Christmas Eve 2011

Yuma workshop.  The bench is full of little ornaments and lights I've been working on.

Redd dropped off the Kokopelli cactus.  Will go good with the rest of the yard things.
I posted these pictures smaller than usual, and not can't seem to size them.  If you'd like to see any on them larger, just click on the picture.

Christmas Eve working on bikes!

Installed a pigtail for Redd's jacket liner, and a switch to turn it on and off.

Jim & Katie,  Ev & Dale.  Some Christmas Eve goodies.

Roman Soldier in the live Nativity play we went to this evening.  Excellent production!  Lots of live animals, good music, dancers, and even some Angels showed up.  It was a good presentation.  We sat outside on hay bales.  I'm not sure if those Roman soldiers wore shorts, but the ones here did. 

This is the Angel that came down and talked to Mary.  A large hidden crane moved him around, looked like he came out of nowhere, then the lights hit him.  They did an outstanding job!

Julie is watching Jim &  Katie get 6 months of Arizona dust off "Helen".    I think a Christmas ride is in the offing.

It's a Pink Flamingo Christmas her in Yuma!  I'm going for a ride...

Katie was going to use this flag to mark the Wedding  Site on the Blue Ridge Parkway, but the Government wouldn't let them stick it in the ground :-( So, now it marks the Ayers house.  Since we're within a few feet, it sort of marks the Acord house too! :-) 

Jim & Kate's Yuma Christmas decoration.

 Katie spent a lot of time decorating their huge tree.  It's better than anything Charlie Brown ever had :-)

Not much room in the house, so we have an outside tree.    Will add more pictures as the day goes by.  Forgot to take the camera on my early ride today.

Dec. 22, Country Junction

Outside dance floor at the Britain Ranch.  We came to Country Junction tonight to eat and see the Bost Family perform.

These guys have been waiting a long time for their food!  A museum, theater, Wild West town, and lots of antiques all over the property.

This "back bar" came around the horn on a sailing ship, and found it way to Raton,  New Mexico in the early 1800's.  It was bought at auction many years ago by Mr. Britain and moved to Yuma, AZ.

 Some members of the Bost Family.  They put on a good show!

There is a very good possibility that Pat's father worked on this old player piano.   During the 1930's and 40's he had a music business in Yuma, and his main service was adjusting and refinishing these player pianos and also regular pianos and organs.

Lots of signs like this around the main dining room

Owned by a 3rd generation Britain, this 396 SS Camero shared the dining room with us.

Some of the entertainment.  They had a stiff sense of humor.

Jack, Penny, Janet, Linda Pat and myself from the Lynda Vista drove all the way (1.1 miles) to the Britain Ranch on Riverside Road.  

Over a hundred people came to see the show.  The food was plentiful and good.  Dessert was a fresh baked apple crisp.  The roast beef was tender, and when dipped in the chili beans, it was excellent!

Mom & Dad with 6 kids performed. They are a well known group that are on the road 11 out of 12 months a year.  They spend May in Branson, MO, performing at Silver Dollar City.  I'm not a big fan of these family groups, but was pleasantly surprised with this one.  It was a "feel good" show.

The crowd was split up into 12 groups, each one sang and  performed body movements for the 12 days of Christmas.  It was fun.

The Mandolin player in the right is 12 years old, and is ranked 3rd in the State of Arizona mandolin competition.  Her 20 year old brother, who wasn't here tonight, has been ranked #1 for the last 3 years.  Next visit to Country Junction will be to see Susie McIntyre, Reba's sister, who has her own show.  

DD & Jim & KT arrive!

Jector's wall.  12 kinds of Burritos sold here.  Including Spam and Fried balogna.  They are wonderful!  Big and fat, full of goodies, and all are only $3.60.


 

Didsbury Dave surprised us with the "Timmies  Express" today.  He drove down from Calgary, Alberta with a couple cans of Tim Horton's coffee.  He just woofed down a roasted Jalapeno at David's Market.

2 tacos just wasn't enough.  So, Dave ended up eating 6 of them!  One Carne Asada, the rest hot roasted chicken with all the trimmings, and a Mexican soda pop.

When we got back to Lynda Vista, we had a surprise!  Mr. & Mrs. Ayers showed up a day early!!!!!!!   Our good neighbors are back in the park!

Was nice that Dave had a chance to see Jim & Katy.  

