First Place: Roxanne and Pete Watson
Unit 16B Lights Up the Holidays
Joy Hellard
Whether the 16B residents chose the sophisticated lighting of gold and silver, or an inflatable surfing Santa in a Hawaiian shirt, the unit was a sea of shimmering splendor throughout the 2021 holiday season.
Creating its own SaddleBrooke Ranch “Festival of Lights,” 16B residents outdid themselves this year. Strings of lights adorned cacti, rock streams, and the eaves of houses, making the December evening strolls around the unit delightful. Some residents displayed traditional themes of quiet nativity scenes, sparkling angels, and glowing menorahs. Others filled their yards with festive gnomes, candy cane sidewalks, Frosty the Snow Cacti, and window scenes of Christmas flamingos.
Whatever the chosen holiday style, everyone’s enthusiasm for the season was evident. Most households in the unit participated in the holiday decorating contest, which began after Thanksgiving. The 16B Activities Committee asked residents to select their favorite decorated house and vote for one entry before Dec. 17. The three homes getting the greatest number of votes received gift cards and festively decorated signs that indicated their placings.
Michele and David Musgrove, on Dead Wood Trail, received third place with their elegant glowing angels and sleigh. Icicles beautifully draped their eaves making the Musgroves’ entire yard shine with holiday spirit.
Sherann Ellsworth, Bruce MacIver, and Joy Hellard, with their combined yards display, received second place. Their “Sweet Holiday Wishes” Candy Land was handmade from discarded Robson dumpster items and built in their garages. Cheerful silver stars holding lollipops, twinkling cupcakes, and smiling gingerbread people welcomed residents and visitors as they rounded the corner onto One Horse Lane.
The first-place recipients were Pete and Roxanne Watson on Happy Jack Trail. Pete and Roxanne channeled the Griswold’s from “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” to create their winning entry. Every square inch of their yard became a carnival of Christmas fantasy. Flamingos in Santa hats danced along the curb, a large star pulsed with light, a bumbling Santa clung precariously from the rooftop, and their cacti, bushes, and trees groaned under the weight of illumination. The centerpieces of the Watson’s yard were two gigantic inflatable Santas, dressed in topical attire, who jiggled and swayed with holiday merriment.
The 16B Activities Committee thanks all residents for their decorating talents and creativity, which made the 2021 holidays shine with community effort and brilliance.
Christmas cheer from Unit 16C
Unit 16C Holidays
Lucy Lange
December’s calendar was chock-full for the residents of Unit 16C. First off, we all agreed to exterior Christmas decorations. What a show it was. Everything from sparkly lighted moose, gorgeous reindeer, soft lighting, and a sprinkling of Christmas flamingos covered the street. Santa was sure not to miss East Dead Wood Trail on Christmas Eve.
The month started with Susan Lucarelli’s annual Christmas cookie baking marathon. Dar, Joyce, Toni, Susan, and Lucy gathered to make several batches of their favorite Christmas cookies. Susan fired up both her ovens and provided baking sheets, and we all whipped up buttery, chocolate, peanut butter, fudge, and peppermint masterpieces. Who knew mimosas and cookies were such a wonderful pairing? We all took home huge containers full of holiday cookies.
Next stop was for a trivia night party hosted by Susan Lucarelli and Roger Cowles. We divided up into four teams with the winning team consisting of Brian Nero, Ken Gorman, Lucy and Hans Lange, Joyce Cox and Paula Parkinson. Everyone brought food and drinks to share.Then came Toni and Lowell Graves hosting the SBR Christmas carolers out on the patio with the fire pit roaring for warmth. Everyone brought holiday themed hors d’oeuvres and Christmas cheer for a very festive evening. After the carolers performed, the residents sang them a special carol, then invited them to share our celebratory feast. No one declined.
But we weren’t done celebrating. On Christmas day, Patty and Joe Cimo and the Langes hosted a Christmas morning champagne brunch for residents and their families.
You could come in your Christmas jammies, but no one was allowed to bring fruit cake. Thirty eight neighbors enjoyed egg casseroles, sweet rolls, bourbon smoked bacon, sausages, ham, biscuits and gravy, fruit salad, hash browns, and cookies. There was hot chocolate for the kids, and plenty of champagne and orange juice for the adults. Outdoor table fire pits and a roaring fire in the patio fireplace kept everyone warm. The neighborhood’s favorite chocolate lab, Cocco, made an appearance to open his squeaky toy gift. He even made off with a little ham.
Everyone’s New Year’s resolution was to go on a diet to lose some of those holiday celebratory month calories.
Unit 21A Villa Owners Gather
Julie Dzekute
We enjoyed an initial gathering of new villa owners in the new Villa Unit 21A on Sunday, Jan. 16. As a new unit, it was great to get out into our green space and meet our new neighbors. More fun times are to come for Unit 21A!