Christmas 2016

Our first Christmas in Eugene! Nicole (Ngo) invited us over to her mother in law's (Rena) place for Christmas 'dinner'. Rena has a 52 acre farm in Pleasant Hill. She lives in a lovely blue home on the farm that begins at the end of the road. As you turn right to enter her drive way, the view of the corn flower blue house against the blue skies and open farmland that seems to stretch out to the mountains is grand. We rolled up to the house, parked, and Nicole came out to meet us and show us around the land a little. 

After that we went in, and were greeted by a friendly, warm family. We hung around the kitchen, talking, drinking, snacking, and getting the meal ready. Rena has made almost everything at home - turkey, stuffing (that was actually in the turkey), mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, steamed broccoli, sweet pepper jelly, rolls, and finally pumpkin and pecan pies. We ate this delicious meal in the sun room that looked out to the fields. 

After the meal, we went with April and Tony and their boys (Quinn, Colin and Kiki[Keaton]), along with Nicole and Alex and their dogs River and Spencer, to the next farm to feed their horses and goat. It seemed like a Christmas out of a book :)

Ice Storm 2016 in Eugene

On Wednesday it rained. It was the cold, freezing kind of rain. Which meant, icicles! Lots and lots of them! We have seen ice storms in DC. We have seen icicles in DC. But, we have not seen these many icicles, and they definitely did not last 5 days! 

Every morning, I woke up in utter wonder, that the trees outside our windows still bore these beautiful icicles! I know in Eugene we won't get the blizzards and the snow we did in DC. But, for the prettiness of the ice for these few days will take me through a lot of the winter. Ice storms aren't usual here - it's been decades since Eugene has had one like this. Maybe it was a Welcome to Eugene winter gift to me? 

Living in downtown, and living in an apartment, brought with it huge benefits. We didn't lose power. Tree limbs didn't come crashing down on our home. We got the beauty without any of the negative. More and more, as time passes, I become less convinced to want to live in or own a house.

Wednesday - I left work and enjoyed myself on my way home!

Thursday, surprised that the ice was still around, we took our cameras out and went romping.

Friday, we headed up to our terrace, because it seemed like Eugene had been transformed to Narnia.

View from our Terrace

Saturday, sun!

On Saturday, the sun came out, and look what it did with the ice

Sunday, we had to go for a walk. Get out of the house. We walked to the river.

Saturday's sun didn't do much to melt the ice. Sunday, these fences remain frozen.

Starting A Tradition - Birch Boxes

Sohini and I started a Birch Box Tradition this year. We will exchange gifts in 2 birch boxes, writing something on the box each time we send something. Hopefully, in time, these boxes will become some sort of time capsule. :)

Notes and ornaments - December, 2016

Our Christmas Packages :)