Lake San Marcos Yacht Club Christmas Boat Parade

The post is subtitled  "Celebrating a Hawaiian Christmas in Sunny Southern California".

All week we eyed the weather forecast predicting rain to begin on Friday, the 17th, the day of the parade.  Positive souls that we are were, we proceeded with our plans.  It was very cold and damp when we gathered to decorate the boat at the Beall's.  We kept working anyway.  Finally in the afternoon, we had her completed---just before the misting began.  By 3:30 when we boarded to head for the picnic grounds, it was raining.  We got down there before anyone and for the longest time, no one else appeared.  It was pouring, windy and cold by then.  We couldn't blame anyone for not showing up.  Then, finally, several more boats came.  We never saw the Parade Marshall and found out later that crew was warm and dry at John and Barb Lee's with the judges.  All in all it was pretty cold and wet.  Below is a picture of the boat at the picnic gounds dock before the parade.  Tom is holding an umbrella over Tink (Hula Girl) and Santa.  Tink made the volcano out of Christmas lights and chicken wire.  Tom made the sign.  Norma, Renate, Pat and I fashioned the "ocean and waves" out of corrugated paper, tinsel and lots of lights.  The lighted palm tree is compliments of the Engerts.

Tink and Santa brave the windy, cold to wave and yell "Mele Kalikimaka" and "Merry Christmas" to the folks who would stick their necks out of their doors.

Norma got this great photo of Tink with her lighted grass skirt.  That's a Victoria's Secret Santa hat she's wearing.  Is it perfect for her or what?

Unfortunately, Don was not well so Pat was our trusty Skipper.  It's very hard to be at the helm in the dark and rain.  We're talking no visibility.  She did a magnificent job.

The Christmas men.  Thanks to Norma for this photo.

These are the Christmas ladies taken with Norma's camera, probably by Ken.

Our elaborate Hawaiian themed table at the party should have won first prize.  The judges went for traditional.

I took this picture with Nancy's great camera.  These are the four March birthday people.  They have shared many a party together.

Nancy's fun photo of Tink, still plugged in (literally), and Santa at the party.

 

Nancy's photo of Eli and me.  I didn't wear much in the way of Hawaiian attire because it was too cold.

Edgar and Renate in a perfect shot by Nancy.  He owns his Santa costume and has played the role many times.  He was the best ever.  Except after being in the rain for so long in his full suit, hugging him was like hugging a wet dog.

We were awarded first prize and Nancy captured our excitement.  Unfortunately no plaque, money or trophy goes with this.  Just the satisfaction of winning.  After all the work, it was much appreciated.

This is the poor sad "Pond Tune" the morning after.  We had hopes of reusing that paper that was the ocean and the waves.  As you can see, it ended up in the dumpster.  The whole thing was quite an experience.  We could have entered a float in the Rose Parade with less planning and work.

 

Lake San Marcos Formal Dance Club's Old Fashioned Christmas

The Formal Dance Club Christmas party is truly not to be missed.  The decorations, designed by Renate Engert, were the best ever.  The cover of the dance invitation is below.

After Renate saw the invitation, she then searched high and low and found beautiful sleighs which she filled with Christmas greens, flowers and tiny packages.  She positioned the sleighs on cotton "snow".  I've included a photo of the centerpieces for you.

Carol and Don Alexander brought a huge Santa's sleigh full of toys that they use annually for decoration.  It was placed on the side table in the entrance.

In the dining room we had a big lighted Christmas tree and another table featuring old fashioned carolers and a big Santa.  Edgar, Mr. Poinsettia himself, brought a huge box of poinsettias and set them all around everywhere.

Many people chose to wear "vintage" Christmas attire.

Eli is wearing, you guessed it, that same jacket he wore in the July 4th Boat Parade and again at Halloween.  He's also wearing Bob Burnham's cumberbund and bowtie (Bob was a past president of the Formal Dance Club).  Eli's walking cane belonged to his great grandfather.  Renate obtained her vintage attire from several sources as well.

Ginnie and Oscar always get into the spirit of things.

Bob Kreis wore a vintage handlebar mustache---until we were served dinner.

Don and Carol acted as our check-in hosts.

Judy and Peter Bitto visit with Pat Jordan.

