Two years in a row!!! It's been quite awhile since you've heard from us that frequently!
Last year Jeff was mid-pneumonia and that lasted well into January. He used up all of his sick leave...just in time to retire...30+ years of teaching and age 62 qualified him for an "early out". He spends his days trying to keep up with the house and cooking, reading, and a nap every so often. The first major project has been the new landscaping of our front yard. No More Lawn To Mow! We now have a low maintenance, water conserving, dog park for Tolliver! Indoor projects for this winter are too numerous to list but hopefully there will be progress before spring gets him back outdoors. We look forward to spring and the leafing out and blooming of our new plants.
Karen moves closer to retirement and is hopeful she will join Jeff in June of 2015! Her librarian position seems secure while public education sorts out its funding but every spring we get that uneasy feeling in our stomachs until she signs her contract for the next school year. One would think we could get used to the uncertainty but not much has changed since she started teaching in 1975. Always the avid reader she looks forward to adding gardening to her free time. She enjoyed her two weeks of "no-tech" vacation at the Upper Ford (Yaak, MT) and we should be there again in August of 2014. Celebrating her father's 90th birthday in November and having Jeff take over the kitchen have been two of her highlights this year.
Claire celebrated her 1st year anniversary with TOMS this fall. She's in her VW Jetta most days traveling the Seattle/Tacoma area as well as the rest of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana. Claire wasn't planning on giving up her Mazda but a semi-truck sent her across four lanes of I-5, into another car, totaling her much loved vehicle. We were very thankful she came away with just sore muscles (insurance covered her massages and the Cadillac rental car). There were plenty of witnesses to put the blame on the trucker but she hopes to never have to go through that experience again. Travel to California, Nevada, and Texas for TOMS and a long rest at the Upper Ford were her big trips this year while she saves for a major trip to Australia and the South Pacific. She underwent radio-frequency ablation and we can now say she is free of Barrett's Esophagus. She and we have taken a major sigh of relief and are very thankful for the skilled hands of her surgeon and the amazing advances in technology. She loves living in Capital Hill, enjoying all that Seattle has to offer.
Ian is our major mover!!! He's living in Austin, Texas working for Habitat for Humanity through the Americorps program. He's become an accomplished carpenter as he leads volunteer crews through the process of building homes. He made the big decision to move when his "significant other " Annelie encouraged him to join her when she accepted an Americorps position in Austin. Annelie has been a wonderful addition to all our lives.
We are thankful to have Paul living close in Gig Harbor and we loved having Grandma Burns up at the Upper Ford for the whole two weeks. They are both in excellent shape!
All for this year... our best to all!
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