One of our favorite December traditions is a visit to the tree farm at Rancho Siempre Verde. It's also become an interesting barometer of how the family is getting along. Some years the kids have been chippy; other years they've been joyful. This year was a good year.
Although we used an artificial tree this year, we decided to make the trip anyway. Paul made a great wreath:
We swung on the big tree swings.
The kids loved hanging out with the dogs
And on the way home, we stopped by Duarte's for some of their fantastic artichoke soup (recipe here).
A joyful day indeed!
Oh Rinda, what a fantastic picture of you on the swing! What a lovely tradition for the family to do together.
ReplyDeleteoh the joys of a big swing - great smiling portraits
ReplyDeletelooks like you all had a great time
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely day out! And fantastic to see some sunshine; we have had nothing but heavy rain all over Christmas and New Year!
ReplyDeleteIt looks like you had a glorious day! Love that picture of you on the swing.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like such a joyful day....and a wonderful photo of you.
ReplyDeleteWow, what a big swing... looks like so much fun!
ReplyDeleteOver the past few years I have loved seeing the pictures of your trip to the tree farm. We don't have tree farms here, so I can't help smiling and thinking about the tree farm scene in National lampoon :) We do go to the Fruit Shop at the end of the road to buy a tree, though, and I can relate to that feeling of some years the kids being more enthusiastic than others. Funnily, as they are getting older again, they are enjoying it more. These pictures would lift any heart!
ReplyDeleteWhat a joyful post Rinda. I have enjoyed catching up with you today. Loving your new picture so much. Glad the little star arrived to wish you Merry Christmas. Thanks for the link to the photography course. I'm in.
ReplyDeleteWishing you all a very Happy New Year.
Looks like such a fun day(I am so envious of your weather). I am in too for the zoom in/out, but for now all I can take are snow photos!!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great tradition! Wishing you a great 2014.
ReplyDeleteLovely photos - so much joy. Artichoke soup? I can usually get artichoke hearts in oil wonder if that would work? :hmm:
ReplyDeleteWonderful photos! What a nice tradition!
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing day Rinda - I especially love that picture of you on the swing, you look like you're having SO much fun! :o)xxx
ReplyDeleteOh, these shots really capture that joy Rinda. Loving the new avatar too. Happy New Year to you x
ReplyDeleteOh what a fun day! I'm so glad y'all went even though you didn't get a tree - looks like such a fun time!
ReplyDeleteAhhhh sharing this tradition really puts a smile on my face dear Rinda...
ReplyDeletelovely photos and beautiful blue sky day!
oxo
Seriously? Swinging is my FAVORITE thing and I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE that photo of you at the end. So awesome and happy and carefree. I wish that same joy for you all year long, Rinda!
ReplyDeleteLooks like it was fun fun fun. I want a swing like that only problem is I don't have a tree to hang it from.
ReplyDeleteSuch lovely family photos... families go through lots of "dynamics" over the years, don't they? Love the photo of you on the swing... priceless!
ReplyDeleteThe photos definitely capture the joy! I especially love seeing this post since I was at that tree farm once myself!
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