Merry Christmas Everyone!!

 We wish all of our family and friends a very Merry Christmas!!

We won't be heading to the cold north this year, and will miss being with our families for the holidays. It's so nice to have the technology to visit with them from afar!!! However, we won't be alone to celebrate Christmas. Tonight a group of friends are coming over to our place for an extended happy hour, and to sit around the campfire and visit. Tomorrow we are invited to a neighbors with four other couples for a Christmas dinner potluck and gift exchange.

Another month has flown by since my last post, and we continue to keep busy and enjoy life. A few weeks ago, we went to Los Algodones, Mexico with our friends Brad and Martha to stock up on Kevin's blood pressure meds, Kahlua, and to check out what bargains were to be found. We bought two metal sculptures to decorate the park model. A sun for in the bathroom, and some geckos for the patio.

We had lunch at one of our favorite restaurants there. The owner is a very nice lady, and took our picture. I laughed when she included herself. She's a great business woman.

On December 7th we went to a Journey tribute band concert at a neighboring RV park. These guys were very talented musicians. The singer sounded just like the lead singer of Journey. They need to work a bit on their showmanship, but otherwise it was a great show.

On December 13th, we took a bus tour to Phoenix to see some Christmas light displays. Tour West is a company that offers many opportunities to take bus trips during the winter season for all the snowbirds that come down to Yuma. This trip was advertised as one light show with over 10 million lights and another with 3 million. 

On the way we stopped at Southwest Specialty Foods, home of the Kick Ass Hot Sauces. We were able to sample some of the sauces as well as different flavored popcorns they produce. It was a cute place, and a fun stop.

We had lunch at Rudy's BBQ restaurant, and then made another stop at The Cerreta Candy Company where more samples were to be had. They had some very good chocolates, but at $16 a pound, we were happy to sample only.

As it turned dark we headed to the Festival of Lights show on the State Fair grounds. Included in our tour was the $20 per person admission. It was advertised as the fifth largest light show in the country. It was a combination carnival and light show. There were a number of rides and games and some food trucks. The lights were very nice, but it wasn't nearly what we had expected. Ten million lights sounded so much grander than it was. We spent about an hour looking at the light displays, had a snack and watched an amateur magician entertain the kids. Here are some of the nicer displays.

The entrance

Santa and the 50 foot tall Christmas tree

Jungle and underwater themes

Light fountain with Fantasyland canopy in the background

Chandelier under the canopy

Our next stop was the Phoenix Nascar raceway where there was a display of 3 million lights. It was a drive-thru exhibit with displays under the grandstands, on the raceway grounds, and all around the actual track. I think it would have been better in a car as the displays were at ground level, so we couldn't see them as well from the higher bus. Also, although we were going slow, I think even slower would have been better to see and take pictures. I only got one decent picture when the driver actually stopped. It was an impressive exhibit.

We arrived back home at 12:30 am. That's a very late night for this retired person!!

The weather has turned a bit chilly lately. Highs in the 60s and lows in the mid 40s. We continue to golf and participate in our other activities with a few extra layers of clothes. With the cooler weather come some clouds, which make for fantastic sunsets. Here are a few of those.

Country Club RV of Yuma had a Christmas open house on Friday with free lunch and tours of some of the new model RVs. Santa was there, and he told us we were both on the nice list, so we deserved a new RV. We were able to see one just like the one we ordered that will arrive in January. Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you. We're getting a 2020 Grand Design Reflection 303RLS fifth wheel!! We ordered it in late October, and it should be here in a few weeks. More information to follow when it arrives.

We've also been to a few Christmas parties. Last night the resort hosted the annual Christmas dinner. They provide the ham, and the tables of 20 provide potluck items. We had a great time with some of our friends that I quilt with.

I finished varnishing the bowl I turned in November. Here is the final product. I'm happy with how it turned out. At some point, I may do it again. In the woodcarving group, I've been working on a Santa ornament. Slow going. He'll be ready by next Christmas!

Don’t wish upon a star – Reach for one!