Aromas

is farm country south of Santa Cruz next door to Watsonville's Driscoll Farms, where suspicious locals say, "the one thing you never put in your mouth is a California strawberry" - also home to Uncle David & Aunt Stephanie, where we spent part of Christmas, letting the boys become range-free.

Stephanie raises 30 hens - Japanese Silkies 

 and French Maransknown for their chocolate eggs

mythologized by being OO7's personal favorite. Green Eggs and Ham was no Seuss hallucination!

This guinea was mesmerizing.  Michael keeps talking about raising chickens and pumpkins, so we'll see.

We ferried onto Fisherman's Wharf from Ev's area, riding the cable car to the interesting museum at the top - a first, but felt like cogwheel train Switzerland.

Golden Gate in the background, barely visible on this window of sunshine between hard rains before and after.

The art deco beauty. Photo compliments Michael. Bridges are key focal points in Japanese gardens which, in a way, characterizes bay area topography. I recall my parents driving us back and forth repeatedly over virtually every bridge we crossed on roadtrips, including above.

The gifts were mercifully streamlined, mostly due to the economy. Michael's Starry Night turned into personal gifts based on Carolyn's BHCA art projects:

I no longer regretted buying the train, as the boys were at it hard every moment.
Michael got a bike upgrade and Jack hasn't learned to dislike hand me downs yet.

 

 

Michael made us take a family hike in our backyard, to a 360 degree vista - complete with picnic!

 

Had a second Xmas with Elle, returning from PA. The drawing book hit the bull's eye.

We've kept Santa Claus alive - not just the historical St Nicholas - but recouping fantasy in an age of disbelief; the historicity of myth, if you will. In that vein, Tolkien produced annual pictures and letters from Santa for his children.

 Epiphany tomorrow, the 12th day of Christmas - marking the wise men - gentiles - who returned to their homes, proclaiming good news.