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!
