Merrily Down the Holiday Road, I find my way back…

Where to begin?  I am an exhausted noodle head, and missing home already.  Isn't it funny when you spend days away from your life, how you feel sort of discombobulated when you return?  I miss my Mammie 😉

      

But, I will shake it off and fill you in a little on my adventures…  Well, the good news is, I had a snowey powdered sugar kind of Christmas in the hills at home with my parents and siblings and more…  It was a run in the snow and cold and squeal kind of a holiday for me indeed!!

 

I exited the vehicle down twirly roads, oodles of times to frolick in the super cold weather…

  

  

But before I tell you about that, and my discovery of why witches hats are shaped the way they are, I will take you on a little road trip with me…

I left Catalina and drove an hour to the airport, collected my kookie friend, drove to Tubac, Arizona, shopped and ate gooey delicious cheesy melty mexican food and drank margaritas.  Where we got hit on by weird guys…  Eeeek!  We escaped that one quickly though.  And insisted (both being tough chicks) that we did not want any strange men paying for our margaritas, no Sireeeeee! 

       

 

We arrived home to twinkly lights and giant wreaths…

  

  

  

  

A warm goldie glowey house was a magical delight to fall into…

       

  

We unpacked, tucked in, and waited for the whole gang to arrive.  A house full, and laughs and bickering and more double over until you can't breathe laughs, and more bickering ;)  I am sure we all made my parents insane. 

We attempted to go to sleep…  Giggle, snort, whining about turning off the lights, chatting in the dark… 

We could hear Mombie baking until 3 a.m.  We awoke to bliss…

 

Sis makes these below, every year… 

 

And then, I baked everyone's request.  Which I bake every year as well.  My own version of… 

      

 

We prepared for Christmas Eve dinner, to be served after mass…

       

  

While we waited for guests to arrive, I went outside and took some photos of the beautiful lights my Mom and Dad and elfin helper put up…

      

 

While I was outside taking photos, I took the funniest one facing the house.  It was Mr. Lovee in the bar (eating nuts I bet) and Alden (my friend) in the kitchen.  Both have their backs turned.. And I wonder to myself, what are they doing?  It is so funny to me…  Are they nibbling before dinner? 😉

  

 

As for dinner – It was beautiful, thanks to my parents hard work putting it all together.  We enjoyed it to the core, then sat around and chatted for hours…

To view these mosaic photos, simply click, let them load up, then click again to view large version…

        

 

Now, here is one of my fave parts…  After dinner and chatting, I talked about going to the North Pole – in terms of Santa's village…  And my Dad said, he might be able to take us there…

 

So, my friend, Mr. Lovee and Mammie and Dad jumped in the car.  Noone else was game ;)  And we arrived to a magical land for sure.  I jumped out of the car and skipped around and bounced and danced.  There was pure holiday music streaming through the street (literally from the people's gadgets on their roofs).  I was singing like crazy…  SO much fun!

I am from a very small town, tiny in fact, so everyone knows everyone, and my mom filled us in on all the light wars between these two houses…  I think they both win, in my book!

 

 

  

Isn't it wonderful?  I don't think it is cheesy at all, I think it is quite fun.  In the past I may have rolled my eyes, but call it the aging process ;)  I just enjoyed it tons…

We then drove through town, and I took a picture of the center of our town, where the beautiful Catholic church sits…

       

I took this one below for you too… I took it from the top of the hill where Granny's house is…  

Ever wonder what separates you from Mexico?  A HUGE wall, lit constantly, in a little border town… That's what ;)  

 

So, after our Make Believe North Pole excursion, we went home and chatted until the very late hours of the night…  Forcing ourselves to sleep…  Which is a reason Santa was running very very late the next day, hee hee ;)

      

Christmas day was filled to the brim!  Coffee and treats and gifts oh my!!

       

       

  

  

       

  

Giggling and ripping paper, and trying on goodies and thanking one another, but enjoying eachother's company more than anything… 

      

 

I made my Mammie her very own Sugar Plum Fairy and oodles of jewelry ;)

      

 

Then slowly, everyone started disappearing playing with new toys…  I was enamoured with Mammie's yearly delight, "The Fairy Tree."  There are more fairies in that house than anywhere, I am sure of it…  Except a store or fairy factory.  They are on the mantle, in my sister's room, and better than anything, in the magical Fairy Tree…

  

 

      

 

       

  

       

  

       

   

       

Oh and the cutest thing, Santa left a brand new bicycle for Mammie ;)  She jumped right on it…

       

  

When Mammie came in from riding, she said "the only one watching me ride my new bike was Mr. Lovee."  He was such a cutie, helping her, making sure she didn't break her neck…  And they were both freezing because it was truly coat and scarf weather – and the snow was looming…

      

 

Not that you care ;)  but from where Mammie is standing, all you see for miles and miles surrounding the house is this…  And I have long crazy tales about exploring that land myself as a wee kid…

  

  

Anyhow, I have completely lost track of why I am talking your ear off (or eyeballs in this case), or what I am talking about… 

Oh yes, Christmas…  Sooooo, after gifts and such, we piled in the car, and went to my Grandma and Grandpa's house (Mom's parents).  My friend Alden, had such a wonderful time with my incredible Grandparents, who lavished her with more hugs and kisses she could have ever hoped for.  So much so that she was moved to tears.  When asked if she was okay, she said she longed to have her own family as such, with grandparents to love…  It was very touching and made me want to hang on to everyone for dear life myself…

