Merry Christmas from Balboa Island, California where Daisy and I have been hanging out with my folks for the holidays. Daisy may not be too fond of car travel, but she certainly found her sea legs. The drama queen of dogs – was all whimpers and sad puppy eyes the entire journey here, but the tail wagging at
100 miles per hour and the bounce in her gate when she spied the beach (and my parents who like to spoil their granddog) gave her act away.
Apart from our long walks on the beach, her favorite pastime is barking at all the dogs that dare to walk past her new found beach home, but she wasn’t quite sure what to make of the penguins outside this house. The people of Balboa Island definitely like Christmas!
We’re all a bunch of overgrown kids trying to convince Santa we’ve been really, really good this year.
Decor details
Not a detail was left undone – including one of the most magnificent firework displays I’ve ever seen to mark the beginning of the Newport Beach boat parade.
Fireworks to open the boat show
I remember looking on in awe at the lights on the Plaza in Kansas City as a child, but the boat show evokes that same wonder on steroids!
The Newport Beach Boat Show
A gazillion lights, water, and jubilant crowd cheering them on are guaranteed to send that Christmas spirit
soaring. Some more traditionally than others. Well we are in California, so it is quite Clausible (excuse the pun) for there to be a surfing Santa in addition to the one with the reindeer and sleigh, don’t you think?
Even the sharks got in on a little Santa action this year much to the delight of the crowd.
Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy, Healthy, Successful New Year!
Beefy Barley Soup
This is one of my favorite soups that my mother does, and she often substitutes ox tail for the short ribs. Either way it is a winter warming hit in my household – perfect for the chill in the air here at the beach this time of year too!
Ingredients
Beefy Barley Mushroom Soup
Directions
Beefy Barley Mushroom Soup
Serving Suggestions
Heat To Eat
Sante after a very long night!
PS. Clearly Santa is exhausted after all that gift giving last night. What did he bring you this year?
@JulieAnneRhodes
10:55 am
Have a wonderful holiday with your family! I think this soup is going to be on my list of things to make this week. Sounds like it would warm me right down to my chilly bones. Hugs to you and Daisy!
8:10 am
Hope you had a wonderful day too, Ruthee!
And congrats on the Kitchenaid Aussie Mum – you’ll get so much good out of that machine for years to come.
1:11 am
Looks like a lovely destination.
Enjoy your time away with the family.
Hugs to Daisy.
P.S. I finally got a Black KitchenAid mixer for Xmas. So excited. My old one was on it’s last leg and finally gave up.
I feel like a little kid with brand new toy.
4:12 pm
I have a little bag of pearl barley I haven’t gotten round to using, so I might try your recipe come winter (it’s summer here down under).