More Beach Shots ... And What We Came Home To

People enjoying a stroll along the Pacific the day after the storm.



The kids and my mom admire the view. From L to R: my mom,, E, T, J, B.



The Pacific Beach Pier, south of my parents' place.



A lone surfer comes in after surfing some pretty good waves. However, getting into the water for 72 hours after a major storm is not considered a healthy thing to do as so many chemicals and other things get swept into the ocean as well. Only a few diehards were out Friday morning.



When we made it home around 5 PM, we were greeted by a frantic dachshund and a few patches of snow left from the Valentine's Day Blizzard of 2008.

Norm Daniels

Norm works on the sky behind the Hotel del Coronado.



Yep, he works barefoot, even in the library's community room.



This painting is entitled "Rebuilt engine. Some rust. Make offer."

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....