After a year of living on Maui, it became obvious that it wasn't then currently economically viable and I would have to return to the mainland. I was fortunate that HP was interested in hiring me back and I took them up on the offer. Unfortunately, just before returning to California, I suffered an excruciatingly PAINFUL kidney stone which had to be removed surgically. After 11 days at Maui Memorial Hospital, I was able to fly back to the Bay Area.

First things first — I had to find a place to live and found this home for rent in Los Gatos — the same town I had lived in when I first moved to California about 10 years previously.

Well, I was back to work quickly and began to make this house look like home. Easy to do with Christmas coming.

As had been my tradition previously, I drove up into the Santa Cruz mountains to a Christmas tree farm. It's the best way to get a really fresh tree — pick it out yourself, looking for the freshest green, just the right size, and with no holes in the foliage. Cut it down and tie it to the roof of your car then drive home. Put it in water immediately then soon into the tree stand and ready to be decorated. And they smell so good!

And a Christmas tree is not the only plant that symbolizes this time of year — poinsettias are also a holiday tradition — one that is native to our neighbor to the south, Mexico.

Wreaths of various sorts also decorate the house. And the Christmas card holder is another reminder of times pre-COVID. Because of the pandemic, many people (myself included) stopped sending physical cards so as not to possibly spread the virus. Thus the new tradition of sending electronic cards has taken root.

Another trick, take a few cuttings from the fresh, fragrant, newly cut Christmas tree then add a few colorful glass balls and you have a beautiful basket that also so smells so much like our traditional Christmas.

Not every decorative thing at my house was related to Christmas — for instance, this stained glass piece that reminds me of the ocean and my time living on Maui and previously living in Rio Del Mar in the Santa Cruz area. Happy memories.

Speaking of Santa Cruz, it is only a short ride over highway 17 from Los Gatos. This photo was taken at Natural Bridges State Park — home to huge rocks that have large holes naturally tunneled through them (due to wave action), creating the appearance of a natural bridge. Previously, I have shared photos of this rock formation both before and after the collapse of one of the bridges — perhaps you might recall those images.

The park also features a nice beach but because the California current is bringing water down from Alaska, it is very cold. Even if I only walked briefly in the shallow water, my feet would begin to freeze and hurt thus I would have to move up onto the dry section of the beach.

Note the rock formations below the homes on the cliff above the ocean. There one can find numerous tide pools. From the park website — "The tide pools at Natural Bridges State Beach are filled to the brim with thousands of creatures, each one doing its best to survive in a constantly changing environment. The moon's gravity pulls on the tides twice daily, converting this habitat from a fully submerged underwater world to an arid and exposed rocky shore. Salinity levels skyrocket and hungry predators swoop in for a tasty meal."

One of the true delights of the park is the Monarch Preserve. The eucalyptus trees provide shelter for the fragile Monarch butterflies that winter from about mid-October to mid-February. When the clouds hide the sun, they cluster with their wings folded to preserve warmth. But when the sun peaks out from the clouds they open their wings and then begin flying about. Note that this is the only State Monarch Preserve in California. If you have the opportunity, do go see them — it's a remarkable sight.

One other spot that has always delighted me is the gazebo just above the rock formations. Wouldn't it be nice to sit up there with the beverage of your choice and watch the ocean? You might spot a ship or some fishing boats. Maybe you'll see a migrating whale. Ain't Mother Nature wonderful?!!!