Christmas Day at Effie Yeaw Nature Center in Sacramento, CA 12.25.09

Happy Holidays everyone.

It has been a little while since our last post, and a lot has happened since. Christmas 2009 has come and gone, and while many were spending time with family and loved ones I was fortunate enough to get outside on a beautiful bright sunny day to escape to the Effie Yeaw Nature Center in Sacramento, California.  When I woke up around 7:30am my iPhone read that it was 30-degrees outside and while there was a chill in the air, it had that clean, crisp feeling (one that you dont often get in Southern California.)  After spending the morning with my parents and Melissa and sharing gifts with one another, we had a quick lunch and then I took Melissa out to the Nature Center (where she had never been before) and we got to enjoy the time together without all of the busy traffic and noise customary to Los Angeles.

When we got there, I was telling Melissa how we may see some deer, wild turkey, and various birds in the area but wasn't too sure because it was around 1:30pm and most of the time they are "hiding" until near sunset/dusk.  Sure enough, no more than 5 minutes into our walk down the path, we encounter the wild turkey in the near distance and shortly behind were a small family of deer wandering around.  After the deer crossed through, we proceeded down the path and down to the American River where the cold water from the Sierra Mountains were running downstream and there wasn't a single disturbance.  Off in the distance were a few Mallard Ducks in the river swimming around, and overhead was a hawk circling in the sky apparently hunting something from above.


All said, it was a beautiful day at the Nature Center, the weather just warm enough to not need a jacket and Melissa and I were able to spend some time together doing something completely different without any distractions of a cell phone, computer, internet, traffic, etc.  After our nature walk, it was back to the house to prepare for family to arrive for Christmas dinner and more quality time together as a family.  Good times in deed!!

Happy New Year everyone, please be safe where ever you may be celebrating and ringing in 2010.




 




 

Happy Holidays Everyone!!

Here we are, its December 20, 2009 and there are only 4 days left until it is Christmas. There are only 11 days left in 2009 and then we are off to 2010 and the start of a new decade!

Can you believe that this year has gone by so fast? I know I have said it before, but when you look back on 2009 and have flashbacks to all of those wonderful memories from this year doesn't it just make you want to relive it all over again?? For some, the end of 2009 may be a good thing...maybe they have a bit of superstition in them and are excited to begin a new decade! Just think, it was 9 short years ago and everyone seemed to be freaking out about Y2K and the possible end to all computers!!

Christmas is a special time for me each year, being far away from my family it is a time when I am able to relive my youth and be "home" with everyone again just as though I had never left home. I get to spend quality time with my parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts...and even catch up with old high school friends that I haven't seen since last year. This year is extra special for me; this is my first Christmas being married. So this will be extra special for Melissa and I as we spend our first Christmas together as a married couple.

So to everyone reading this I ask that you please be safe out there if you are traveling (as we are) and here is to wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a happy holiday season!