Holiday festivities in Plymouth

This past weekend, we had a nice day of family festivities. At home, we trimmed the tree that Ryan put up in the living room. Nancy heated up some cider and put out crackers and cheese. Almost all of their ornaments are handmade by Ryan's grandmother on his father's side. Some of the family favorites are ornaments that the kids made over the years, Alyssa's classic "bisnse" ornament, Jeremy got a cute one too (see flickr).

After tree trimming, we all went to Edaville. Down the road about 10 minutes is essentially a mini theme park. Little rides, little animatronic people and animals, ferris wheels, merry go rounds, and a huge train that circles the property that is covered with lights. They have light shapes of all sorts of creatures in the woods, Christmas themed and otherwise. Upstairs in one of the old factory buildings on the property they have a wonderful little cranberry museum. Harvesting cranberries is a pretty interesting thing and definitely part of the local history. Ryan and I rode the Ferris wheel and we saw the most amazing moon rising in the sky. Just on the horizon, it was deep red with small dark grey clouds passing in front. It was a magical evening. We capped it off with a fancy dinner at a place called Boca Tu in Kingston. Excellent food, if you ever get in that area.

I'll be missing our tree trimming this year in Santa Barbara. I will miss the sights and smells that go along with carefully unwrapping each ornament. Peeling off the ancient tissue paper from grandma's ornaments, Lara's delicate collection of glass ones and my collection of horses (that in the last 5 years changed to collection of star themed ornaments).

Yesterday Ryan, Josh and I went walking on the golf course. We had a whole lot of fun doing something that is completely new to me and an old standard for them. Ice puddle smashing! Playing on shallow formed ice is a satisfying in the weirdest way. As Ryan says, "all of the thrill of falling through cracking ice with none of the danger"

The average temperature here is about 25 degrees right now, but currently there is no snow. I hope it snows soon because when I walk down the street all bundled up with no snow or ice in sight it makes me feel like I'm overdressed. I enjoy being surprised by things freezing in the car.

I think I am beginning to understand how weather humbles you in a way. You cannot control it at all. The California lifestyle (beachside) is generally used to getting what it wants when it wants. Some type of immediate gratification is available all the time. But here, there is a flow that you have to roll with.