New Year's Day 2024

 Our New Year's Eve was pretty low-key. My parents came over for nibbles, and we all got tired and the girls went off and did their own things, so Mom and Dad left before the actual New Year was struck. 

Stace and I didn't even officially stay up all the way - I happened to be awake, but in bed, reading. But, that meant we were in better spirits to take a New Year hike. We went to a new-to-us spot, the Golden Valley Ranch Open Space, which is a little further east from Placerita Nature Center.

It was a gorgeous, gorgeous setting and day.

Later on New Year's Day, the family all came over to celebrate Ellie's 4th birthday! She was so cute, entering the house in her 4-year-old glory, in a princess dress and birthday hat.

Cora brought Seb out, as he still generally hides with others here, so she could gently pet him.

Melanie brought over a homemade lasagna, and it was delicious. She also brought birthday balloons, and included me. 

After Mel, Nick and Ellie went home, we played a card game with my Mom and Dad.

Christmas Week Hikes

 Violet is usually game to go for a hike (or nature walk), and since it was officially Boxing Day, we were able to convince Cora to go with us, as well. We also promised them boba tea, which helped. 

Earlier, we spoke with everyone in England to wish them a Happy Christmas and Boxing Day, and later, we enjoyed leftovers and watched the old movie, The Bishop's Wife.

Stace had to work some half-days this week, a bit unfortunate, but we're blessed he's so close to home. We took another nature walk with Violet, while Cora stayed home, sick with the illness Vi had the week before. A docent at Placerita Nature Center had the gorgeous red-tailed hawk out to show him off.

It was cool enough in the evening to have a fire, and the kittens were intrigued.

The littles also kept Cora company while she was sick.

We cooked up the apple pie we'd bought at Riley's Far over the weekend - so good.

We also walked up at Hart Park to the Hart Mansion and took in the views of our beautiful valley.

Having Stace home with us to take walks is so nice!

Christmas Kitties

 

Christmas Day

Cheers to a Happy Christmas, 2023!!

Different kitties in the annual family photo - you can see how thrilled Seb was to be dragged out of my bedroom to join the group.

Fire in the fireplace, and a reindeer butt hat. Doesn't get more festive than that.

Melanie brought this lovely table decor and these beef wellington bites - oh my goodness, so yummy!

We grilled our tri-tip roast this year.

Oh, yeah, baby.

Gift time - Ellie was excited to help pass out presents.

Violet loved her cool framed sand art piece, that changes as you turn the circle.

A LIGHTED dice box - good job, Violet, making Cora smile!

My beautiful mom!

Cat mug and new foundation/brushes!

Cat toys for the Christmas cats! They loved it.

Sweet relaxed kitty girl.

Ellie enjoyed making music with the kitty piano we gave her. 

Colonial Christmas Celebration

We made our return to Riley's Farm in Oak Glen - and the 18th Century - over the weekend, attending the Colonial Christmas Dinner event.

We did this two years ago, when I wore the burgandy dress Cora has on, and Cora wore the peacock green gown. 

This year, Stace was dressed in an outfit patterned off of paintings of Gov. John Wentworth, oh-so-fancy. The costumers then created a dress for me, to go with it. We were quite a well-to-do family, for a night!
 

Our meal was, again, amazing. Riley's Farm knows how to put on a great meal. We had ham and roast vegetables, corn pudding and chowder, and a giant chicken pot pie that we took home since we didn't have enough room in our bellies. (Three of us had corsets on!) Dessert - bread pudding - was outstanding as well. 

Mr. James Riley took a liking to our family, remembering us from the Meteor shower event we attended in August. He even hooked Stace up with his special home-brewed mead.

Violet was still ill, and pushed through so we could enjoy this long-planned family trip. I'm very grateful.

Live music makes every dinner better.

You really are thrust back into the late 1700s. Riley's has the Colonial Christmas dinner event repeatedly in December, but one night per season, everyone must dress in period clothing to attend. Looking out at a room full of fellow Colonists is so special.

Cora took part in the axe-throwing competition. Violet wasn't up for it, and Stace stayed inside with her.

Stace and I took part in the dancing after dinner.

The back of my gown - interesting! 

I was stopped by several people who were happy to see the dress finished and worn - they had been following along with the costumer's progress on her Instagram page as she created it. What a gift!

We spent the night at the same lovely hotel we stayed at in August. The girls now would prefer to be in their own beds, and no longer get excited to stay in hotels, but Stace and I enjoy the treat of getting away for little mini vacations.

We woke up on Christmas Eve at the hotel, enjoyed the breakfast, and then stopped at JT and Jim's on our way home, since we literally drive through their town on the way home. 

We went to church that evening, and our Christmas Eve was complete.

Christmas Fun with Friends

Girls were off school this week, so we did some Christmas shopping, baking, etc. My college friend Melanie came out with her three kids to meet the kittens - that went so well that her kids were begging her to find out info on fostering cats themselves!

And unfortunately Vi came down with sickness on Wednesday, so she had a few days in bed. 

A highlight for me was my get-together at Sue's house for Christmas, where we caught up, ate and drank, and made a craft.

Sue's been saving wine corks for many years, and had a great collection for making a cork tree decoration.

Watch out for Jen (next to me) - she has a glue gun and she's not afraid to use it!

The finished works - mine is second from the right.