Thanks for making the journey online to view our newsletter. I’ve been designing websites and thought this would be a perfect venue for our news, such as it is. As Garrison Keillor would say, “It’s been a quiet year in Lake Wobegone.” No big news. Simple stories, lived in a quiet place.
Our Christmas card this year features images from Christmas 2020. Festive, but no snow. In moderation, snow is the only good thing about winter because it gives me a reason to zoom around on the ATV plowing it. Not big fans of winter, we endure it in order to enjoy summer. But our love affair with summer dimmed this year. The first half was hotter than Death Valley and the second half was blanketed with wildfire smoke. So we are officially embracing the transition seasons. They have their pros and cons. Spring is joyful with lengthening days and green springing forth. Fall is fresh and brisk with autumn colors and snow capping the mountain peaks. They are the tricky dog poop seasons, however. Fall means trying to decide if that piece of brown is a turd or a fallen leaf. Spring means learning that my belief I kept the poop picked up over the winter was a delusion.
Jeff is still handsome and hard working. He and the pups keep hiking the Bitterroot Mountains in preparation for his February climb in Tanzania. He, his son Nick, and son-in-law Justin will tackle The Snows of Kilimanjaro. Travel plans are set but we haven’t told Astro and Phoebe they aren’t going. <Cue the whines>
Consumer Direct successfully launched its Washington business late this year. Jeff has been laser focused on designing and implementing the IT systems for the massive project and busy opening offices and hiring staff in various locations around the state. He travels to our Tacoma home away from home regularly as there is still much to do. He brings me the free chocolate bars he receives as an Alaska Airlines MVP after every trip.
Hoping for enough slack to actually take vacation time, Jeff and I are planning a road trip next summer. We purchased a new travel trailer and plan to make a circuit of the Midwest–a nostalgic romp through our hometowns and visits with many of our relatives. The Flying Cloud made its maiden voyage last summer to Spokane to camp with Jeff’s brother Jim, his wife Colleen, and their son Ian. Jeff decorated her with the Pottery Barn Airstream collection. Who knew he had designer instincts?
I’m still indulging my photography habit with lots of classes and practice shoots. I keep learning more and more about capturing good images and editing them to make them pop. In addition to photography I’ve been dabbling in website design. I created a site for a friend’s business and set up my own to display my photos and blogs. I continue to volunteer my organizational, photographic, and web skills for projects. I helped put on a horse clinic this fall that was awesome. You can see some photos on my Photography page. I didn’t ride but learned lots from watching.
Our family is thriving. Kayla ended her term as a cook in the Wisconsin Army National Guard. She is completing her education with the help of her military benefits. As a kid, Kayla wanted to be America’s Next Top Model. I’m so glad she turned her attention to the other side of the camera because she has become a wonderful photographer. She has magic in her soul and a great eye for capturing the essence of her subjects. Katerah is also completing education, to become a medical assistant. Her son, Elijah James, is three and Baby Boy #2 is on the way. She and her partner, Julian, bought a new home for their expanding family. Katerah’s spirit and determination have shaped her into an amazing mother. I’m so proud of how these girls have blossomed into strong young women, each in their own ways.
Johnna, Justin, Jackson, and Addie moved to Michigan. The flexibility of working remotely allowed them to relocate to a family-friendly, Norman Rockwell setting. Jackson has started school and Addie is right behind him. I see lots of sledding in their future. Nick and Alice bought a house north of Seattle and are settling into married life. Lots of projects to tackle in their new place. Alice is a professional horticulturist so their yard should be amazing.
We said a peaceful goodbye to Ruby in March. For an old guy who had no teeth, couldn’t hear much, and didn’t see very far, he was still a master at finding the smelliest green nuggets of horse poop to smoosh his face into. Our consolation is that he lived a long and happy life with joy in his heart. I miss his lap snuggles. Phoebe tries to help but she really doesn’t have the patience for a good long nap.
Phoebe keeps us entertained. She can twerk with all four feet off the ground and spin in circles. She squeaks her toys in Indy 500 loops around the house, dropping them at my feet for me to toss. Astro has decided she isn’t too old for toys, but mostly carries them around and shows me so Phoebe won’t steal them. She still farts in her sleep with a “pffft.” She keeps her eye on the neighborhood, watching for mayhem to complain about. Of course, the mayhem is usually Phoebe.
The Ranch continues to evolve. We diligently keep tackling our list of projects. I add some landscaping every year and improve my skills in the garden. Jeff promised to make pie from our pumpkin crop and I managed to harvest lots of strawberries, even though Ruby taught Phoebe how to steal them. Astro picks her own raspberries. Jeff’s 2020 Pigeon Abatement project was successful. Until we built a parking structure for the truck and horse trailer. Hence the 2021 Pigeon Abatement Project. They now happily reside in the horse barn, for now.
Here’s wishing you a White Christmas, sans pigeon poop.