Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Holidays Merriment in Ventura County


Despite the horrific devastation of the Thomas Fire to first the northern part of Ventura County and now the southern part of neighboring Santa Barbara County, the Holidays were upon us and everyone needed a break from the sad news.

When I arrived back in Camarillo last week from our fun coaching week in Texcoco, Mexico, the first stop as always was to Camarillo Cronies for a quick bite to eat with Laurie.

During our meal, one of Cronies two owners, Chuck Diego, stopped by our table to say ciao and visit for a spell.

He mentioned that the annual Cronies Christmas Party to the following Monday, December 18th. The only problem with the rescheduling was that he was now without a Santa Claus as his usual Santa was booked somewhere else on that date.

Who could Chuck find that was
fat, jolly and a bit dashing
in a red suit on such short notice
to fill this chair?

Heck if I know, but a week
later here was a Santa that
filled the bill!

 Santa making a plea to the kids and
their families for chocolate chip
cookies on Christmas Eve

 The kids were happy seeing Santa
and getting a stuffed toy

I, errr, Santa only frightened one little boy on the night so I guess that made for a successful evening as these things go.

 The parents were happy
with free photo ops

As can happen once all of the kids in attendance got their toys and photos taken, the adults could not resist photos with Old Saint Nick.

Mrs. Claus was a vixen

 Group shot with the Cronies Girls
was a big hit with Santa if no one else

Dave Foldes and Chuck Diego
The Co-Owners of Cronies

Two really good guys, I thank them for being a part of this fun evening at one of Camarillo's landmark institutions.

Wednesday was the day of the Santa Clara Elementary School Annual Christmas Pageant.

The kids performed twice, once in the morning and again in the early evening.

Jacob and Mary
in the morning

This year we opted for the evening performance.

Santa Clara Church looked
spectacular for Christmas

Jacob is one of the shepherds
in the front row

Jacob, top row, second from the left

 A happy shepherd exiting
the church

With our shepherd Jacob

Mike, Vanessa and Jacob

Vanessa is also Jacob's kindergarten teacher. Mary was at Vanessa's parents' tonight as they had attended the morning performance.

After the Pageant, we walked about a block from Santa Clara Elementary School to Oxnard's famed F Street Christmas Lights.

The people who live on this street go above and beyond getting into the Christmas Spirit with amazing house and lawn decorations.

 At what are these two looking?

 Why at a HUGE train layout
in someone's front yard

I liked this one

 A bit more ornate

 Jacob thought that I was
the snowman on the left

Family time is always good times indeed!

Reading Is FUNdamental

A page turner, I liked it

Being a Cuban-American and having visited Havana last Spring made it a fun read for me.

I highly recommend it to you.

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