THE LONG DARK MONTH OF JAN. IS...

 

 ALMOST OVER......Now Winter is "over the hump".  Click on image to enlarge calendar photo for January 2013.

Click on image to enlarge calendar dates for January 2013.

The Rise and Fall of the Mantilla.....

From the pages of THE SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN from 100 years ago:

Jan. 23, 1913: In Paris, the coquettish mantilla of romance, which so often has incited love, jealousy, and hatred in Spain, is being introduced. Occasionally now one sees a woman adorned with a mantilla; always she is a pretty woman, and the mantilla heightens her beauty. It goes without saying that if the mantilla becomes the fashion there, the vogue will spread to America. Santa Fe women, therefore, cannot be informed too soon that there are rules of fashion governing the time and place in which any particular mantilla shall be worn as immutable as the laws of the Medes and Persians.

And so in keeping with the sentiment of that bygone era, herein, I include mantilla photos of our family that I included in this year's calendar.....starting with Sisi.......

 Then Baby Binks....

 And Rachel...

Toesette................

 

                                               Alice......

                                          Miss Chiara...........

                                                  Diana...........

And the fetching Miss Francesca.........Why this mantilla thing did not catch on is a mystery to me..............

IT'S ALL HAPPENING AT THE ZOO...........
 

A really unique Holiday outing was arranged for us by the girls in Albuquerque.  It included a truly wonderful little sprite--Luke!........

First stop was an up close visit with the gorillas in their indoor area prior to being let outdoors for the day....

This is a very special relationship--Lynn raised this guy in her own home and is pretty much his "Mama".......

 

They share a deep understanding and he is hand fed with lots of love....

 

 

 

Next up is this very curious Orangutan--so interested in humans...

And so like humans themselves.....

 

.

We say "Goodbye" to Lynn's Baby Boy..... 

 

 

The girls are loving the company of a certain adorable young man.....

 

And now, it's off to get an up close look at the newest "star" at the Zoo......

 

The magnificent Baby Choppers, the Zoo's new baby Rhino--six weeks old and already over 300lbs....

 

He's very busy in his little enclosure.....

 

But comes right up to the fence to say "hi" to his visitors.....

 

 

"I'm ready for my close, Mister DeMille".........

 

In this shot of Frannie's, she thinks that Luke and Choppers have the very same smile!  Dwight is smiling pretty much himself......

 

These adorable folds on his leathery skin will look somewhat like plates of armor when he is older...(Dwight is much taller than I, so he could take these photos over the height of the fence--thus, no chain link in the pictures.)

 

And he raises lots of dust--like his older kinsmen, when he runs about....

 

His toys are pretty much destroyed, but he is plenty amused by this crumpled box...

 

WE FOUND OUT THAT WE INADVERTENTLY RECORDED SOME VIDEO IMAGES OF OUR VIST, IT IS A BIT LONG, BUT YOU WILL BE REWARDED WITH MOVING IMAGES OF CHOPPER IN ACTION:.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxbedyWAiYw&feature=youtu.be

Now, it on to other responsibilities for some, more zoo viewing for some and the Gift Shop for others....

 

These hippos look like they shared some relatives with the rhinos way down the line.....(Following photos courtesy of Dwight)

 

This wild African dog seems to share some attributes of his physique with our little Zsa Zsa...

 

Here's what Choppers will look like in the future.....

 

It is good to see the apes in more comfort and reflection in their outside digs....

 

The girls are totally enjoying Luke and at Breakfast, they try to make a Mets fan out of him....

 

Of course, the true highlight of the day was sharing time with Luke.  the following itty bitty video demonstrates a little of his endearing charm:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cbo1EMwkSI8

 

 

A quick hug from Luke makes it very obvious that:  A GOOD TIME WAS HAD BY ALL!

 

AND SO THE YEAR BEGINS...2013

 

Click on image to enlarge calendar cover for 3012.

 

Click on image to enlarge calendar photo for January 2013.

 

Click on image to enlarge calendar dates for January 2013.

JOYS OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON

 

One of the joys of the season is that Baby Binks is home and willing to take my hilly hike to early morning Mass with me..... 

 

The sun is rising just as we get to the top of the hill.....

It's always a pleasure to have the children back home.....

Later on we are getting ready for a holiday party
 

With all the gang from the Core Kids....

There's lots of holiday cheer....

And we are so grateful for our dear friends...........

AND A JOLLY TIME WAS HAD BY ALL!!

A CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON...

Today, we're looking forward to our annual Christmas luncheon with our group of "Core Kids".......

We're meeting at our old Reunion meeting hangout of The Flying Tortilla.  Here Dwight G. and Josina get in the holiday spirit......

Diana and Bob look like oldie but goodies at a soda fountain......

Richie is up from Albuquerque, and here he poses with Theresa who gives us her signature grin....

Los Capshaws are feeling merry and bright.....

And Waymon and Terrie take a break from their discussion of existential phenomonology to wish everyone a happy Christmas.....

Here's hoping your Holidays are also full of good friends and good times.............