Christmas 2012

Christmas decorations on El Paseo
Christmas in the Desert
A different lifestyle

From Owen and Nadine – Our Christmas note 2012

From Desert Hot Springs, the Coachella Valley, Southern California

This year we have decided to send the money it would have cost to make and mail Christmas cards to the Food Bank and Arrowhead (non profit organizations on the Sunshine Coast).  Hence this letter via e-mail.  The written words in Green is Owen sharing his views on the season and the written words in Red is Nadine catching up on 2012.  When you have time, grab a cuppa tea or something stronger and have a read.

Dear Friends and Family,

Well shut my mouth, its Christmas down south.

The Mountains have snow, but not the valley below.

You can buy a Christmas tree down here but a lot of folks decorate their Christmas cactus.  That’s a little too prickly for me.  Lots of Canucks in Southern California golfing.  Too bad they are not playing hockey.  But look at the bright side, there is no Stanley Cup to lose.

Gee whiz, gosh, by golly, it’s Christmas ‘time machine’ time.  Rod Stewart is singing with Ella Fitzgerald.  Michael Buble is singing with Bing Crosby and I’m singing Blue Christmas but not with Elvis.  Too bad.  We’ll go out on our ‘souped’ up golf cart to sing carols with our neighbours.  Guess what?  The Americans know all of the words to our Christmas Carols.  They are pretty clever.  But they still haven’t figured out our Boxing Day.  Better get off the air for now – have a Merry Christmas.

We have had a full year.  We brought in the New Year in Southern California at Hidden Springs in the Club House.  Owen and his friend, Nathan, provided the music.  Lots of dancing and sing a-longs.  About 70 people.  We enjoyed the Palm Springs International Film Festival in January.   Nadine’s highlite in January was going to the Pasadena Rose Bowl parade.

We spent the winter in the Coachella Valley golfing, exercising and doing a lot of visiting.  Friends from home and new made friends; Snowbirds and locals.  Social butterfly’s! 

We drove to Phoenix in February (270 miles) to visit our niece Sara, Matt & Aidan and Nadine’s Uncle Jack & Aunt Pat.   Sister Karen spent two weeks with us and Sister Debbie and our brother-in-law Rocco were here.  Niece Cara came for a short visit too.  Another highlite for Nadine was volunteering at the LaQuinta Art Festival – the 2^nd largest in North America.  She is looking forward to volunteering with them again in 2013. 

We headed home the beginning of April in hopes of an early sunshiny spring.  That was not to be.  But finally in mid July summer struck with a vengeance.  Big improvements on Mystic Manor, Ruxton Island.  A cart path was ‘cut’ to the cabin, lumber and cement were hauled and a new (not yet completed) 400 sq. ft. deck was added.  The cistern is now filling and one of Owen’s first jobs when we return this year will be to get the pump operating.  We now have a propane refrigerator too.  It is wonderful to have friends visit and a big Shout Out to those who lent a helping hand.  Thank You.

Keats Island remains a constant in our lives.  We have a wonderful community of ‘family’ there.  We enjoy everything about the Island.  Potlucks, visitors, swims, boating, music, memories and sunshine.  Owen continues to whittle away at projects.  There is always something that needs fixed and worked on.

Most of the unpleasant weather was spent at our home in Halfmoon Bay.  It’s a great place to ‘hunker down’.  Nadine spent time in her studio and Owen spent time in his shop.  Owen had a few ‘gigs’ on the SC this year too.  They were time consuming but he had fun and when we are home, he continues to make music with his buddies “The Greyful Dead”.  Besides his music, Owen got out sailing with the same buddies and had a 3 day fishing trip.  No fish.

The big news of the year is the birth of our honourary Grandbaby, Luke.  Luke was born June 29^th to Jeremy’s best friend, Mark and his partner, Jennifer.  We both find ways to get into Vancouver to spend time with Luke and they came to the SC for Canadian Thanksgiving.    We are missing him and can only imagine how much he will have grown when we see him in April.  5 months is a long time.

We have enjoyed decent health.  Owen has had hip issues which also cause him knee and back pain.  We are told that one day he will have a hip replacement.  Sooner is better.  As we get older, we get these little aches and pains.  But most of you know that.

We have returned to California for the winter again.  There is a name for us.  Snowbirds. 

New Years.  Let’s see who can last ‘til midnight.  Around here they all pull the plug when they drop the ball in New York.  That’s 9:00 pm PST.   Hopefully we’ll carry on later than 9.  Next is Couch Potatoe time with all of the college bowl games and guess what?  More food!

Don’t make any New Years Resolutions you can’t keep.  Just pick an easy one and recycle it every year.

We keep Jeremy and all of our loved ones, who have passed on, in our hearts during the holiday season and throughout the year.

We wish you a very Merry Christmas and the Happiest and Healthiest of New Years.

Love from Owen and Nadine