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T'was the night after solstice as the Twelve Knights of Christmas departed the top of Four Seasons. We had our list of homeowners (who's new and who's naught). Timers clicked on like reindeer hooves as house decorations lit up the twilight. Our group of Silent Night Carolers leap-frogged from decoration to decoration along the way. Some houses were dark as lumps of coal with owners gone. Some were not decorated, but every street was illuminated with colorful lights. When we reached the top of Plymouth Rock, the departing sun put on its own display of a glowing sunset over the western skies. Heading downhill to the cul-de-sacs, we strolled along Candy Cane and Sidewalk Lanes Aglow. Looking back uphill we marveled at fences Decked with Boughs of Rope Lights. We exited the pavement on Glacier Park entering a darkened trail C and noted a colorful wreath adorning our Veterans' Tree reminding us that our military would not be Home for The Holidays but remains on duty in distant lands while we celebrate Peace on Earth at home. Crossing Four Seasons Circle we hiked down Belaterra where We Came Upon a Midnight Clear overlooking the Little Town of Beaumont. We beheld our Windy Wonderland and the twinkling lights of homes and businesses. A large white Tannenbaum brilliantly lit to northwest generated a star-like beacon beckoning us to begin bearing gifts from afar. Alas, our dromedaries were amiss, so we loudly belted out a chorus of, Let It Glow; Let It Glow; Let It Glow. We passed the darkened new Lodge facility (No Yuletide Log in the Fireplace) commenting that in 2015 it would be alive with homeowners and decorations befitting our growing community. Then we wandered down Pipe Springs to Green Creek Trail impressed by the decorations curving around Big Bend. Several houses were polka-dotted with turquoise snowflakes from grounded projectors hinting at a Blue Christmas. We crossed the new plateau houses and followed Box Springs to Signal Peak. Our destination was the most distinctively decorated dwelling on Four Seasons. Here a flock of festive flightless flamingos flamboyantly flounced their Floridian features in our cozy California community. These reindeer replacements really rang our Christmas Bells. Then it was back uphill to our launch pad and the completion of our five-mile hike. We said our "Have Yourselves Merry Little Christmases." We were then homeward bound while visions of hot toddies and sticky pudding danced in our heads. To find out where else we are hiking, call or email Lynette at (951) 377-0392 or lynette.simonson@gmail.com. ~ Len Tavernetti 44 FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | FEBRUARY 2015 | SPORTS & OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES Hearty Hikers We enjoyed the decorated Four Seasons homes on our December hike

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