Candlelight Pavilion - "Sounds of Christmas"

Earlier this year we spent an evening at the Candlelight Pavilion to see "South Pacific".  Tonight we are back for their wonderful Christmas program.  This year it's called "Sounds of Christmas".  We all love this place . . . the food is good, the desserts are . . . well, to die for . . . and the shows are lively and delightful and fun.

As we approached the entrance, we were greeted by this beautiful  . .

Tree of Lights

We are so looking forward to this show

Inside the foyer, this tree is decorated
with ornaments representing every show
that has been presented at Candlelight.

Another tree in the lobby - perfect place for a photo opp
Front:  Queen Leslie, Joy
Back:  Seema, Carol L, Debbie T, Carol N, Barbara

And right outside the showroom floor . . .
Santa must be close by.

After dinner and just before the show started, Queen Leslie spoiled us a with some special little gifts . . .

Thank you Queen Leslie

The show was amazing - the music, dancing and story line were so much fun.  And at the end . . . .

Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus in person

What a perfect and special way to close out our year.  We've had a wonderful year, lots of fun and adventure, lots of memories made, friendships grown, and many smiles and laughter.  Can't wait to see what 2018 brings.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year F.R.I.E.N.D.S.!!!  See you all in January.

Operation Christmas Child Warehouse

We're back again to volunteer a few hours at the Operation Christmas Child Warehouse.  This is such a heartwarming and rewarding experience, and we look forward to doing it every year.  And this year, the warehouse was in Corona . . . So much closer to home.  Hopefully/prayerfully they will come back to our area again next year.

Operation Christmas Child

As always, the evening begins with a brief orientation with a few stories about Operation Christmas Child, and instruction on each of the tasks that need to be done to prepare the shoeboxes for shipment overseas.  

Here we are at the end of the orientation . . .
L-R:  Debbie C, Barbara, Joy, Leslie, Seema, Kathy, Carol N

As we were walking to our work-stations, we noticed that the warehouse was pretty empty as far as volunteers were concerned . . . Maybe because it was the shift change?  (Later in the evening, we were told that our evening shift processed more shoeboxes than the day shift - with fewer people!  How 'bout that!!!!)

The processing line

Look at all the shoeboxes . . .

Waiting to be processed

Every year there is something new . . . This year there was a board filled with photos of Operation Christmas Child kids.  The idea is to choose a photo and write a prayer for that child on the back.  Amazing . . .

Prayer Board for OCC Kids

Some of the prayers

We arrived at our work stations and quickly got busy . . .

Kathy's job was to open each box and
remove any money/checks inside (for shipping charges)

Joy's job was to inspect the contents and remove
any prohibited items - which this year
includes toothpaste and candy

Carol N taped each box closed

Leslie scanned the boxes with barcodes,
sorted them by boy/girl and age
and placed them into the appropriate shipping carton

Barbara and Debbie C rolled T-shirts to be used as filler items

And Seema sorted stuffed animals, also filler items

Every job is so important, and it takes a TON of volunteers to process the thousands of shoeboxes that go through this warehouse - and this is just one of eight warehouses throughout the USA.

Every hour or so, everything in the warehouse stops and everyone takes a few moments for prayer . . .

Praying for the shoeboxes and for the children who will receive them

 Halfway through our shift, we took a little break . . .

Break Time!

And at the end of our shift, we stopped for our annual photo by the Operation Christmas Child Tree . . .

L-R:  Joy, Debbie C, Barbara, Leslie, Kathy, Seema, Carol N

Well done ladies.  Hope to see everyone back again next year.

Barbara's Victorian Tea House

Today Queen Barbara has arranged for us to do something different.  We're donning our prettiest outfits, grabbing our most gorgeous hats, and we're venturing out for a Tea Party.  What a fun day - the food was delish, we practiced our "pinkies up" technique (with lots of giggles), and we enjoyed being together because being together is . . . well, of course, it's the best!

Our destination is . . .

Barbara's Tea House
How perfect that Queen Barbara took us to Barbara's Tea House
(no relation)

This is an old Victorian House that has been refurbished
into a beautiful and cozy Tea House, each room with a different decor

There are many pretty and unique items on display and for sale
throughout the house - lots of cute gift ideas 

We were shown to our private dining room and quickly got settled in around the table . . .

Queen Barbara, Debbie C, Carol L, Debbie T

Seema, Joy, Chris, Leslie

The table was set with beautiful china, all formally laid out with each place setting different from the next.

One of the pretty place settings

The food was served in courses, and each course was accompanied with a variety of delicious teas.

