2010 Holiday Week

First, last night's sunset:

And my new office chair. Eddie's chair is now in Ron's Man Cave.

It's been a crowded-but-fun-week here in our little retirement enclave, starting with the wrapping of presents and ending with The Big Dinner.

Gift-Wrapping Factory

All those quilts we made? Gifted to the poor farming families way out in the boonies, along with toys and candy, toiletry packages, and Santa's visit. A long caravan of gringos in loaded trucks bounced and careened throughout the "roads" south and west of Miguel Aleman, stopping at pre-determined farming communities. (I rode in the Candy Truck with Santa, we ate Tootsie Rolls the whole way...) There, the trucks and Santa were mobbed by the poorest of the poor. No fat children were seen. It felt good-but-not-enough, if you know what I mean. At one point, I thought we should have maybe brought turkeys instead.

At the pig farm

Delfie with Santa

Loading up the kids

Mobbing Jan's truck

Me and Eddie's bride Ann Jane with Santa's new friend

Happy Mamacita

Are we done yet?

Marion tripped and fell!

Christmas Eve was social hour and gifts at the RV Park. Each person brings a $10 wrapped gift, then when your card is drawn, you go choose and open one OR steal someone else's. Only one theft per item. We scored a 5 liter jug of Mezlalito (cheap rotgut tequila-like liquor) and a set of crystal snowflake candle holders. None of my photos were in focus, due to the egg nog effect. Our good friends Jose and Delfie from the village spent Christmas Eve night in our RV so they wouldn't have to drive That Road after dark. Ron fell down once or twice, didn't get hurt. Just a scratch. SO much fun!

Blurry, but Ron, Betty, John, Jack, Jose, and Delfie.

And then Christmas Day dinner was terrific. Yes, gravy was there, plentiful, and good. I brought Grandma Edie's Beets N Pineapple and have a lot left over... Plus a loaf of homemade bread.

Happily stuffing in stuffing!

John and Santa KLAUS!

And yesterday, my wonderful husband and neighbor John harvested and transplanted a huge Ocotillo into my front yard. It's gorgeous!