Lights, gifts and ..... flowers!

Opening gifts is an important event. More than a couple of hours are reserved for it. It was preceded by the guessing game the night before where we had to look around the Christmas tree and try to estimate the number of presents under it. An excel sheet was made soon after with data not only from us who were physically present but via email from the rest who couldn't make it. (They were sent a photo of the Christmas tree as their data.) As the "opening ceremony" commenced, real-time updates were provided, wrappers were disposed off with great efficiency amid laughter and thanking. The art of thanking matched and often exceeded the art of gifting.

We had some distant relatives come over for lunch. They have a little puppy who is much fussed over. We had driven to visit them the night before as well and what happens in gatherings like these is what I could call socializing. A little cousin of mine surprised me with some fascinating observations on photography. I experimented with a long Tamron lens which I didn't like. Drove to Mission Inn to see some Christmas lights, rode around in a cart, intruded upon people dining and walked around until it began to rain. Wrapped up the night with more fun and frolic. Tomorrow we're headed off to another state.

Christmas on the Eastern side has apparently been too white for comfort! I'm hoping it clears away by the time I reach.

Larger.