There were lots of tasty eats, including breakfast at, The Griddle, located in Winnemucca, Nevada — look at the glorious green vinyl!
There was me, in my truck, writing 300 Christmas postcards for you! Don’t worry…I kept the message short…but if you’re wondering why the writing is messy it’s because Nevada highways are a wee bit bumpy.
There was one long haul drive across Idaho, Nevada and California to Christmas with the American side of our family in the sopping wet Oakland Hills.
There were a couple of quick runs through the redwood regional forest.
There was some squeezing on our niece and twin nephews (who are so darn active that I failed to secure a couple of good shots of them…every shot turned out monstrously blurry…next time…).
There was a fantastically commonwealth themed stocking for me, by Robert — he never fails to surprise me at Christmas.
There was some hunting for Zorro.
There was some hunting for the Farlinator (and a good thing too, he was becoming a tad neurotic after days of driving in a truck and lots of lazing about in Oakland).
There were small song birds.
There were whistling swans and buoyant ducks in the central valley of California.
There was a dash of hope, peace and joy in the wind.
Then there was the drive home, creeping across the central valley on highways choked with crazy California traffic.
There were a couple of nights in Grass Valley at the Krapfel homestead.
There was the half door in Nevada City.
There were those beautiful little homes wrapped in wreathes and garlands.
There were doors opened and doors closed.
There was a pastie (a 49er country phenomenon that’s a bit like a meat pie) for RW and a quinoa salad for me.
There were those twisting and turning California gold country roads that can make a girl feel queasy.
There was that little town called Rough and Ready that has always romanced me to the core.
Through the rain, there was a glimpse of my dream bug on Rough and Ready Road.
There was our 7 year wedding anniversary, on December 28th, just an hour away from the wee wedding chapel we eloped at in Reno!
There was Penelope as co-pilot.
Then there were two “required chains” sections on highways between Grass Valley and home, slow going with our wheels locked in high 4×4, a small ice storm in Nevada, ditches littered here and there with vehicles that failed to slow down for winter driving conditions, a wee blizzard white-out in Idaho just outside of Twin Falls and then finally, that moment when we rolled up and parked the truck at the curb in front of our little 103 year old farm house; fresh snow on the ground and bright stars in an ink black night sky.
Home.
There were two eggs for breakfast this morning. One from Winona and one from Rhonda. Apparently, Judith is taking a holiday from laying and since she’s my favorite hen, I’ll gladly allow her this!
Tonight is new years eve. We plan to spend it floating on our backs under the night sky at the local hot springs with Thai food take out for dinner afterward and then quiet in our home with tea, treats and perhaps a glass of nice wine or two.
We hope your Christmas holidays have been delightful with a pinch of the sacred buried well inside your heart of hearts.
Happy New Year to you, dear friends.
Love,
The Plumes
PS Now is a good time to mention that if you’ve not yet voted for your favorite Christmas Tree, you should do it as soon as possible since we’re beginning to tally votes! Thanks to every person to has taken a moment to vote!
Oh goodness, Jillian! Sounds like you had a wonderful holiday — been thinking 'bout you lots! Happy 2011!
I love "Penelope as copilot…" our little pups does the same thing. Happy 7 years to you! Love these pics…thank you for sharing!
CHEERS Jillian, Farley, Penelope & RW
(in alphabetical order after the divine miss 'J")
thank you for a beautiful 2010
thank you for your love
your art
your friendship
your support
…& for everything you do!
XOXO
Love. Leeee
What a wonderful time you've had! Your soul must be singing after all that fun 🙂 Lovely, lovely photos. I really enjoyed taking the road trip right along with you.
Happy seven years to you and RW! We share your anniversary…we celebrated five years of wedded bliss on Dec 28 ♥ What a fine day to celebrate being with the one you love!
Wishing you all that your heart desires in 2011!
B.
-xo-
my. the great stand of snow-covered evergreen trees is such a phenomenal photo! a chapel in all of nature. a place to say a prayer of thanks for such beauty….
love the little pie, co-pilot she is.
funny thing: ziggy, our dachshund-poodle, does the exact same pose on the between-the-seat armrest in our dodge ram. [must be a dachshund trait, eh?]
happy homecoming!
happy new year!
i'm with nancy: thank you for all you have done for me this past year. SO GOOD to know you! [and robert and farley and pene-pie and the chick-girls….]
xx
p.s.
looks like mister krapfel is still wearing his studly eyeglasses with the duct-tape wrapped temple.
what a man.
GUFFAWWWWWW!!!
i'm also smitten by peenie in the co-pirate (as my younger cousin used to say) seat. right now we're getting ready to head out to friend's place for the evening – i'm getting kicked in the ribs by the wee one as we speak and looking forward to eating the gluten free/dairy free focaccia bread i made for the party…oh AND looking forward to meeting said wee one sometime very soon!! at 37 weeks tomorrow, considered full term, so he could arrive any time now!
happy new year to you, RW and the fuzzies. talk to (and hopefully see!) you soon!
xoxo
I've eaten those pasties! You were in my country… hope you enjoyed it. I loved the wet weather in these here hills. Thank you for the postcard, it's lovely!
Good to see you back. I've missed your pictures, your writing, and your lovely spirit.
thanks for these delightful comments, chickadees!!! I've missed you! It's good to be home.
Happy New Year!
xx
Lovely journey and welcome home!
🙂
What a great holiday, I am excited we all disconnected, but also to be connected and see a lil postcard from you when I got home today. xx. Thank you!
Ooooh, I miss visiting Grass Valley so much! My father lived there for many years, and I used to love making the trip on those twisting roads in my little Toyota Tercel. Good times. Now I have no more family living in Cali… we've all migrated back to South Dakota over the years. Now, I only get as far west as Salt Lake City for our christmas!
I love Nevada City. Did I tell you I grew up just outside of that city? My family is still there. Enchanting, isn't it?