New Year's Eve

 

Sailing over the Grand Canyon headed to Phoenix

The cousins and I have waited for what seemed like forever to meet up in Phoenix to celebrate our Aunt Arna's 88th birthday.  How can our Aunt be 88, when ♫Younger than Springtime is she♪♥..? The event called for a pPop-up Carter Family Reunion, held the weekend of New Year's eve. I flew in New Year's eve and my Cuzzies Rhonda and Ideaa picked me up at the airport .

My cousins love to shop & had a few things they needed anyway, so we hit a mall picking up some decorations, then we made it to the Jone's house, the family's gathering spot. there we were greeted by my other 'Cuzzies' who flew in from as far away as Michigan, New York, Colorado, North Carolina and Florida. Our family is spread around the country, no wonder we are always so eager for get-togethers. 

Pig's feet at the top of my plate

For sometime now, Aunt Arna told us she wanted to do something special for everyone to celebrate the new year and our pop-up reunion. She accomplished that, making a wonderful potful of pickled pig's feet. Pigs Feet is a  speciality my Grandmother Adele used to make:true Bajan soul food. I wouldn't eat it when I was a kid, but you better believe my cousins and I dug into the treat tonight: as delicious and all the better to us because it was made by our precious Aunt Arna.

Grandmother Adele

Cousin Dovin & his wife Rosa were marvelous hosts. Dovin serving refreshments, both 'virgin' (sans alcohol) and 'fully loaded'. Rosa fed us all with her tasty and authentic, homemade Mexican soup. I don't recall the name of it - and I was too busy wolfing it down to remember to photograph any of it - but I respectfully named it 'Mexican Pho Soup' because it was served with lots of sides, veggies,  onions, peppers and loads of lime juice and such, in the manner of Vietnamese pho soup. 

The chit chat and extensive viewing of family photos went on and on until we readied ourselves to cheer in the New Year.

At midnight and the start of the year 2022, the hugs, cheers and joy were even more evident than the yawns, from those who like me don't often stay up past midnight, i.e., me, lol!

Family friends for the new year!

After ringing in the new year, those of us staying at nearby local hotels headed out. I was rooming with my Cousin Jonni Anne and our Cousin Rhonda is across the hall from us. We need to rest up for the remainder of our Pop-up Carter Family Reunion. HAPPY NEW YEAR Y'ALL!

First Snow of the Season

 

A view of the neighborhood, Canada in the distance across the Salish Sea

This week there was snowfall on Christmas day. What a treat! Loads of photos were taken and a few of them are showcased here. The one up top was taken from the 2nd story of my neighbor Nita's home. It sits up on a slight rise and from there you can see the Dungeness Spit which appears as a white stripe on the water in the photo above. Also in the photo above you can see Canada, also sprinkled with the cold white stuff. 

The 'notorious lilac house' 

The lilac house(s) in the center above looks ensy but is a huge 2 story house and was the talk of the neighborhood. I think it angered pre-existing neighbors either because it blocked views or just because it is HUMONGOUS. I think it is pretty, like a gigantic lavender thumb. 

My view of the Olympic Mountains over the top of the neighbor's roof.

View from my upstairs window

Clouds trying to outshine the snow covered grounds

This bottom photo was taken as I drove, headed for town. Not a stellar photo, but wow... so amazed that I live, once again, someplace where it snows. Wonders will never cease?