"We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." ~George Bernard Shaw

"Look at everything as though you were seeing it either for the first or last time." ~Betty Smith, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn


Wednesday, December 03, 2008

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

6 comments:

  1. Merry Christmas to you too!! Lazy is not the the word, you have had a lovely year! Quilts, trips, recovery and gardening. I can't believe how grown up Evan is! I know he just had a baby, but I still think he is a 9 year old. Can't wait to see you on the next California trip. This time of year I always think of your old bubbling chrismas lights at the West Linn house and Elizabeth Borden's goodies. Enjoy the season. XOXO your favorite niece Beth

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  2. Happy Holidays! I may just copy your idea... Great thinking and terribly sustainable too!

    Take good care of yourselves and don't forget to stop in for a glass of wine on your neighborhood walks. This time of year there may be a Christmas cookie or two in it for you too!

    Jeanne, Albrecht, Helena, Kat (in absentia) and Rudy Enders

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  3. a chair, sunshine, penguins, a foggy day on a boat (yaht or even a ship), friends around a table, garden's growing, and clear blue waters or life, family, art and food, playful reflections, higher (yeah I won't say highest) gas prices, someone who should have won the election, a big tree and yeah...jingle bells. Love Paul. I think that is the main ingredient to the pie http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_i94DSo_G3Fk/SQnqSyeaNDI/AAAAAAAABMg/W8YW9eiLtj8/s1600-h/Thanksgiving+2007+021.jpg. Love ya mom...

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  4. I love all the comments I am getting-especially from family....love to all Mom/Ant Kat/Kathe

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  5. I agree w/Beth not lazy, more like "productive"! I enjoyed your "blog" very much. I am about to write my yearly Christmas letter & I wish I had kept a journal so I wouldn't have to rely on my poor memory. Paul & I will be home for Christmas this year, which is rare. Hopefully we will be able to get together. Happy Holidays! Vicky & Paul

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  6. I love the idea of a holiday photo "blog". I get to look at my leisure and it's great to see everything you've been up to! Great photos and what an interesting year! Hope you and your knee are better soon...it's tough but in the long run, what a difference a new knee makes! You'll be getting our old fashioned card soon!
    Take care! Hope to be out that way at some point!
    Love, Murr

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