Happy New Year's Eve! The new year is almost here and I'm on the south campus of Rancho Los Amigos at the site of the Downey Float Association.
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Dreams come true...a Cinderella Story
Happy New Year's Eve! The new year is almost here and I'm on the south campus of Rancho Los Amigos at the site of the Downey Float Association.
Monday, December 30, 2013
Clearance!
Another sign that Christmas is over is the post-Christmas sale, and the resulting traffic at the malls.
"Buying something on sale is a very special feeling. In fact, the less I pay for something, the more it is worth to me. I have a dress that I paid so little for that I am afraid to wear it. I could spill something on it, and then how would I replace it for that amount of money?"
~Rita Rudner
Tags:
Downey Landing,
sales,
shopping,
Stonewood Center
Sunday, December 29, 2013
I'm melting!
Today, I took down my Christmas tree. I'm not the only one, as I noticed while driving around Downey. I liked the look of this tree, with its "snow" dripping onto the surrounding asphalt.
Apparently, this isn't the first year I've noticed these discarded trees. Downey Daily has just celebrated its fourth anniversary, and in looking back, I came across this one that I wrote four years ago: Christmas is really over.
In these four years, I've learned more about Downey than in all the years previous. Thanks for making this journey with us!
Saturday, December 28, 2013
The fabulous Esquires
Today we were at a friend's wedding. Both the bride and groom and many of their friends are into swing dancing. So, they arranged to have the Esquires play at the wedding. The Esquires play big band swing music. And, they play it well.
The Esquire Music Foundation was established in 1967 as a non-profit training program to teach young musicians how to play authentic dance music of the "Big Band Era." The conductor, Downey resident Eric Brundin, was fun to watch. Check out their website here.
The reception started with swing lessons for everyone. What a fun experience!
We danced the night away...some of the dancers were amazing and the rest of us just had a great time. I was personally inspired by the little girl in the first picture. She danced to every song.
"Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance"
~ Dave Barry
Friday, December 27, 2013
The Glass Slipper
The construction is done. Starting today, there are five days left to transform this bare frame into the beautiful Glass Slipper float envisioned by designer Thom Neighbors for the 2014 Rose Parade on New Year's Day.
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Christmas traditions II
Yesterday, I shared some of our Christmas day traditions. I thought, today, I would share some of our "day after Christmas" traditions. The first is having the last piece of apple pie. Sometimes you have to pass up other leftovers just so you'll have room for it.
What are some of your "after Christmas" traditions?
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Christmas traditions
It's Christmas.
One thing I've learned over the years as people from other families have been added to join in our family traditions is that their families have some different traditions. Our family begins Christmas day by going to church at 6:00 am for a service that helps us focus our attention on God's gift to the world, Jesus. One way we do this is to light the Advent candles.
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
The bright star of Bethlehem
Nativity scenes tell the real story of Christmas. It's really not about fighting traffic and buying bigger and better presents. It's about the humble birth of Jesus.
"Christmas in Bethelem. The ancient dream: a cold, clear night made brilliant by a glorious star, the smell of incense, shepherds and wise men falling to their knees in adoration of the sweet baby, the incarnation of perfect love."
~ Lucinda Franks
Tags:
awards,
christmas,
nativities
Monday, December 23, 2013
Anticipation
I know I've shown you this scene before (here and here, to list a few), and undoubtedly I'll show it to you again. It's one of my favorite Downey Christmas scenes: the nativity scene at Our Lady of Perpetual Help. It's not Christmas morning yet, so there's no baby Jesus in the manger—just Joseph and Mary, waiting.
Tags:
christmas,
churches,
nativities
Location
Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Sunday, December 22, 2013
'Twas a few nights before Christmas
Christmas Eve is just two nights away. I've been enjoying my Christmas tree for a couple of weeks now.
When do you get your Christmas tree?
Location
Home Depot, Downey, CA 90241, USA
Saturday, December 21, 2013
Mayor's Award, Area 4

The city of Downey is lit up this year with Christmas lights. This house was amazing. It was the winner of the city of Downey's Mayor's Award for Area 4. The yard was covered in "snow" and there were lighted decorations everywhere. There was even a live Santa sitting in a "sleigh."

Did you know that it was Thomas Edison who started it all? It seems that Edison wanted to find a way to market his incandescent light bulb. He decided to use his invention to add to the Yuletide festivities. He strung up lights all around his laboratory building so that railway commuters could see them. I'm sure he never imagined the global phenomenon he started back in 1880.
"Christmas is the season of light."
~ Anonymous
Tags:
awards,
christmas,
decorations
Friday, December 20, 2013
Winter wonderland
Tonight in my search for interesting Christmas decorations, I ventured into north Downey, where I discovered what looked like the perfect gingerbread house come to life.
Even as I (and numerous other carloads) admired it, I couldn't help but think about the amount of work that went into creating this winter wonderland!
Tags:
awards,
christmas,
decorations
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Last days of fall
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, which means it's almost winter. The winter solstice is this Saturday at 9:11 p.m. our time.
The trees are a sure sign of the end of fall, for which I personally am grateful. Every fall the tree next door to me drops its leaves, which then, because of the natural funnel effect of my property, get blown into my backyard. For a couple of months each year, I'm sweeping up leaves that don't even belong to me. I look forward to December 21st each year.
“I like these cold, gray winter days. Days like these let you savor a bad mood.”
Calvin (Bill Watterson's Calvin and Hobbes)
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Oakland (Los Angeles) Raiders
Flying a flag or banner outside your home has become quite popular. It's a way to announce your favorite season, your favorite emotion, or your favorite sports team. This Downey resident is obviously an Oakland Raiders fan. Not only is this banner visible each day, but there is a decal on their truck and in a front window.
But either this fan hasn't heard that the Raiders have moved back to Oakland or they are hoping the Raiders will see the error of their ways and return to the fan base here in Los Angeles.
"The silver and black may have another home, but the Raiders will always belong to the people of Los Angeles."
~Ice Cube
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
The lights of Naples
The houses are incredible and most are lighted up and uniquely decorated so that as you walk along the canals, you are treated to a vision of lights and a variety of decorations from the elegant to the silly. It is a tradition among our friends and family to walk the canals and enjoy the amazing variety.
Monday, December 16, 2013
Sunday, December 15, 2013
What a nightmare!
The winners of this year's Downey Holiday Home Decorating Contest were announced last week, so I thought it would be fun to check out some of the winners.
In Area 3, this house won the "Best Overall" award, with its characters from the movie The Nightmare Before Christmas.
Tags:
christmas,
decorations
Saturday, December 14, 2013
Christmas music
Every year we are treated to Christmas carols by the Warren High Marching Band and Color Guard. It's a great tradition for them to visit the neighborhoods around Downey.
"Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time."
~ Laura Ingalls Wilder
Friday, December 13, 2013
Christmas displays
Downey is full of houses that decorate during the Christmas season. Everything from lights on the houses to blowup snowmen to moving toy trains. When I was a kid back in the early 60s, my mom made a life-size Santa standing next to a replica of Sputnik and put it on our roof next to the chimney. She made Sputnik out of a 4-f00tt diameter balloon and papier-mâché. She made a frame for the Santa, covered it with papier-mâché, and then painted both. For its time, it was the talk of the block.
This house certainly has an impressive display of lights and animated objects.
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.
Isaiah 9:6
Tags:
christmas,
decorations,
nativities
Location
Downey, CA, USA
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Living decorations
I've seen this house on Quinn Street in past years and decided to go back to see what it would look like this year. I met Bob, who told me about the history of his decorations. He adds new things each year to keep his display living.
Bob says he'll be done completely by this Sunday. Go by and say "Merry Christmas" to Bob.
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Finally...the Jolly Snowman
In addition to the tree lighting, Santa, and hot cocoa, there was snow and a snowman!
"Snowmen fall from Heaven....unassembled".
~ Anonymous
Location
Downey, CA, USA
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
More than just tree-lighting
The annual tree-lighting celebration is about lots more than just lighting up the Christmas tree. No Christmas celebration would be complete without Santa on hand to hear Christmas wishes. Of course, the tiniest kids are really more interested in that beard!
More tomorrow...
Tags:
celebrations,
christmas,
kids,
santas
Location
Downey Civic Center
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