VIMCC Meets Again

The winds died down last night and today was cold, clear and calm.  The heart shaped leaf pile was still in place this morning so I took a picture.  It's stretched out a bit since yesterday but still looks pretty good.

The leaves on the trees are pretty much gone.  There are still a few clinging to the Italian Poplars on the back driveway, but the driveway itself has been swept clean.  No more crunchy, gold leaves underfoot.

Today was the annual holiday meeting of the VIMCC (Very Important Managed Care Committee).  This is a group of women, whom I met through work.  We started meeting over 15 years ago after an impromptu decision to have tea while at a conference in Santa Barbara.  Since then, our tea group has met quarterly or semi-annually, although in the past few years its been once a year, just the holidays.  We've changed members and scattered but we're all still friends.

I volunteered to make scones.  I got busy right after finishing chores and they came out of the oven just in time for me to make the drive to Linda's house.

Orange zest for the dough

Gathering the ingredients

Flour, sugar, salt, eggs, baking powder, orange zest, heavy cream and cranberries

Divide in half, pat into a circle and cut into wedges

Bake on a parchment lined baking sheet until brown.

Ready to go!

Linda, who is an original member of the group, was the hostess.  She did a beautiful job and put out quite an extensive spread of food: chicken, broccoli salad, dips, rolls and served up Poinsettias to drink (champagne and cranberry juice).

Karen and Sandie were also there.  They are also part of the first group we formed all those years ago in Santa Barbara.  Karen bailed on healthcare a number of years ago and opened her own business. 

This next picture is for Terri.  She was also an original member -- until she married, went to chef school (as did her husband, an attorney originally), and then ditched California and healthcare to run the wonderful Silverthatch Inn and restaurant in Virginia.  We miss her!

Maureen, Joanne, yours truly, Karen and Linda

Sandie brought a fruit salad

Maureen brought the real deal macaroons.

Linda set a beautiful table

...and we feasted, and talked, and drank champagne, and laughed.  For hours.  It was wonderful.

Red Flag Warning

We are currently under a Red Flag warning that went into effect last night.  The warning signifies extreme fire danger.  We are experiencing very high winds -- 25 mph with gusts over 50 mph.  The news stations are reporting that there have been some gusts up to 80 mph.  LAX was closed for awhile last night, some people lost power, the fire stations are at the ready, and we are picking up fallen limbs.  All those beautiful leaves on the trees?  Gone.  There was a huge pile of them down by the barn this morning.  I was in my workday rush mode so didn't have the camera with me.  The wind had swept them into a pile the size of a 12x12 stall but perfectly shaped like a heart.  Brett was complaining about the dogs running through them (it's about two feet deep) and I pointed out to him the heart.  He had to smile then. 

When we turned the horses out for breakfast, Flash exploded out of his stall into the pasture and Jackson was doing the snakey head thing so much I thought it was going to fall off.  The donkeys were squealing, the rabbits were scarfing their morning treats and the goats were running amok.  Funny how the wind makes everyone frisky.  The wind is quite cold (and forecast to get even colder) so my ears were aching and my fingers, even in my gloves, burning. 

This windy storm is supposed to be with us until Friday evening.  My morning commute was all about dodging tumbleweeds and cranking up the heater.  December is certainly here in full force!