Christmas wrap

Relaxed, friend-filled Christmas holiday. The annual Davis Holiday Meal served probably more than 800 people with turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, vegetables, cranberry sauce, rolls and butter and a huge variety of desserts. I hadn't been for years and years, and it was fun to be there. Saw lots of people I knew, many I didn't; a cross-section of Davisites.


My dining companions (below)—Bill, Pica, Numenius and Susan (not in the picture):


A better picture of Pica and Numenius:

And yours truly, forking in turkey stuffing:

After dinner, Bill and Susan and I gathered 'round my bottle of Bailey's (still drinkable even though probably 7 years old—maybe it's like brandy), opened a few presents and chatted about this and that, simply enjoying one another's company.

Come Christmas morn, I wallowed in bed staying warm and toasty, then up for a breakfast of French toast with bananas, yogurt and maple syrup accompanied by good strong French roast coffee. Around noon, broke out of the house and went for a Christmas walk in the Arboretum, which seemed to be an idea that had occurred to a number of others—couples, families, folks walking their dogs. Weather had warmed up and the sun was out; still a bit chilly but fine for walking. I stopped to sit for a bit on one of the benches in the native California section, one of my favorite spots.

I was surprised to find this California poppy blooming along the path. It's December, fercryinoutloud!

Fall/winter still in evidence, though . . .

My return route took me up to Voorhies Hall and through its lovely (and largely ignored, it seems) courtyard, planted with roses surrounded a burbling fountain. Another favorite place.


Then it was off to Danville with Susan to her sister Jane's house for Christmas dinner.

Susan and Jane attack the cooking.

This Brussels sprouts-cauliflower concoction tasted even better than it looks.

The festive meal:
Pork roast, dried cherry relish, brussels sprouts-cauliflower dish, mashed potatoes, applesauce

I came home with leftovers. Perhaps tomorrow, I shall fast. Or not.

Eve afternoon

Just finished cleaning house, leastways my version of cleaning house—picking up all the newspapers and vacuuming the floors—and am looking out my back window at a sunny but crisply cold afternoon. There was ice on the fountain again this morning, confusing the birds. Susan and Bill are coming over around 4:30, and we'll head up to the annual Davis Holiday Meal, given these past 24 years by the Davis Food Co-op as a way to bring the community together to celebrate the season and one another. After dinner, it's back here to crack open the Bailey's and exchange Festivus tributes. As for tomorrow, I've been invited to join Susan at her sister's house in Danville for dinner. And maybe, just maybe, if I'm not in fear of my earlobes freezing off, I'll get in a bike ride beforehand.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a warm night!