work

in my little sewing room!

Happy Thanksgiving !

Here's my first attempt at making a rather complex (for me)dessert!

It turned out very tasty-although it took one hour just to construct it.

Good thing we weren't on a timed schedule.....You can see more photos on my flickr plus I have the recipe posted there as well.

Cheers!

We made it back!!!!

We are home...we had a lovely time in Mexico,

but it's time for building fires and curling up with a good book... The vacation is over....no more lolling on the beach,

reading sandy books, munching on tacos and sipping cervesas!
We had a fun time-but there's no place like home!
And next week is Thanksgiving....how did that happen???
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

A Typical Day Being a Tourist in Zihuatanejo

Russell always takes a photo of the floral decoration left for us by

the woman who cleans our room every day.....

Our days consist of eating a good breakfast of fruit, juice, coffee, rolls and

sometimes pancakes or eggs.

Then it's off to the beaach to swim, body surf if the waves are big enough, visit with

friends, watch the vendors ply their wares, take walks, look at interesting shells or

dead things washed up on the beach, read, sleep, and take photos of friends who are

leaving and going home........then it's back up all those stairs (202) to shower

and then make the huge decision of where to go for dinner. We usually take the

little combi bus to downtown, have a beer at a little bar and then

have dinner at one of the many little places. We try to go to different ones as you

never know what might be even better than the day before.....

Afterwards we wander around a bit before getting a cab ($3) back to our hotel

where we read and then once again....SNOOZE.

An Upscale Restaurant for a $5 Burger

Caprichio's is a very swanky place here in Zihuatanejo....you can spend a whole lotta dough or just $5 and get a hamburger with all the trimmings....or you can spend lots more.....

we opted for the burger plus pina coladas for $20 total...........

A Quick Sidetrip to Morelia

On Friday the 9th we took off early on the "directo" bus to Morelia,

the capitol city of Michoacan. It was about a 4.5 hour ride up to Morelia.

The trip was fairly scenic and after awhile I became kind of ambivalent about the

style of driving in Mexico. As one local said to me-

"I am in God's hands".....my reply was-

"Well, I hope he is helping the driver"

Morelia is a huge city full of cars and people and cathedrals on every corner.

Today, Sunday the 11th is a big election in this state for the Governor and other

government positions. There were lots of demonstrations while we were there and about 24

people were arrested in the Central Square for posting information that was false .

Or that is what I think I read in the local paper headlines.

The city felt tense, but maybe that was because no alcohol was being allowed

to be sold in restaurants, bars or stores over the election weekend.

Two days were enough to satisfy my curiousity and we are glad to be

back in Zihuatanejo...a sleepy and peaceful place.

Rene Magritte meet Jorge Perez

Jorge Perez is a painter of very small paintings....

when he has had enough of the heat from the beach

he takes his umbrella up from his painting table

and takes it into the sea....

he reminded me of Rene Magritte's paintings

of men with umbrellas in the cloudy sky...

Day 6 in Zihuatanejo...a quick look at the locals

Every day our room is made up-towels scooped up off

the towel racks and our bed remade.

She is invisible as we are always gone when she arrives....

but our pillows are newly decorated with flower petals....

simple petal art....

Jorge Perez is one of the few vendors we have

gotten to know. Most of the locals selling

their wares walk by us and attempt to tempt us....

but with Jorge...we come to him-to talk to him and to admire his art.

An old man walks by....we don't even say hello-

pretty sad...............


A mother and child (not in school) walk by....

the only exchange between us is visual-

a simple shake of my head and they move on..........


and then once again we return to our room to

yet another artistic flower/pillow arrangement....

Day 5 in Zihuatanejo

From sunrise to sunset-everyday is a holiday here....
Walking along the beach towards town.....

Having a nice dinner at Memo's...good Italian food
with a touch of Mexico....

Another Day in Zihuatanejo

This is a photo of a finger painting artist.....he literally paints most of works with only his fingers. He only uses a brush for minute details.........above is a photo of a small sample...note the finger for scale..

Good old Zihuatanejo!

We're baaaaack in Mexico and having a glorious time here. Staying at the Sotavento Hotel on Playa la Ropa. Here's a few shots and more on our flickr!

Pumpkin Regatta? Happy Halloween!

Just a few days before Halloween in Tualatin Oregon-

the 4th Annual Pumpkin Regatta-

on an absolutely gorgeous Fall day-

what a scream....more pictures on my flickr site!

Happy Halloween everyone!

Eggplant from the garden! Yum!

Our veggie garden has been very generous to us

this summer with lots of veggies including lots of Japanese eggplants.....Our favorite way to prepare and eat them is

by making Baba Ganooj....a yummy garlicky dip for bread....

and here's the recipe from the New Joy Of Cooking cookbook...

YUM.

Our Annual Music Party

This year the Sassparilla Jug Band entertained us

with their snappy, toe-tapping music.

We all agreed that this was the best group yet to play for us!

Thanks Sassparilla Jug Band!!!

Note the green plastic tubs that are used for

sitting on and drums!

We all were having too much fun!

Like I said-we all had a great time!

More photos on my flickr site!

Home on the Range

Sometimes the inner child calls to me and I must answer.....instead of delivering a BBQ to it's new Salvation Army drop off spot-I hand delivered this BBQ to it's new Jeep domicile.

Here's the photo-aren't they cute together? Happy trails little BBQ.

Tha Allure of Weed, California

When Russell and I drive south to Weed-a lot of

our friends say "Weed? Why?"

Well, here's a few reasons why:

Tuffy-a fine Cairn Terrier who is fun to play with,
The deck-the most relaxing way to spend a day in Weed

and most importantly- our very good friends Bill and Ewana!

Now, they know how to show us a good time!

More photos on flickr!

we've been gone for 9 days-and this is my first opportunity.....

No chance to upload photos til today....here's just a few

Motel in downtown Salt Lake...
Trailer in Logan Utah

Uncle Sam on the 4th of July in Cody Wyoming

Sunset in Wyoming........

On the road again!

We blasted off two days ago for Baker City to visit Tom and Sarah

Today we are going to Salt Lake to visit Russell's sister Kitty

and ultimately we will be in Cody Wyoming for the 4th of July

We will be staying with Toni and Dave-my good friend from childhood.

Here's a few shots from our trip and stay in Baker.....

Is this us in a few years? Yikes...
Highway 84.....going up the gorge

Tom Novak painting in Mad Matilda's Coffee shop in Baker