Debbie Brown invited her friend, Mara Seideman.

Jim and Jo Ann Murphy attended as guests, in fine vintage formal attire.

Norma got a shot of most of the folks who wore vintage clothes.

That's me on the left with Norma, Katie and Terri (Tink).

Ken, Edgar and Eli wear Pat Kreutzberg's antique coats one more time.

The Formal Dance Board of Directors for 2011.  Edgar Engert is president and he's just the person for the job.

Lake San Marcos Fall Fun

Here are a few photos from events this fall.  It's been busy.  In August we had a wine dinner al fresco at the Country Club.  It was organized by Heide Warren and a few others from the wine club plus our new Food and Beverage Manager, Regan.  The theme was Spain and the wines were lovely and the food spectacular.

One long table was set for all 24 attendees.  The table was decorated with huge bouquets of white roses.  It was a lovely warm evening on the lawn near the gazebo. 

Among the many dishes we savored were platters of Spanish olives and cheeses.  This appetizer course was served with a sparkling Spanish Cava.  Following that we were treated to Pimento peppers stuffed with goat cheese, mango wrapped in Serrano ham and clams.  This Trio of Tapas was accompanied by a red and a white wine.  After that I was so involved in the eating and drinking, I forgot to take more pictures.  Sorry.

On October 20th we had our third formal dance of the season.

That's Paul and Elaine Jordan on the left who are joined by Wally and Darlene Aiken, and Pat Jordan and the amazing Irene Johnson.  Her husband, Ralph, is in the back. 

Joe and Sue Ceccarelli always take a great picture together.  And they have a good time, too!

Halloween this year was outstanding as usual.  We each had a tombstone on the back of our chair with our own original epitaph.  They were all hilarious and we have to give Tink and Tom a rousing cheer for dreaming this up and making all the tombstones for us!!!

This is Tom and Tink as the Bad Witch and the Good Witch (Which?) from the Wizard of Oz.  Besides his green face, he had large and moveable breasts.  She, of course, was simply stunning as always.

Couldn't resist including a cute photo of Jeannine and Dennis Wittmayer.

Eli and I are The Homecoming Queen of 1963 meets The Homecoming King of 1776.  You probably recognize his costume from an earlier event this year.  Can't let a good thing go to waste.

Wayne and Judy Widener as an Angel and a Devil. 

Those flower children who have gone to seed are Art and Dian Pedersen.  He kept that joint in his mouth all evening, including through dinner, and never shared it with any of us.  What a dirtbag.

This handsome fellow sat at our table.  No one gave him anything to eat and it looks as if he, more than any of us, could have used nourishment.

Norma and Ken: She has a split personality and he's stuck in the same time warp as Eli.

Dian, Carol, Norma, Tink and me. 

Carol looks beautiful as usual.  I'm unable to explain the expression on his face.

Bob Kreis's 81st birthday was November 10th.  Norma organized a little surprise for him.

Some of us gathered out in front of his house that morning (about 5:30 am to be exact).  And, yes, we are still in our bedclothes and bathrobes and slippers.

We drank mimosas and sang "Happy Birthday" right after we got them out of bed.

I don't think normal people do things like this.

We also snacked on banana nut bread made by Evie and a fruit salad provided by Carol.  Bob and Mary were very good sports about this dawn invasion.

We had another wine dinner in the Trophy Room of the Country in November.  This time the focus was France.  We began the evening with Kir Royale.  That has always been my favorite apperitif.  Thirty-two people attended and as you can see from the pictures below.  The setting was quite elegant.

We had a large U-shaped table with vases of white tulips.  The lights were low and candles were lighted everywhere.  The tablerunners and chair covers were a shiny bronze fabric; understated but formal.

That's Heide Warren, who organized the event, in the light jacket with two guests.

Other wine lovers who attended one of these events for the first time.

The other two organizers of this event, Sunni with Regan, who is the Food and Beverage Manager of the Club.  Without her talents this wouldn't be the unforgettable event it was.

Pam Herzog chats with Dennis and Jeannine Wittmayer.

Jerry Bench and Sally Fabian never miss the wine dinners.

Jo and Patty Serrato also are loyal Wine Enthusiasts.