It's that time of the year again when I place pen to paper (so to speak) to reflect on last year. As almost all of you know, I am still battling cancer and the battle goes forward. I am currently receiving treatment which makes me feel like shit but is a must be. I hope to be able to, again, take a drug holiday this coming summer.
I spent much of this past year re-decorating the inside of the house. When Mom and I purchased it, it was pretty sad looking on the inside and squeezing three houses of stuff into one small ranch was daunting. I have given or donated most of the stuff so the house is now manageable except for the basement storage room which still needs to be cleaned and put in order. Something for next year.
I spent several months with Anne in Santa Fe last winter (it snowed every other day there last winter unlike Maine where I had to plow the driveway only 5 times the whole winter) and I totally enjoyed myself. Got back to Maine late March. We had a real nice spring (for a change).
Summer was too short, but I actually went swimming 6 times. The weather was great! Not to hot, not to rainy. Got a new riding lawnmower so I could cut the grass instead of paying someone. Enjoyed my gardens very much.
Christine and Airin have moved back to Maine and are settled in Buxton, which is about 15 miles from here. It's great to have family near. Now if only Jennifer...
I didn't make the Fryeburg Fair this past fall because Cousin Debbie and Libby Beatty didn't come north and I just didn't feel like going alone. It's hard to walk all that distance and I'll be damned if I will ride instead of walk. We had a real long and warm fall and while winter is only a week away, the weather just changed to colder (normal temperatures instead of warm ones). I guess no more 50ºs til spring.
My travel plans for this winter are to wait til spring. I will be going out west at the end of March with a month planed at Anne's ranch then a week with cousins Barrie and daughter and family in CO, a week with Steve Carlson at his beach house in OR and a week with Cousin Ricky on Vashon Is. Should be back around the end of April, beginning of May.
I plan to add an outside room to the backyard this coming summer with an outdoor kitchen. Kind of like building a dock but it's in the back yard instead of the lake. It will start with new French Doors in the Great-room. Will also be adding 4 fruit trees for a small orchard (2 apples, Cortland and Delicious, a peach and a pear) and I will be making improvements to the gardens. I also hope to hire a friend to paint some of the inside rooms of the house, starting with the kitchen. Instead of spending a ton on remodeling the kitchen I figure some paint on the cabinets and walls along with a change in the counter and back splash and a floating floor system should do it and keep the costs down. Paint in bedroom, bathroom, library and hall should do it.
I am also planning to take a trip to Italy in the fall if my health will let me. I have always wanted to see Tuscany in the fall and maybe a side trip to Naples to see what a real sin-city is like.
Well, that's it for me. I hope all of you had a wonderful year and are looking forward to the future, what ever it brings. I wish you all happiness and health for now and into the future and may many of your wishes come true. “Keep moving forward...”
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
