Another Christmas in the Sun

December 18-25, 2022

Tombstone, Arizona

Amazing that this is the fourth Christmas at our Tombstone house! Looking around I hardly remember what the place looked like when we moved in. Sometimes it's still hard to believe how we just "fell into" the place so easily, and how half of our upgrades came free of charge courtesy of a neighbor's insurance company! 

The closer we got to Christmas the warmer our temps got. While we had those couple days of pretty snow last week, when the big day arrives it's 68 degrees with sunny, blue skies. 

We appreciate how fortunate we are when so many across the country have been buried by brutal winter storms. The Buffalo Bills spent their Christmas Eve in Chicago - stranded when the airports closed. 8 games were played on Saturday in temps below 20 degrees. Friends in the north haven't been under freezing for days. Many missed seeing family due to travel restrictions. Several events are cancelled in Dallas over the weekend. 

Tahoe saw record snow-fall this weekend photo from Google Images

Beautiful and warmer Arizona skies.

We enjoy a full palette of colors.

The only "holiday preparation" is picking up a Honeybaked Ham in Tucson on Tuesday. All the grands have their presents, we've been enjoying our tree and other sparkles for several weeks, it's just three of us for Christmas. The city is (not surprising) busy with schools out, and shoppers making their mad dashes to finish their lists. I've prepaid for the ham and snag a parking spot in front of the store - and there is zero line at the time of my scheduled pickup. Sweet!! Trader Joe's isn't quite as quick, but their crew move us efficiently and with good cheer so it's a pleasant stop as well. And I'm done :-))) 

I'm listening to Fairy Tale by Stephen King on Audible which is so good! It makes these drives through the desert even nicer. Great views and perfect weather don't hurt either. One of the criteria for finding a winter base was having a good size city within an hour with a large airport, quality hospital, and decent services/restaurants/stores. Tucson fits all those needs with the addition of good museums, galleries, festivals and other fun things to do. 

What's funny about this is that my mother retired to Tucson in the 1980s, and when visiting her from California for years, I wasn't a fan. I guess I still wouldn't choose to live there, but having it close to our remote place in Tombstone is a pretty perfect combination!

Jeff finally gets in to see the dentist, and has to get a tooth pulled. Days before Christmas is sucky timing for sure, but he's glad to get it done. With the exception of the ham, I attempt a "softer" food theme for the holiday :-)

In the waiting room - love it!

Christmas Eve we enjoy a gathering with friends at their house down the road. About 25 people for tamales and posole and pie. All delicious with fun conversation and lots of cheering and grumbling for the Dallas game and Steelers game - both wins so Bill and I are happy. Bummed that Franco Harris passed just days before the retiring of his Steelers' #32 jersey at this game - he was one of my heroes in the early days of my fanship. 

Christmas kids

Christmas is a quiet and peaceful day with stockings and gifts - I get a very cool steel tongue drum - and a yummy mid-day dinner. More football and photos and videos from the grands wrap up the day. 

Holiday yummies

Henry amping up the cute.

Penelope and Reese bundled up with Mom and Dad in Washington DC.

M and M enjoying neighborhood lights.

Elliott getting help from Daddy.

Ezra loves his Buzz.

Oliver sporting broccoli and a bruise for his first Christmas.

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday, that Santa brought you smiles and wonder, and you had that extra piece of pie or glass of wine - or both!