Christmas Traditions

This our third Christmas in the motorhome. Our fiber-optic tree travels with us year round in the storage basement below our living space. The decorations give our home a cozy feeling. A little Christmas decor inside and a lot of lights outside go a long way in a small space.

 

Off to San Diego we go to spend Christmas in my family home. Mom asked my brother to plant the multiple poinsettia plants she received just a couple years ago as a group. Along with ripe tangerines on the tree and blue sky, this is what a San Diego Christmas is like.

Some Christmas elves helped the seesters pick a beautiful Christmas tree. Yes Tammy, the fourth one we were holding for you.

Mom and her girls. This is not a clear photograph, but you can clearly see how much the "O" babes love each other.

This is the Christmas Tradition mentioned in the post heading. Growing up our families would make a hard candy, similar to Jolly Ranchers. The corn syrup/sugar mixture is brought to temperature, color and flavoring are added, then poured onto iced and oiled pans.

The designated "flippers" spread the the blistering hot liquid into flat pancakes. Easier said than done.

Once it can be handled by hand, it is cut into strips. We only have a few moments to work at this stage.

The strips are snipped into small "pillows" and tossed in powdered sugar so they don't stick together

Each flavor is done separately with cinnamon as the last flavor so the house smells wonderful. 

This is the final product.

Thank you Chris and Denise for keeping the tradition alive. This being the second time that Kelsey & Alicia participated hopefully will ensure it will carry on.

This is a close up picture of Chris' vine Christmas tree.

Denise and Gary brought along Grayson and Ethan from the East Coast to San Diego. The boys went for a bike / skateboard ride to Fiesta Island Christmas Eve morning.

As always, Dad was there to share in the stinky cheese and Cuba libres.

Grandma and three of her grand-daughters

And she had her nails done by Alicia

The gift exchange is always the hit of the evening. Right after Oyster Stew and Chili. Tim thinks we are so odd not to have a traditional fancy meal, but we prefer it this way.

Look at this: it's fancy. Good job Stephanie!

On Christmas morning we go to the beach and look for dolphins. Usually we see them, but not this year. The tides were huge because of the full moon. It was chilly for San Diego, but after all, it is winter.

Ethan, Denise, Gary and Grayson

A few days before the Ocean Beach Pier was closed for safety reasons because the waves were hitting the pier.

San Diego was a lovely city to grow up in.

Merry Christmas Mario

Denise, Mom and I stopped by to say hi to Dad. His eternal view is spectacular!

Kaela shared this picture from her Christmas in Melbourne, Australia

No matter where in the world you spent Christmas, it was a full moon to be remembered.

Sunny San Diego

Living the first 45 years of my life in San Diego means that when we come to visit we don't do touristy stuff. The places we revisit have obvious meaning and revolve around family and friends. First thing is always a with visit Mom. She is really enjoying her new cushions and the warm temperatures in her lovely backyard.

Most of the garden has been moved to the raised area so it's easy for Mom to tend. The barbeque that Dad built is just waiting for a couple of chickens to get thrown on.

Every trip to SD involves some food and drinks with best friends Mario, Patti, Daniel & Evie

This is Watson. He's a pet pig that lives at the RV Park we stayed in.

We had a great time at Mike Dini's birthday party. Kaela got to see the brother she never had: Zach

An excursion with Kaela and Joshua took us to La Jolla. It was a very windy day.

Veterans Day brought us to Mount Soledad to visit Dad's plaque on the wall of servicemen and women. There are Presidents, Generals, Spanish-American War Veterans, and peoples from all branches of the service. The the only civilian allowed on the wall is Bob Hope in recognition for his 25 years of entertaining the troops. One family has remembrances of the father and 11 sons who have served our country in the armed forces. The docent commented their mother deserved to be on the wall too. 

The last couple of years I have reconnected with my girlfriends from my Del Mar days. Sandi and Michele along with their husbands Tracy and Brad met up with us for an evening at Proud Mary's Blues Jam. Kaela's childhood friend Alex and her man Jonathan came along as did our good friends Evie and Daniel. This gathering reminds me of our Tacoma days.

While in San Diego, Kaela had a couple friend fly in to see her from Tacoma. We all went to dinner at Dini's

Can you believe I made these! They are as tasty as they are beautiful.

Tim golfs. I bead. It is my hobby while living on the road. In addition to jewelry, I enjoy designing and making these beaded votive candle holders. 

Wine drinking, camper girls, flower power, hummingbird, and Christmas lights

More holiday and other personalized designs are coming.

Early Thanksgiving at the Oswald's

The center of our Thanksgiving has traditionally been about the big bird on Dad's rotisserie. Tim did an amazing job, he kept the oak wood fire at the perfect low and slow temp. Dad was smiling down on Tim to let him know his first attempt was a great success. 

I carved the turkey and did a pretty good job of it.

Right smack in the middle of the kitchen is where to be during this time so you can score a taste of moist turkey (and skin) before it reaches the dining table.

The excuse for our early Thanksgiving was partially because Kaela and Joshua are visiting from Australia. Several family members wouldn't be in San Diego on traditional Thanksgiving day so we combined a welcome home with giving thanks..

Our family is a combination of carnivores, vegetarians, pescatarians, and vegans. Everyone brought a dish to share and the result was unique and delicious. What you don't see here are the 3 pumpkin pies, 1 pecan pie, 2 banoffee pies (a traditional British dessert), 2 pans of magic bars for dessert, and Ciscso's surprise German chocolate birthday cake from Meilu.

My girl and I have matching squinty eyes