CHRISTMAS WITH RICH AND FAMILY

Christmas Eve – We are staying for five nights at TT Pio Pico so we could spend time at Christmas with Ken’s son Rich and his family. Rich and his two boys live in Chula Vista with his girl friend Marlow and her two children. They seem to be a big happy family.

Marlow and Rich were preparing dinner when we arrived.

She was excited to show me her new refrigerator. Already it is covered with her mementoes from around the world.

While we were waiting for dinner, we talked with Niki, Vickie and Steve by Skype! That was fun!

Here’s Niki. If you look closely you’ll see the old folks in the little square at the bottom of the screen!!

After dinner we exchanged Christmas gifts.

Rich’s boys Russell and Jacob open their new Battle Machines

Emily is In A Pickle with her new game.

Anthony got a Battlefield game.

We gave Rich and Marlow an Atomic Clock because we rely on ours every day, especially to see what the outdoor temperature is in the mornings so we would know how to dress!!.

And we open our gift from Rich and Marlow – A Shredder! They had heard the stories of how Ken had overloaded one of our shredders and burned it up; and with a second shredder he found out that shredders really doesn't work in the rain!! Thanks guys!!

Here we are with the children: Russell, Jacob, Emily and Anthony!

A Christmas picture with Rich and Marlow.

Later we all drove to a nearby neighborhood where all the homes on Christmas Circle were decorated with numerous lights.

We had a most enjoyable Christmas, spending it with Rich and his family!!

PICKLEBALL IN NEAR RUINS AT TT PIO PICO

Dec 23. – We have not stayed at TT Pio Pico since January 2006. So, when we arrived we drove around the preserve to check it out. There was a time when Pio Pico was a big gathering place for Pickleball players. Now the courts are deserted and neglected.


There is a sports court on the South side of the preserve where they schedule Pickleball, but it is made of asphalt and has room for one court which seemed to us to be in worse condition than the courts pictured.

It’s so SAD to see our courts in a state of decay!!!

REPORTING FROM RAIN SOAKED TT WILDERNESS LAKES

Friday, Dec. 17 – Wednesday, Dec. 22 – Rain, rain, and more rain. It has rained every day that we have been here. Mark and Chris said it had been raining before we arrived!! And there is another storm coming!! All around us neighborhoods are flooded; roads and houses are being washed away. And we have pretty much been hibernating!!

But, a few of us did brave the raindrops to do a little line dancing in the mornings. We took a moment for a picture.

Cherri, Faye, Dottie, and Marie.


Coming out of the lodge after dancing, I took a few pictures of results of the rain. I had to remove my shoes and put on my Crocks to wade to the car!

Several of the canals that run through the preserve overflowed their banks like the one shown here along the tree line.

Cars driving through one of the main roads that was flooded.

Our rig when I got home. It doesn’t look like the water is about four inches deep.

Some of the roads outside the preserve are closed due to high water. Ken said I should have gotten pictures of the two cars in the ditch just outside the entrance gate!!

The rangers have put out notice of Voluntary Evacuation because of the pending storm. A few people left, but most stayed. We decided not to move.

Tonight is our last night at TT Wilderness. Tomorrow we go to TT Pio Pico near Chula Vista where Ken’s son Richard lives. We will be spending Christmas with them this year.

WINE TASTING IN TEMECULAR WINE COUNTRY!

Man!! It’s been raining for days here at TT Wilderness Lakes. Chris and Mark are here, too, and they are climbing the walls of Phaeton Place!! I remembered that years ago Ken and I spent a rainy afternoon in New York driving around Lake Seneca, pausing at all the wineries for a little wine tasting. Temecular is only a few miles away and it is celebrated Wine Country!!! What to do on another rainy day?? Let’s Go Wine Tasting!!!

Mark drove us to the wine trail. There are some 35 wineries in the area!! We chose Thornton Winery to stop at first.



They, like all the other wineries in the area, charged for their tastings -- from $10for their Sweet Flight to as much as $17 for the Premium Flight tasting. Chris and Mark each selected the White Wine Flight, four white wines for $12. Ken and I each selected the Red and White Flight, two red and two white wines, also $12.

I had printed out two-for-one coupons from the internet which were honored, so the tastings were essentially half price. We had a delightful afternoon sipping wine and munching on beget with goat cheese. I have to say, the tasting servings were quite generous and in no time we were all feeling pretty GOOD!! This was a new experience for Chris. She was soooo funny!! I was glad we had introduced her to wine tasting, California Style!!

As we left, we all agreed that we needed FOOD – no more wine!! Chris and Mark introduced us to Two Guys burgers!!! We agree with them -- UUMMMMM!!

Anyway, the day was a lot of fun. We had found the perfect way to spend a rainy day!!!