It's been a busy busy year and now it's time to.....

...pull up a chair and sit down while

I reminisce about this past year-

the year that has so swiftly flown by....

In February and part of early March

Russell and I joined 13 friends for the

trip of a lifetime. A cruise from Chile down

the coast of South America, around the

Horn and back up the coast to Brazil.

It was an amazing 16 days and we are so

glad we went. We saw sights and went places

that we might have never experienced if not

for this amazing voyage.

Here are the darling Magellan Penguins!

Penguins-think of that!

Here we are going through the Fiords of Chile.

The following day we went around the Horn.

It was remarkably calm-the sea was like glass.

The following day we arrived at the Falklands

and it was 77 degrees. The warmest it had been

for a year. Amazing place and I would have

liked to have stayed longer than just a few hours.

In March our good friends from Abbotsford BC came to visit on their way back from The Grand Canyon. They stayed with Curly and Suzie and we all met for dinner one night. We all know each other from Zihuatanejo....

April found me gardening with Tom and Steve-
as I was ready to be sharing that big 20x20 foot plot!

In early Summer I went camping in the Olympic National Forest with Doug and Peggy for a week. I had never been there before. Such gorgeous scenery. And right in our backyard ! Wow.

I also took a quick one week trip to Colorado to visit my brother Paul, my sister Nina and my good friend Kit. I also got in a good visit with my nephew Evan and his girlfriend Fawn.

Here's an unusual shot at Luscher Farm. Artists at work.....

Russell and I had many a delicious meal with our great neighbors Tom and Steve. Either at our house or theirs.

Here we are being silly in front of a sidewalk mirror....

Russell with sister Barb and Florida sister Susie...Our friends from Scotland, Toni and Andrew came to visit in September. We had a great visit what with traveling to the Redwoods, to the dunes in Florence and allowing them to explore the Columbia Gorge on their own! We were quite sad when they left and felt slightly abandoned for a bit. They are now having an adventure beginning their own "croft" which is Scottish for "small farm". Obviously we'll need to visit soon.

Russell decided early in the summer that he would run for City Council. I took this picture early on with one of his campaign signs that he had up at our favorite gas station. Look at the price compared to the $1.69 it is now !Russell didn't win, but as it turns out it's ok. We have lots of new projects to look forward to!

And so here we are.......Christmas!
Merry Christmas everyone and Happy New Year!
Since I am just getting over my knee surgery
I am being very lazy and allowing this to be
our Christmas Card. We wish all of you the
happiest of holidays and the best New Year to come.
Hugs and Kisses from Kathe and Russell