First Course - Potato Soup 

Second Course - Pumpkin Muffins

With scrumptious toppings to enhance the flavor

Third Course - Quiche (somehow didn't get a photo)
Fourth Course -  (3) different and delicious finger sandwiches

By this time our tummies were full and we needed to move around a bit.  So we strolled through the house and checked out all the items on display - beautiful dishes, teapots, teacups and saucers, jewelry and many quaint gift items. But the thing that drew the most attention were the amazing Red Hats - a couple of which found new homes with our ladies.  (We'll get to ooh and aww over them when they appear at a future outing.)

Back at the table, we indulged in the heavenly desserts . . .

Oh!  My! 
Good thing calories don't count at Tea Parties!

Seated L-R:  Debbie C, Carol L, Debbie T
Standing L-R:  Chris, Leslie, Queen Barbara, Carol N, Seema, Joy

  Such a fun day!  Thanks Queen Barbara.  Let's get dressed up and do something like this again soon.

Graber Olive House & Outreach Project

Today we are combining two events into one . . . We'll begin with a tour of the Graber Olive House in Ontario, we'll have lunch, and then we'll fill our shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child.  

Graber Olive House

Entering the grounds of the Graber Olive House is a like stepping back in time.  The Graber Family has been growing and processing olives using the same equipment for well over 100 years (since 1894 to be exact) . . . truly an example of "If it ain't broke, don't fix it".  Their grounds also contain interesting pieces from a bygone era . . .

Olive Mill

Old Wagon for hauling alfalfa seed and hay

Hitching Post

Olive Tree

We enjoyed walking around and looking at all these treasures.  Before we could begin our tour of the processing plant, we had to get properly geared up . . .

Don't we look cute?  The hair nets really set off our hats, doncha think?
L-R:  Leslie, Chris, Carol N, Debbie, Queen Carol L, Seema, Joy, Barbara

It was so interesting to learn how olives get from the trees into the cans you find on the grocery store shelf.  Because it was early in the season, we didn't get to see most of the machinery in action.  But they have wonderful display boards, and an excellent tour guide, who brought the process to life.

Our tour begins . . . 

The process begins by carefully inspecting each and every
olive by hand

This machine dates back to the 1890's and has been in use ever since.
The olives roll along and drop through the strings according to size . . . 

And fall into the appropriate bins.

Beautiful olives all nicely sorted and all the same size

From here the olives are put into concrete vats to be cured for three weeks.  We weren't allowed into the vat room, but we did get a little peek at some empty vats and learned about the process . . .

The actual concrete vats

Information about the Vats

What the vatting process looks like

Next comes the canning process . . . 

The Filling Wheel

 

Sorting the olives one last time, and hand-filling the cans

Making sure each can has the same exact number of olives

The next step is filling the cans with hot water and then sealing the cans . . .

The Can Closing Process

Panama Paddle Packer

Sealed cans are placed in canning carts and taken to the boiler room
to be sterilized

Sterilization Process

Open Retort

Canning cart entering Retort

Sealed Retort

After the cans are properly sterilized, the next step is labeling . . .

The labeling process

The labeling machine

Labeling in process

Lastly, the cans are put into cartons and are ready for shipment  . . .

Cartons of Graber Olives

The carton supply

Such an interesting process.  Who knew there was so much involved?  We all really enjoyed our tour.  There were a couple very interesting displays of photos and information about the Graber family . . .

After our tour, we naturally had to take a stroll through the two wonderful little gift shops . . .

One of two gift shops 

So many unique, cute and delicious gift ideas

We all left a few $$ here - and will probably be back

When we finally had our retail therapy fill, it was time for lunch at . . .

Molly's Souper

Such a nice day to enjoy lunch on the patio
Clockwise from Left:  Debbie, Barbara, Chris, Seema, Leslie, Queen Carol L, Carol N, Joy

After lunch, we headed to the Noble-Torian Manor for the Outreach portion of our day.  We laid our treasures out on the table, and Queen Debbie started us off by reading some stories about Samaritan's Purse and how these little shoebox gifts are making a difference in the lives of children all around the world . . .

Queen Debbie reading about Operation Christmas Child

While everyone listens intently

Our shoebox items ready for packing

Filling the shoeboxes

This part is so much fun

This year we filled nine shoeboxes - five for girls / four for boys.  It would be so amazing to see their little faces when they open them.  Even more amazing is that God already has picked out the little boy or girl who will receive each one.  May they each be truly blessed, and may this open their lives to the most amazing gift of salvation.

L-R: Back - Joy, Barbara, Chris, Carol L, Queen Debbie, Seema
Front:  Carol N, Leslie

Thank you, Queen Carol L and Queen Debbie for such a fun day.  And thank you, ladies, for your warm and giving hearts, always ready to reach out to others.  Best feeling ever.