At least this year our tree stood proud! We bought a new stand that can accomodate a very large trunk and one the holds a lot of water. That made it very stable. The ornaments were safe.

I was amazed at how fast the time went. December was over almost before it began. Some of the projects I had planned to complete for Christmas didn't get done. Oh well, there is always next year!

 
A rock pelican and a spreading oak tree

December had some good weather, rainy weather and foggy weather. We got down to the river for our walks when we could. Gordy calls them forced marches - but we do need the exercise. Unfortunately, December was not really wet - more cold and foggy. We even had less rain than last year (which was considered a drought year). So, it looks like we are in for another dry year. This is too bad - not just for the farmers, but also for fishing. Hard to get on the lake when it is ultra low!

The rock sculptor along our walks has been busy. This time I helped out by adding to one sculpture to make a rock pelican. It takes a calm hand to balance the rocks. I am still in the initial learning phase.

Gordy and I have been pondering a question about the oak trees. Some of the trees stand tall with one massive trunk. While other trees have multiple trunks like the one in the picture above. The trunks seem to come from a central root system that branched before emerging from the ground. Just as we start to think that this is a trait of one type of oak, we see another type do it. Are these oak clumps actually multiple trees? Does anyone know the answer?

Me and Lisa Montes, Honorary Major of Orangevale, at the Fair Oaks Christmas Parade

The first weekend in December is always "Christmas in the Village" and the next day is the California International Marathon. I rode in the parade with Cheryl and Marilyn for the Woman's Tuesday Club. We throw candy to the children along the route. The Honorary Mayor of Orangevale, Lisa Montes, also rode in the parade. I got to meet her because she is a neighbor of Marilyn's daughter, Rosie. The parade is fun with a mixture of politician's, clubs, bands, floats and of course, Santa.

This year at the California International Marathon, the captain for our check point was there for the delivery of the cups. He did not want a repeat of last year when someone stole all the cups and gatorade. Also, our friend, Helen Klein, did not run the marathon. She decided that at 86, she had run her last race. I still am amazed by her and missed looking for her to come by.

Anyway, all was running smoothly at our check point until the very end. That is when the medical team owned up to having sent a runner via ambulance to the hospital. They never told the check point captain and I just stumbled upon the fact while talking to them. Of course they didn't know the runner's number or full name. The fire station is just around the corner from the check point, so the ambulance didn't have to pull up to the check point. After a few minutes of running about, we finally got all the information needed and passed it on. Next year, I will make sure the medical team knows to tell us right away when there is a problem.

Woman's Thursday Club Christmas luncheon - Mary Dobrowolski, Gloria Yost, Marilyn Pearce and Barbara Moore perform

The Woman's Thursday Club had their Christmas luncheon on the second Thursday of December. It is usually a pot luck and we suspend the regular meeting. Dorothy Huggett and her husband (yes, sometimes there are men at the meetings) led us in song. Four members, Mary, Gloria, Marilyn and Barbara did a reading of "The Night before Christmas". We never assign people what to bring and amazingly, we always get a good balance of dishes.

The Delta Divas had their Christmas dinner in the old Officer's Club at McClellan Air Force base, now called Lion's Gate Hotel and Dining (the food was excellent). Another Red Hat Chapter (I forgot their name) entertained us with a great Christmas review. Then we had a gift exchange via Jeanne's ever popular right/left poem. To refresh your memories, that is when she says right, you pass a gift right and vice versa. So what ever you have in your hand at the end of the story, is the gift you get--always a fun way to end the evening.

 
Buster with the toy Marilyn gave him for Christmas - 1 1/2 hours after he got it

The kids were over on Christmas Eve. That is all except granddaughter, JJ, who was in Hawaii with her other grandparents. It was a fun evening. On Christmas Day, John came over and so did Jim and Marilyn. In the present exchange, Marilyn and Lily gave Buster two gifts. One was a chew bone that Buster devoured in 10 minutes. The other was a play toy. When I gave him the toy, he was enjoying tossing it around until he discovered that there was a squeaker in it. Then it was death to the squeaker. In an hour and a half, the squeaker was history. It took that long, because he stopped for dinner.

Jim and I on New Year's Eve

 
Marilyn and Lily and Gordy and Lily on New Year's Eve

The time between Christmas and New Year's Eve was quiet. Just sort of puttering around the house. On New Year's Eve, Jim and Marilyn came over to celebrate and John stopped by for a visit. Jim had made a sign for the celebration. It read "2008 - Good Riddance". That just about summed up the feelings about the year. We snacked on a great assortment of hors d’oeuvres but didn't break out the guitars. So there was no hootenanny and consequentially we didn't make it to the New Year. Jim and Marilyn left around 10ish. I tried to stay up to midnight but only made it to a little after 11. Gordy did make midnight, whispered "Happy New Year" and came to bed.

So, it is a brand new year and the cycle begins anew. January so far is cold with fog, light rain and an occasional appearance of the sun. It will be interesting to see what happens during the course of the coming year.

So, that's where we are. We wish you all a very Happy New Year!

Thanks for stopping by,