Pinwheels, Candy Canes and Marshmallow Dressing

Day 10 of the Countdown to Christmas features a pinwheel and candy cane tree. 

In November, I found Swedish Fish candy canes. Wish I would have bought more than one package!

Marshmallow Dressing is today's Countdown recipe. The Nut Tree in Vacaville, CA, was a wonderful place with an indoor glassed-in aviary so you could watch exotic birds while you ate at the restaurant. The Marshmallow Dressing was delightful on fruit salad. There was also a mini train that could take visitors around the property. 

What I am listening to Jackie Evancho. 

Marshmallow Dressing

This was one of the delights I enjoyed as a kid at The Nut Tree. 

Mom and me, Nut Tree Railroad 1969

Tami, Nut Tree, 1969

The train on track 29

Challenge prompt: "Have you ever ridden a train? Write a post about a train. Tell us about a train ride you have taken or one you'd like to take."

Mom and me in the last car of the Nut Tree railway, Vacaville, California, July 1969.

I have ridden Amtrak and one of the routes on my bucket list is Cascades route from Seattle to Vancouver. It is one thing to see it driving but another to see it from a train perspective.

The kids loved the Sacramento to San Francisco route (which included a bus leg) because they could move around the car and visit the loo whenever they wanted. Taking the train is great for excursions with mid-to-older aged children.

Scatterbrained and marshmallow dressing

Day 6 prompt of 30 Minus 2 Days of Writing Challenge hosted by weworkforcheese is "Scatterbrained."

I can be scatterbrained.  Luckily, I have harnessed my ADD so I can focus in atmospheres full of distraction.

For lack of any type of segueing into this - I'm just going to present one of my favorite food memories.

For years my family would travel to Vacaville, California to visit The Nut Tree.  The famed marshmallow dressing over fruit salad was simply scrumptious.  There was also the aviary in the middle of the restaurant where you could watch exotic birds while you had lunch (Me, Mom and my brother Mike - taken in 1969).

I have gone from scatterbrained to hyper-organized.  So glad I took the time to convert all of the salvageable images from the family photo archive of 35mm slides.

Now off with you to visit the other writers extraordinaire ~

Nut Tree, Vacaville CA

The Nut Tree in Vacaville, California, has closed its doors and re-opened a couple of times.  The image above was taken in 1969 (me, making one of my goofy 10-year old faces).

The Nut Tree Railroad would circle the property through the fruit and nut tree orchards and begin and end in front of the gift shop.  My 1969 outfit has to be one of those fashion "misses."

The last picture was taken in 1971.  There were also big rocking horses in front and an aviary in the center of restaurant.  I will always remember the Nut Tree marshmallow cream sauce served with fruit.  Makes my mouth water just thinking of it!

What memories do you have of the Nut Tree?