Merry Christmas!

God has blessed us with three days of sun. On average, it rains 214 days out of the year. Today we opt to forgo long drives and stay close to home. After a lazy breakfast of spinach souffle and pan fried potatoes, we walk a few blocks to Queens Park. The values are very different here compared to a bustling industrial city. The single lane streets are sparsely travelled by small (mostly Toyota and Honda) old cars. Today most people are home with family and we greet kids as they run around us showing off their presents. Walking into the park, we are amazed that it is free and vacant of people. Manicured lawns boast a golf course on one side of the park. The pathway through the center of the park is arched by tall trees.

We make our way to the brilliant sweet-smelling rose garden, pausing only at the playground. The few children gawk at us as we make utter fools of ourselves, thoroughly enjoying every swing, teeter totter, slide, and water park complete with water guns.

Passed the duck ponds with water wheel and on to the aviary. Exotic Parrots and Kakas squack at us, wishing all a merry christmas.

At the end is an animal park with emu, elk and ostrich. Then a walk home for christmas dinner.

Rich lasagne with our new favorite Colby cheese satisfies our appetite and encourages a few hours indoors enjoying each others company and conversation. We think fondly of our family and friends and the blessings we receive daily.

We must get another walk in for the day, so we drive half an hour to a seaside trail. The path snakes in and out of the dark forest on bluffs above the ocean delivering magnificent views of the crashing waves below. We pause at an old lighthouse and discover some iridescent blue and green shells.

Sunset around 10:30 allows for long fun-filled days. Our day ends with pumpkin pie fresh from the oven complemented with sweet ice cream.