I tried to find a photo of a haggis, because I did not take one ...

However, the evening was great anyway. There was lots o' scotch - maybe ten different single malts. This was my first haggis dining experience - in the wine country - with about sixty other folks, some of them in kilts. Wow, and the dancing ...
The best t-shirt of the evening was worn by our gracious hostess, which read: "If it's not Scottish, it's crap!"
http://www.worldburnsclub.com/begin/address_to_a_haggis.htm

Ahhh... tranquility.

In Oahu, I visited this Bhuddist temple.
Very relaxing.
Breathe ...
The koi are very happy here, well fed and surrounded by beauty. I picked up a music CD of tranquil Japanese music to take home the experience.
While I was here, Rick was 20 miles out on the ocean catching a mahi mahi for dinner. It was yummy.

Wassail the Apple Trees

A lovely winter eve for this activity. Totally new to me, we wassailed the apple trees with neighbors. First we all enjoyed a potluck feast, then bundled up, took our hot cup of spiced cider from the hearth and headed out to the orchard - crisp, full moonlit and sparkling winter night. A bit of cider is sprinkled around the heartiest and oldest tree (a Gravenstein said to have been brought here from Fort Ross), then an apple cake is placed in the boughs as an offering. We chanted the following song:
"Here's to thee, old apple tree!
Whence thou may'st bud, and whence thou may'st blow
And whence thou may'st bear apples enow! -
Hats full! Caps full!
Bushel - Bushel and sacks full!
And my pockets full too! Huzzah!

A bonfire was lit as we finished our cider and listened to Joe tell stories. Terry mentioned that there is a group of farmers that are propagating heirloom fruit trees - they use the tree we are wassailing for the budwood. We sang a song about Hobos - what a beautiful evening.