My hubby and I had to make a quick run to the Fry’s grocery in Oro Valley to get some tamale supplies, and as we were leaving we heard the bell ringer out front along with another sound, the sound of brass instruments warming up.
I told hubby to go ahead and take the bags to the car while I investigated.
Bell ringer
I took this pic of our bell ringer who, despite the mask, was joyful and full of cheer as she greeted me.
Across from her sat this group of fine gentlemen musicians warming up and preparing to bring cheer to the harried shoppers.
Musicians
They are a group called Dulce and this is what their name means:
Dulce
As hubby and I got into our vehicle we heard the cheery sound of four brass instruments filling the air with “Joy To the World.”
I’m not decorating for the holidays as I have in the past. It’s not because I have lost my Christmas spirit, but because it will be just hubby and I here, and our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day will be spent at my daughter’s place in Phoenix. Our grandson is there and the celebrating will go on in her house.
My son and his wife are in Florida so they are also doing their own thing as they wait for the arrival of my second grandson.
“A Christmas Carol”
If we were going to host a gathering I would jump on the decorating bandwagon, but it’s just not worth it to me. I have a few special things I love that I will set up: my Byers Choice “A Christmas Carol” carolers. I asked hubby to put up a few lights around the front porch, and I put out my holiday dishware and serving ware.
The Family Tree
Since I wrote the previous, my husband found a few boxes of Christmas decorations that belonged to his parents. After their passing we went to Reno and cleared out a storage area of things of theirs. This Christmas tree and these decorations were part of it. We now have a precious little tree decorated with ornaments gathered over their 50+ year marriage.
An important part of the holidays of southern Arizona is the making of tamales. One thing to note about Mexican food is the food is distinct to the region. It is my personal opinion – but there is no better Mexican food than Sonoran. You may have a different opinion but you are wrong.
REAL food doesn’t have orange cheese, it is only white crumbled cows cheese that comes from Sonora, Mexico. It is always fresh, and the ingredients blend well, not disguised by cumin and chili powder! Also our Christmas tamales have a green pimento olive inside that represent the baby Jesus.
So, when you enter a grocery store anywhere in southern Arizona at Christmas you will find a display like this:
