By Steph
Christmas at Vista Verde is a magical time. Even after all these years, I am still taken by how much holidays at the ranch feels like a Norman Rockwell painting. Whether is the family-decorated trees in the Lodge, or the screams of laughter as children (of all ages) zip down the tubing hill, it just feels like how Christmas should be.
Each year on Christmas Eve, I get the joy of leading our guests on a caroling expedition. We ride from the Lodge to the Homestead cabin on the big sleigh, caroling all the way. Out at Homestead, Rucker met us with a warm fire, mulled wine, hot chocolate and roasted chestnuts. Yep, it is totally cliche, but I can never help but do the Christmas Song (hum to yourself, “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire…”)while we’re out there.
As we come back from the cabin, and round the bend to see the ranch compound, the lights of the cabins and Lodge glitter like little stars. It is such a peaceful and memorable moment for me, year after year. We pulled up to the Lodge this year singing, “We wish you a Merry Christmas” and while thinking about figgy pudding we decided to surprise the Chefs. Jumping off the sleigh, we all ran to the back door of the kitchen and did a quick rendition. “So bring us some figgy pudding, so bring us some figgy pudding, so bring us some figgy pudding, and bring it right now”. Next thing we know, Chef Cholly is running away and comes back with- you guessed it- figgy pudding, as you can see in this photo that Kristin captured! Only at Vista Verde.
We had a wonderfully festive day yesterday, and hope you did as well. Even if you weren’t surrounded by fluffy white snow and jingling bells, we do hope you were surrounded by love and laughter.
