2016 Rose Parade Float Decorating and other year end activities

Thanks for stopping by to read mmm-yoso!!!, primarily a food blog.  Now that Christmas is over, Kirk and Ed(from Yuma) are relaxing.  Cathy is switching into overdrive, because she's been following traditions which continue until the 12th Night after Christmas Day.  

On the drive home after The Mister and I had another non-traditional Thanksgiving meal, we talked about our next drive to Pasadena which was almost a monthly road trip this year.  I had signed us up to volunteer to decorate Rose Parade floats back in June, choosing a Saturday in early December.   When we arrived to check in, fellow blogger, Dennis, was also at the Rose Palace decorating barn of Phoenix Decorating Company, fulfilling one of many items on his "Bucket List".  The view from the floor when we walked in is amazing.

There were two floats still under construction ( sponsored by United Sikh Mission, to the right in the above photo)... and this one, sponsored by Farmers Insurance.  This float, mentioned/pictured in my October Road Test post will be following behind the main part of the Farmers Insurance float.

It was a day of preparation of dried flowers (so they could be pulverized in blenders and then the powder glued onto the floats), 'beaning' and 'seeding' and various jobs involving glue.  More soothing and meditative, not the frenzy of fresh flower preparation (including the filling of thousands of vials with water) which begins today and continues until judging on the 31st.  Taking a break, Dennis and I climbed to the catwalk (where the general public can also walk, for a fee) to take some photos...

The parade will be on television, kicking off at 8 a.m. on January 1.  If you'd like to follow along and know the Order of the March, this link to the Pasadena Examiner lists each participant in order. There is also an app (it's free), mentioned on the the Tournament web site of the 2016 Parade Program. Beginning on page 39, there is a short paragraph explaining each participant and a photo of the band, equestrian unit, or the artist rendition of the float as it will appear in the parade.  The Theme of "Find Your Adventure" combined with the co-sponsorship with the National Park Service (and the beginning of the NPS 100th year) is sure to make this parade one to remember!

Since this is a food blog...our meals that day...since we didn't have to leave the house at our usual 5 a.m., we had some breakfast at home then stopped in Tustin  for cheesy delights; my most favorite version of ham and cheese baked into a bread and, on the left...a sort of cracker-cheese with a bit of flour; just the right amounts of each for a lightly salty, crispy pastry. Once again, we didn't purchase the delicious strawberry confections that Cream Pan is famous for.  Cream Pan Bakery website

We did bring our own lunch, some sandwiches, and had those with coffee at the nearby Starbucks.  

On the way home, there was one stop and then we saw horrible traffic, so ended up taking side roads to try to avoid, eventually stopping at the Etiwanda Avenue (in Mira Loma) location of Farmer Boys
Where I ordered my 'usual' breakfast sandwich (this time with bacon) and The Mister tried some sort of chicken/cheese/avocado/bacon sandwich... I have no description, except it was good as always; we were exhausted.  Farmer Boys Website

Leaving the decorating barn, we had stopped at Orchard Supply Hardware in Pasadena to pick up the first of 2016 business giveaway calendars.Orchard Supply always has a train themed calendar and this year is the first time (in 85 years of calendars) when an artist's work has been featured two years in a row.  The artist, Ken Muramoto, is extremely talented (and the youngest artist who has contributed to the tradition of OSH calendars). You can read about him HERE.

I enjoy the Vallarta Market calendar, because it lists the Days of the Saints in a format I can look at randomly.  The Nijiya calendar is always beautiful.   The Vietnamese Market Thuan Phat's calendar is HUGE and beautiful.   The calendar from Lucky Seafood was...um...interesting this year.  I know there are alway several designs chosen for the printing.  This one we received  well...I just never thought of a cartoony Asian man taking a selfie...but this calendar will be in my kitchen and I am sure it will make me smile every single morning in 2016.

The Mister and I also went to Fort Rosecrans, just after the annual volunteers from Wreaths Across America had finished placing wreaths in memoriam of our fallen military.   Not every grave was covered, but each year a different section is completely filled. Volunteers will be needed for cleanup the second to last Saturday in January.
Once again, before our trek to the Cemetery, we stopped at P.L. Bagels for a buttered, toasted (available on weekends only) bialy and a (similarly prepared and available every day) everything bagel.  Reasonable size, fresh made daily, seeds on the top AND bottom and sold until they run out.  This family owned and run San Diego institution is great.  P.L. Bagels 3704 Voltaire Street, Suite 107 San Diego 92107 (619) 223-4788 open daily 6a.m.-1 p.m.
Finally, one last local institution (more than 50 years in the same location) is closing and moving, because the land on that corner is more valuable than whatever rent the owner can get from the gas station, car wash and Mary's Donuts, combined.  I've briefly  mentioned Mary's in only two posts over all these years, but it is walking distance from home and since it is open 24/7...it is very much part of our 'rotation'.  The new location is even a bit closer for us, but the ambiance just won't be the same...I hope the donuts are.

Mary's Donuts 9031 Mission Gorge Road Santee 92071 (619) 448-4800 

I hope you are having a wonderful Season.

Comments

[Soo @ hungryones]

Thanks for more cool parade float updates. Keep me updated on Mary's. I need to try more of their donuts. Happy New Year!

[Cathy]

You're welcome, Soo. I've been doing some sort of parade update since 2006 http://mmm-yoso.typepad.com/mmmyoso/2006/12/rose_parade_pre.html
It's such a fun and historic thing to be able to do. Ken Burns is the Grand Marshal this year, bringing it all together. I'll let you know about Mary's. It was supposed to close on December 24th, but was open on the 26th...so I need to stop in and find out...

[Dennis]

This was a fun day Cathy! We all totally kicked butt the day. :)

[caninecologne]

One of these days, me, Bert and TC should decorate floats! I always enjoy your float posts. So much work goes into making the floats look beautiful for the parade. Thanks for the detailed and informative behind the scenes look.

[Cathy]

I'm so glad you got to be there on one of the calmer days, instead of now, with the crowds of volunteers (and cold mornings), Dennis! Although it seems all of the float companies and individual makers are asking for volunteers via social media...:) We did get a lot accomplished in those few hours, and it was important work.

Yes, cc, I think the three of you would enjoy being a part of it. It is really a great tradition. At least once, you should try to get to the Post Parade Showcase of Floats (a good way to get in a few miles of walking to begin the New Year resolution)

[Ed (from Yuma)]

Always interesting.