Christmas Day at the Cabin

A little patchy snow remained in shady spots around the cabin. With the temperatures mostly in the high 20s all day, it certainly felt like Christmas!



The exterior of the cabin -- my dad just finished putting up vinyl siding as the woodpeckers were having waaaaaaay too much fun with the previous wooden exterior. I love the stone fireplace especially.



The interior of the cabin -- the whole cabin measures around 600 sq. feet, but we still somehow manage to seat 16 for dinner and enjoy the Holy Day together. My parents' best friends came; they lost their home in the October fires, and everything they owned except for their vehicles and Francie's jewelry. I've known them since I was around eight years old, so they're really extended family to us, and we all loved having them with us.



The boys received (refurbished) Nintendo DS games for which my parents, Keith's dad, Keith and me, and some dear friends all helped to purchase for them. They are ecstatic with their gifts, practically the only one they received. I'm not sure that they've put them down since receiving them; they would barely stop playing when pie was served. E already has one, so now they can picto-chat with each other besides playing games.

Christmas Morning at Our Home

The boys disembowel their Christmas stockings.



T opens his gift from E.



Christmas breakfast includes lemon scones, bacon, eggs, and our Christmas morning prayers and Scripture readings.



We light the final Advent candle, the white Christ candle, and read our celebratory Scriptures while Keith finishes scrambling the eggs.

Christmas Eve at Our Home

Our home, just before the family arrives.



The "kids' table" and the tree, just before the family arrives.



Keith bakes the most delicious apple pies, with over four pounds of apples per pie; this year he used half Granny Smiths and half Ambrosias.



Dad Barrett read the Christmas story from Luke's Gospel to the entire family, a long-standing tradition on Christmas Eve.

Holiday Art Fair

An overview of the hall and vendors of our Second Annual Holiday Art Fair.



Ann Larkin's jewelry is simply fantastic, and she did very well tonight. Judith, knowing that our Christmas is a little thin this year, gave me $40 to purchase a gift for myself. I made a beeline for Ann's display and found a gorgeous crystal and gold bracelet that I adore. She does more than just string beads; she cuts and polishes the crystals and cuts the stones and other materials she uses in her remarkable pieces.



Another jeweler shows her work as well -- all very nice.



Another of Margo's incredible art pieces.

Smashing Pumpkins

Smashing pumpkins is one of our family traditions. On the weekend after Halloween, the kids (usually with Keith joining in) smash our jack o' lanterns with unabashed glee. They hold this family tradition out in the meadow behind out house where the little animals can enjoy the pumpkin pieces to their little hearts content.



T always enthusiastically smashes the pumpkins each fall, especially with his dad's Toothy Jack up for destruction....



Keith can't resist joining in with the kids. Here he prepares to fling his jack o'lantern as high as possible. To the kids' delight, Jack flies high against the beautiful sunset then splatters spectacularly on the compacted dirt of the meadow path.



All four kids come together in a huddle to deconstruct their personal Jacks. Poor Vampire Jack and California Jack are splattered around the meadow to become squirrel food....



B doesn't want to destroy his Vampire Jack at first, but he soon joins in the mayhem....

Smoke Gets in Our Eyes....

Further photos from the Harris Fire still burning in the East County portion of San Diego:



I took this from the sidewalk in front of the kids' favorite pet shop in Alpine.

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E took this while we were driving east on Interstate 8, just before exiting into Alpine.



We made a quick stop at the View Point just east of Alpine/Viejas to get this photo looking down through the mountains toward the ocean. Usually a glimpse of the blue sea can be spotted from this overlook; today it's mostly smoke and haze from the week of fires....

Pumpkin Patch....

Mini-pumpkins are so cute!



B tumbles off his disc and down the hill of fluff while "sledding."



Some of the dairy cows....



The boys carefully choose their own "jack" pumpkins.



Some of the decorations and "for sale" pumpkins available ... I like the background here, too.

Sailing....

The sails of our rented Coronado 27 (27-feet long).



My dad and brother love sailing with the family. We had a couple of tricky tacks, but they're pros.



T took his turn at the helm as well.



A small portion of the downtown San Diego skyline ... our view the entire time we were sailing.

Sailing...

As we sailed under the Coronado Bridge, a navy destroyer followed us into the harbor.



Elizabeth enjoys the view from the back of the sailboat.



J at the helm as we motored back after much tacking with tricky winds.



We sailed past the Midway Navy Museum, as did another sailboat. On a weekday, only a few sailboats are usually sailing about which makes it lovely and relaxing.

More Town Festival....

A long line of fire trucks from around the east county....



This medieval dude saw me snapping photos and cheerfully posed for me.



Judith enjoys free barbecued ribs which were given out by a local restaurant to advertise their new grill. She's a fascinating woman: an accomplished poet, a gifted photographer and artist, with a heart for sharing Christ and art with others. She delights in sparking people's passions and in serving the community. Judith wears many hats in our small town (co-editor of the newspaper, associate director of the arts council, member of the town council, volunteer in the public school, etc.), and I am fortunate in counting her as one of my dearest friends.



B and J pet a miniature horse just outside of our arts booth. My kids rode their bikes, scooters, and skateboards all over town today, rubbing elbows with friends and neighbors and enjoying every second of our town festival.



This is one row of our crafters area. I was particularly attracted to the lovely jewelry, especially by Ann Larkin, who has been one of our art council's Featured Artists. And the tea booth called my name; Judith treated me to some Apricot Tea that smells absolutely heavenly! Without the rodeo this year, business was rather slower than in the past, but overall it was a very fun but tiring day.

HP Party #3: After Midnight!

The sign we passed just before going in at five minutes past midnight...



The queue in front of B&N as we drive away, precious book in hand, at 12:13 AM....

Even More HP Party!

E in the costume parade....



Madam Hooch parades by....



One of the costume contest winners brings out the first purchased books!



T took this of me waiting in line in my wheelchair.



E is buying her book!

More HP Party!

Rita Skeeter, Professor Trelawney, Professor McGonagall, and Tonks



E stands in line outside the store ... we were # 44 in line, thanks to my friend Julie who gave us her number while she went to Wal Mart to get her SIX copies (for neighbors and such).



E and her new friend, who is just as devoted to the series as she is. They spent most of the party discussing every single in and out of the six books and their predictions for the seventh -- and have already e-mailed each other to discuss the last book.



Rita Skeeter poses with her adoring public.



Tonks comes by in the costume parade through the store.