Sunday, December 27, 2015

~A POST CHRISTMAS POST`

I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas.  We sure did.  Many of us were missing but sometimes that cannot be helped.  There were 25 of us and the little cousins were together and a new little cousin was added.  
We missed the ones that could not make it.

Above is a picture of the Mission Inn at Christmas.  It is just a few miles from us.  It's where my grandparents were married many years ago.  Over the years is has undergone upgrades but always kept as a thing of pride in our small city.  
We are a sister city to San Bernadino, also not far away.  We have had fear and tragedy but we have also had joy...as is the way of life.  

This is one of the outside walls..  You can see our San Bernadino Mountains in the distance.
Yes, the sad tragedy happened at the foot of those mountains.  
In those mountains is Big Bear and Lake Arrowhead.  A lovely place to visit.  We are waiting for our snowpack.  So far..nothing.

View of the inside court yard.


...so you can see the crowds that gather for the lighting...  It was so cold that we didn't go this year.
Our downtown Riverside is not a very big place and finding a place to park can be very challenging.
A view from the one of the balcony's.  My children sent my second husband, Frank, and I here for our anniversary and it was just beautiful.   I lost Frank to liver cancer in February 2007..  We were married on New Years Eve 2002.  
Straight ahead you can see the clock tower.  Just beneath the clock you can see a figure.  When the clock moves so does the figures..and they are amazing works of art.  
Off in the distance you can see one of our office buildings..I'm not sure which one it is.  

The Mission Inn and the surrounding shops, museums, library etc, is a favorite place of mine to wander in and shop and just sight see.  After my first husband's death, I came here often to just wander and think.  Sometimes with friends..sometimes alone.  

I have loved living in Riverside for all these years.  Lots of sadness but lots of joy too.
I've taken some of my blogging friends to visit here..

More photo's tomorrow..  
I hope you enjoyed these..

Peace and love,
Mona
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29 comments:

  1. Marty@A Stroll Thru LifeDecember 27, 2015 at 11:03 AM

    The mission is stunning, and so beautiful at Christmas.

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    1. Wsprsweetly Of CottagesDecember 27, 2015 at 4:27 PM

      Hi Marty...since you've lived in California, you must have visited it at some time. You are right..it's stunning! People come from everywhere to see it.

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  2. GailDecember 27, 2015 at 11:58 AM

    Beautiful.

    Glad you had a wonderful holiday!

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    1. Wsprsweetly Of CottagesDecember 27, 2015 at 4:26 PM

      Hi Gail..I hope your Christmas was beautiful too. The Mission Inn is something to behold...that's for sure.

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  3. SusieDecember 27, 2015 at 12:43 PM

    Mona, I love those awesome photos. We had 23 at our dinner . That's all my daughters and their families...except for two Step grandkids and their little families. Blessings, xoxo,Susie

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    1. Wsprsweetly Of CottagesDecember 27, 2015 at 4:25 PM

      23 is a big crowd..We had 25 and twenty five of us were missing. Just in my immediate family, my children and their spouses and children and their children's children..runs clost to 50. Isn't it fun though, Susie?? :) I love the holidays..always have.

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  4. LynneDecember 27, 2015 at 1:45 PM

    Beautiful Mona . . .
    If I come for a visit will you take me there??

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    1. Wsprsweetly Of CottagesDecember 27, 2015 at 4:16 PM

      Absolutely! We will have dinner in the Presidents room. It's gorgeous. I have more photo's to post..tomorrow. I don't like to overdo with the pictures and keep folks for too long.

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  5. jaz@octoberfarmDecember 27, 2015 at 2:09 PM

    oh my gosh mona...what a spectacular place! too cold to go? that is just so wrong when we have been in the upper 60's. this city has never had no snow this late in the year. i am so disappointed!

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    1. Wsprsweetly Of CottagesDecember 27, 2015 at 4:22 PM

      Hi Joyce..isn't it though? I love wandering around down there.
      It's not even up to 45 yet..miserable out there but then we are warm weather people..and total wus's when it comes to being cold. Right now I am wearing pj's, a flannel shirt and a heavy sweater and I'm just...right. :)

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  6. DebbyDecember 27, 2015 at 3:31 PM

    Such a beautiful place. I thought the pictures were taken in Europe. So sorry about the tragic day you had. Just terrible. You have had so many losses. But you have many blessings too. Hugs.

