We tried to pack all things Christmas into this Christmas season as we were home in the Northwest, and not in the Southwest, for the first time in over three years. In addition to having a nice big, fresh Xmas tree, decorating the outside of the house with lights, and furnishing inside of the house with a large amount of Christmas decor (all of which we had not been able to do while traveling) we were able to get in the spirit of the holidays by doing other things. We spend a full day Christmas shopping in downtown Seattle, having a French brunch of "Oeufs En Meurette" (Poached eggs over a large crouton topped with a red wine/foie gras sauce) at Cafe Campagne by the Pike Street Market. We also watched the Tacoma Yacht Club Xmas Boat Parade along Ruston Way, had our five closest neighbors over for a wine and appetizer party, visted Zoo Lights at Point Defiance, had an early Xmas celebration at Mark and Desi's with the family, and had Paul, Linda, Patty, and Ed over for a Prime Rib dinner on Christmas Eve. Whew!
It really kept us busy.
Although we had a great Christmas up here we miss the beautiful weather of California, at the beaches and in the desert. Next year we will be traveling again if all goes well. The dark and cold of the NW is getting us down. One plus of the weather is that we have gotten our share of snow this winter. We hadn't seen any up close and personal in a while. Well, we got some this winter and are glad that we don't have to go to work in it. Nice to be able to side by the fireplaces and watch it come down.
