My First Christmas Celebration In The Warmth
By fishtiger58
@fishtiger58 (29823)
Momence, Illinois
December 15, 2016 8:55am CST
Many of you know I went to Phoenix last week to visit my Aunt. It was a wonderful trip and the weather was amazing. I have never been anywhere warm in the winter. It was strange to say the least.
We went to Glendale to their Glendale Glitters Christmas Celebration. They claim they use over a million Christmas lights in the main area of the Celebration. It sure could have been. The palm trees were all decorated with lights and it was pretty amazing to say the least. They had vendors selling all sorts of goods and vendors selling many types of foods. And while I was loving all the lit up palm trees, the most amazing thing was walking around in my t shirt. I am 58 years old and never have I celebrated Christmas where I was actually warm and sometimes hot, outside.
I bought some food to eat while I walked around but the most unusual thing I bought was Prickly Pear Cactus Jam. It's a very unusual taste and I'm still not quite sure I like it. I am going to try it on a piece of toast soon, as I just tasted it with a spoon when I bought it. My hubby likes it however, so that's good.
All in all it was a wonderful trip, I loved spending time with my aunt and cousin, but there is no place like home. I did so miss my menfolk.
18 people like this
17 responses
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
15 Dec 16
I saw that Jalapeno Jam but thought I wouldn't like that so I didn't get it. It's just strange not to be cold at Christmas time.
2 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
15 Dec 16
Sounds like you enjoyed the warm weather. I lived in Hawaii so I went thru a few Christmas Days in shorts and flip flops. It was strange.
2 people like this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
15 Dec 16
I really did enjoy that weather. Nice not to be cold, but I'm glad to be home, I missed my family here.
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
15 Dec 16
@fishtiger58 No place like home, no place like home....
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
15 Dec 16
@AbbyGreenhill That is the truth I am so very happy to be home.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
15 Dec 16
I've lived in Phoenix most of my adult life and it has never felt like Christmas. I like the cold, I like the 4 seasons. If my family wasn't here I would move back home, back east. I did so for 5 years but then there was trouble here and I moved back.
I'm very happy you enjoyed it here. I would enjoy it, too, if it was just a visit. I would give almost anything for a real winter, even just a couple of days!
2 people like this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
15 Dec 16
I have lived my whole life in Illinois, I don't think I will ever move out of this state, and yes the 4 seasons are a big reason I live here.
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
17 Dec 16
I am glad you had a great trip. I have never spent Christmas in Florida but I did send Thanksgiving and it was weird to be in shirt sleeves, lol We did consider Arizona as our winter destination but it is too far to drive so Florida won.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
18 Dec 16
@fishtiger58 It is very enjoyable I have to say and the extra sunlight makes me much happier.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
19 Dec 16
@BelleStarr We just don't have the money to buy another house. We are comfortable in our retirement just not enough for another house. So we stay here in the cold lol.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
17 Dec 16
Arizona is a long drive for me too, I sure wouldn't mind spending the winters somewhere warm.
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@just4him (307687)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
16 Dec 16
@fishtiger58 I'm sorry they didn't enjoy the flight.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
17 Dec 16
@just4him I didn't think they would, it was fine
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
16 Dec 16
My sisters did not enjoy the flight and we so happy to get off that plane, but it wasn't bad, and sure beats driving for 3 days to get there.
1 person likes this
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
16 Dec 16
How exotic-looking that Christmas display is on the palm tree! I would love to do that again, We did it one year with the family when my mother used to winter in Arizona so it was wonderful!
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
21 Dec 16
@MarymargII I would love that, we are retired and are comfortable, but not so comfortable I could buy another house
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
16 Dec 16
It's so frigid here now and feels even colder to me because of my week in the warm weather. I could get used to that but only in the winter, the summers there are awful. I was there once in July thought I was going to die.
1 person likes this
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
19 Dec 16
@fishtiger58 Well then that's your plan and mine too- we'll go down from Jan. 3 to April 1~~~ how's that sound? ha! 
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45651)
• Philippines
16 Dec 16
look, a tropical christmas tree! i hope you and your sisters had a pleasant flight, to and fro. i'm glad hubby liked the jam. at least it won't be wasted if you really can't get into it.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
16 Dec 16
We did have a nice time, was great to see my aunt. As for the jam I am going to give it a taste test.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (80023)
• United States
16 Dec 16
Happy to hear you had a great visit with your Aunt. I've never experienced Christmas in warm weather either. It must be weird (sort of)
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
16 Dec 16
It is pretty strange, but I liked it. Just can't live in Arizona to hot in the summer
@moffittjc (118639)
• Gainesville, Florida
16 Dec 16
I had to chuckle when you said it was your first warm trip in the winter! Living in Florida, we are used to (and expect) most of our winters to be warm! haha
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118639)
• Gainesville, Florida
17 Dec 16
@fishtiger58 Well, all the old Christmas stories that originated out of Europe, plus all the Hollywood movies and tv shows, portray Christmas in the setting of a winter wonderland. But just think, all the millions of people who live south of the Equator get to spend Christmas during the summer! (their seasons are opposite of ours).
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
16 Dec 16
Many people think winter and Christmas should be cold. It was strange to be warm looking at Christmas decorations. It's terrible cold here and now I have to get used to it all over again lol.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
18 Dec 16
@moffittjc Yes so strange to this Chicago girl
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@MarshaMusselman (38677)
• Midland, Michigan
16 Dec 16
So, you went on this trip by yourself? I've been to Scottsdale in April and that was pretty remarkable too. I love the tree with the lights. I never even imagined that they decorated palm trees like we do other trees here.
Is prickly pears the ones that are purplish in color? If so, we sell them in our stores and I think I tried one of the pears. I liked the fruit, so I'm sure the jam would be good too. I can't imagine how many pears it might take to make the jam, though. Was it a bit expensive? The pears are packed with small pits so the flesh of the pear is almost non-existent.
I found a link that shows how to get the skins off and how to make juice with them. Most people eat the seeds which are the size of little stones, but when juicing or making jams those are eliminated.
How do you cut and prepare prickly pear cactus? Carefully. Here's a step-by-step guide with photos and recipe suggestions.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
16 Dec 16
My two sisters went with me I never travel alone. I thought the jam was expensive 5 dollars for a small jar, but I had to have it so I paid.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
18 Dec 16
Guess you will have to get on a plane, it's plenty white and cold in Chicago lol.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40246)
• United States
19 Dec 16
It would be fun to see Christmas decorations without cold and snow - I'm happy you had a nice time
1 person likes this
@quantum2020 (12040)
• Ciudad De Mexico, Mexico
15 Dec 16
You had a real Christmas celebrations filled with lights. Tha palm looks great with all those lights around it
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@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
15 Dec 16
I did so enjoy the lights on the palm trees. A different look than I'm used to.
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
15 Dec 16
I thought so too, very cool. I wonder how they put those lights up so high.
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
15 Dec 16
i'm so glad that'cha got to go'n that trip, visit with family 'n feel the warmth 'pon yer skin. no doubt seein' all those lights 'n green t'was most mesmerizin'. 's fer that prickly pear jam? some folks jest ne'er develop a taste fer 't.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
15 Dec 16
I am slowly getting up the nerve to try the jam on a piece of toast, maybe tomorrow.
1 person likes this