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    1. Wsprsweetly Of CottagesDecember 27, 2015 at 4:15 PM

      :) Nope, not Europe, it's just ten minutes down the road from us. The news said that the second hit was to be the city college where our kids go..and it within minute of us. Most of my grands went there but thankfully they are not there now. My son Dan attends college in San Bernadino..where it all happened. This was too close for comfort.

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  7. yayaDecember 27, 2015 at 4:53 PM

    So beautiful! My cousins live in Riverside but they never mentioned this lovely place..probably because I didn't know enough to ask them about it! I will now! Thanks for sharing and I'm glad you had a nice family gathering..even with some missing. Good wishes for the new year!

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  8. BeachGypsyDecember 27, 2015 at 10:30 PM

    That place looks amazing! I would love to see it. Love your pictures of the area. Sure looks pretty

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  9. DesireeDecember 27, 2015 at 11:48 PM

    I owe you an email, Mona...I will get to it, but right now, just letting you know all is well. I cannot tell you how much I have enjoyed this post. You have taken me on a delightful trip to this beautiful spot and down your memory lane. Thank you so very much for sharing! Much love to you and Howard!

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  10. Madeline's AlbumDecember 28, 2015 at 7:35 AM

    Mona this was a wonderful post. I so enjoyed all the photos, just beautiful. A wonderful place to visit. Glad you had a good Christmas. I had almost all my family here the day after Christmas. My youngest daughter and her family were not able to come and one granddaughter had to go back to New York. I love your new header. Have a blessed day. Madeline

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  11. MadSnapperDecember 28, 2015 at 8:56 AM

    the photos are just gorgeous and so glad you had a lot of family around... waiting to see the rest of the pics

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  12. A Romantic PorchDecember 28, 2015 at 10:01 AM

    Mona, the Mission Inn is so beautiful. Thank you for the lovely photos. I hope your new year will be filed with joy. Love, Rachel

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  13. A Romantic PorchDecember 28, 2015 at 10:02 AM

    Mona, the Mission Inn is so beautiful. Thank you for the lovely photos. I hope your new year will be filed with joy. Love, Rachel

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  14. Debbie-Dabble Blog and A Debbie-Dabble ChristmasDecember 28, 2015 at 11:24 AM

    Mona,
    Absolutely stunning!! We do not have places like this here in the northeast, the architecture is so charming!!Looking forward to seeing more!!
    Thanks so much for visiting!!

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  15. AnonymousDecember 29, 2015 at 8:56 AM

    wow, such amazing things to see, beautiful, thank you for sharing this,, I have missed so many of your posts I am playing catch up,, best wishes to you!!

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  16. Beatrice P. BoydDecember 30, 2015 at 12:07 PM

    The Mission Inn is a lovely place, Mona, and maybe one day I will see it! Thanks for sharing these photos and also some of your personal comments. Sadness and happiness can being back such memories for all of us.

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  17. BeachGypsyDecember 31, 2015 at 1:07 PM

    Happy new year Mona! I have so enjoyed our friendship this year and hope to get to know you even better this new year!

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  18. DeniseinVAJanuary 5, 2016 at 2:50 PM

    I loved your photos, such a magical place with all the twinkling lights. Thank you so much for visiting me when I was on vacation. I have enjoyed catching up with your super blog. Happy New Year!

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  19. AnonymousJanuary 9, 2016 at 7:23 AM

    Hi Dear Mona and Happy New Year! Oh, the mission is just a most gorgeous place! What lovely snaps too. Glad you had a nice Christmas. I was in the nursing home for Christmas! I was there for rehab because I fell and broke my kneecap! Can you believe it? How inconvenient! Any way. I'm trying to recover slowly. Thanks so much for popping in to see me and here's to another year of blogging with you.
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  20. Stella JonesJanuary 17, 2016 at 9:55 AM

    Yes I really did enjoy. It is nothing like Tennessee there. Very interesting. Thank you.

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  21. PondsideJanuary 19, 2016 at 10:34 PM

    What a beautiful Mission! I have only visited one California mission and that is the one in San Luis Obispo. What a lovely place!

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  22. susie @ persimmon moon cottageFebruary 1, 2016 at 8:55 PM

    Stopping by here today wondering how you are doing. Hope your New Year has been happy so far.

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Thank you SO much for sharing your thoughts! Your comments are very important to me.

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