It was starting to get cloudy and snow weather was rolling in, so these photos at Nana's are very weird in color…

      

 

Granny's house is the best…  Alden questioned my Grandmother oodles on tortilla making, and was as in love with that wood burning stove as all of us are…  She asked my grandfather so many questions about his fireplace and such, I think he was in seventh heaven 😉

      

By the way – the thing that astounds me is that my grandfather is 80 and doesn't have a white hair on his head…  Floors me every time…

      

 

Granny puts up a huge beautiful manger…

  

Kids opened gifts.  My brother Adam, gave a beautiful pop up Alice in Wonderland book to Carolina…

  

  

Surrounding her were 15 loud people all opening gifts…  But I didn't get clearance to slap their faces on my blog, so you can imagine it all ;)  

After Granny's, we drove home, and spied the Ferromex Train…

  

 

4 deer were waiting for us on the other side of the gate to our driveway…

  

  

And just in time for winter – all the leaves fell off of my favorite tree, in one afternoon…

  

  

Are you bored at my super long post yet?  How do they get sooooo long?  Goodness me…

Well, the next part of my story is the last part for now ;)  And it has to do with witches hats…  You see, I have made a discovery.  Witches not only made those great hats for stylish effect – they serve a huge weather purpose.

 

They should be sold for the winter, not just Halloween!!  They need to make a winter wear debut in a major way…  Maybe I am on to something?  And better yet, they keep your camera safe from rain or snow, and your eye make-up too!!

You see on the 26th, when snow was falling everywhere, I urged a few to pack into the car, and let Mammie and Daddy take us for a drive in our Winter Wonderland…  I got dressed first.  And realizing I only had a witches hat - I found brilliant use for it…

 

I put on 3 layers.  I felt like a snowman.  Here is the only chance you may get in life of seeing me in that get-up…  In the pantry door ;)  I wore that hat all over snow filled lands…

I am holding a huge bag, so that is what you see on my shoulder…

      

And, I have to confess.  My sister was mortified at my outfit.  Pistachio green pants, three tops, a thick winter Indian quilted coat (with lots of colors), and a witches hat.  Truth be told, I wasn't embarrassed of my outfit in the least bit.  Nope, not at all…  Told you, I am nutty sometimes…  She hollered "Are you really going out like that???"  Umm, Yep!  😉

It was soooo theraputic to be out in the wildnerness, in the silence of snow falling…  I forgot to change out of my high heeled boots, so I wore them, to walk all around the wildnerness…  I walked down roads that had less snow, as we exited the mountains, where it was dangerously snowing a bit to much to be on those roads…

 

 

  

  

   

 

  

  

  

As we drove into town, the snow subsided… 

 

       

 

And we drove by a little house literally in the woods, in the middle of nowhere…

  

 

 Alas, I have to confess, that little couple inches of snow, was all I think I might want in life.  The cold is a tad too cold for us Arizona people.  And I don't think I can live in Wisconsin.  Mr. Lovee's family has been sending a ton of hate mail to us, because of the snow shoveling Mr. Lovee is making fun of them for…  ;)  Isn't he a meanie?  😉

We needed warm drinks after all that…  So we headed to Patagonia, where on the outskirts, sits a shrine that I have been to over a hundred times in my life…

Curious?  Come with me.. I'll give you a sneak peek…

      

 

Up the super narrow stairs, still in these bad boys…

       

  

  

  

  

  

Inside, you slowly open the little gate to fill it with your candles or prayers, etc…

       

  

       

 

Then off to Patagonia, Arizona - not far from our house, to get warm at the cafe…  I think Patagonia must have a popluation of about 700-800 people max…  It is teeny tiny, and quaint and charming, and again, teeny tiny.   

 

 

      

  

  

  

I stayed a couple more days, and then had to deal with packing…  My least fave part.  But, the fact that I was packing treasures was fun…  My car was so full!  I had all sorts of stuff, including big furniture.  Which I loaded into my car myself.  I am proud of the huge tasks I accomplish (moving furniture and such), and I feel so gratified.  I found ways to do a lot of it without hurting myself…  Mr. Lovee says I am crazy strong ;)  Tee heee  ;)  Not too tall at all, but strong like Popeye ;)  Okay, not quite…  Maybe a little strength mixed with a whole lot of determination 😉

 

Sooooo, believe it or not, I think that is all I have to say for now…  Later (next post) I will share all my paper cutting I did on my trip, and show you how I kept everyone totally entertained…

Here are a few…

 

 

  

  

I couldn't cut paper fast enough… Everyone wanted one…  You know, people are easily amused when there is nothing else to do but eat and chat and play…  😉

I must be off, I have really overdone it this time, with this super long post!!  Must make sense of my unpacking and rest up…  We might go out of town for New Year's…  My Grandma's birthday is January 1st…

All I know is I am one tired girl…  How about a vacation from my vacation?  ;)  Any ideas?

Can't wait to catch up with you though!!!  How are you guys???  Did you have a Holly Jolly Christmas???

More sooooooon!!  xoxo, V  

ps:  I forgot to take photos of Mammie's village (which she asked me to take, oops), but you can see last year's here…