This young student only has a couple more classes to go and she'll be doing them on line from here in Yuma.  You've come a long way, KT.

Dave is ready to roll the Big King Ranch out on the road.  He's pulling a 32' Featherlite trailer, he hauled down 2 motorcycles and left them in Phoenix.  He has a lot of weather and miles before he gets back to spend Christmas with Romy in the Far North!

We cruised all the highly lighted neighborhoods this evening.  Candy Cane lane took the highest honers.  55nd Ave. in the Foothills came in second.  I only posted 4, most of them didn't turn out, and nothing looks like the real thing.

Live Santa on the roof, live animals dressed up in the yard, and a few Santa's Helpers there to hand out candy.

Jim (wrong turn) is trying to get with the spirit.  He says,  "Christmas lights on Palm trees just ain't right"  :-)

Snowman made from tumble weeds.

Toot, toot..........Christmas is coming!

Week before Christmas Ride

Favorite breakfast in Algodones, Mexico.  The potatoes are cut when you order, everything fresh.  The tortillas are made there on the grill. Exceptionally good!

Going to hit 70 degrees today, so Pat and I are off on the Burgman to attend the Tamale Festival in Somerton.  We had a great ride and all round good day!

3 blocks, both sides, 40 some tamale vendors of many varieties!  Long lines!

Sweet corn and green chili's inside the corn husks.  The cup is full of Mexican Chocolate with Cinnamon & Coffee.  Ummm, good!

Nice wall painting.

Sherm liked the pottery cup, so he bought one full of chocolate.

Spanish eyes!

This elementary school Mariachi Band was unbelievably good!  They were totally professional quality.  

The "fiddlers" were fantastic, their hands were a blurr.

This band was as good as those we heard in Guadalajara!

We rode through some citrus orchards, some lettuce fielsd, and even a few acres full of friendly little sheep.

One of several Swap Meets near Yuma.  Nice hats!

Socks must be a popular sell, there were 3 or 4 large booths full of them.

Pinata's for Christmas

Both ladies and men's shoes are popular here in this swap meet.  

Don't know why someone would want socks with diabetes!  Seems like healthy ones would be a lot better.....

Friut, vegegables, clothing,  electronic equipment,  hardware, and just about anything else you can think of is for sale here.  And lots of food vendors.

Big dog collars?  Maybe too heavy for Julie!

Probably a dozen booths with lady clothes

Looked like about 7 inch stilleto's 

There were 6 little Chihuahua's here for sale.  By the time we left, they were down to 2.  They were asking $150 but were negotiating a lot.  2 months old.

A cute little female.  They can steal your heard!

All the grilled hot dogs are wrapped in bacon.

The mannequin on the end used to be a pole dancer in real life.

These are the small ones.  They the large "dogzilla" ones, and also polish sausages.

There was a lady sitting in this booth paint thes pictures.  She would paint on what you brought in, or on rocks, or about anything.

These were painted on pink flagstone slabs

Pat and I sharred this plate.  Since we're going to a Potluck in the  park this evening, we didn't want to eat too much.

I w 

Mexican pastry 

American donuts.  Look at the size of the Texas donut compared to the ones of regular size.........

All the vendors has some different food, would be nice to be young and hungry so you could sample them all.

Anna, "yesterday's bride".  She worked hard today preparing some nice Chinese dishes for the park potluck this evening.

Getting ready to serve the meat and potatoes.  The rest is "on your own"

Was too busy eating to take many pictures.  The meal is over, everyone is pleasantly stuffed!

This lady hasn't missed a pot-luck at Lynda Vista for the last 8 years!

Good neighbors Mickey and Laurie are doing a little trimming.  A chilly morning!

One of the old septic tanks that was removed truned into a muddy sink hole in this carport after the recent rain.  The contractors were pulled off a different job to come back to add some dirt and compact it.

I wanted some dirt added to the front of our house where we plan to put in artificial truf next week.  The workers didn't speak any English, so I didn't pursue getting it done right now. 

We spent each Friday evening at the Bard, CA Community Building, listening to music.  There were 12 musicians there tonight.

Were short some of the regulars tonight because of them being out of town for  Christmas.  Those that were here, did an exceptionally good job.

Following the "Sing" we always end the evening at the Mad Chef in Old Town Yuma.

For several years, Amber has been our favorite waitress.  She got a few more "decorations" last Summer.  She's saving her money to go to truck driving school.  Excellent waitress, with a good sense of humor!