Christmas Update 2010

I'm going to use this blog as a Christmas letter and link to it from my e-cards.

I haven't done a Christmas letter or cards for several years and can't really explain why. Partly just tired of all the nonsense and sadness in so much of the world -- which is foolish since Brad and I have so much to be grateful for.

Rather that trying to catch you up on the years I didn't write at Christmas, I'll just give a quick update of the last couple of years.

Most important things first: Molly the Wonder Dog is still with us although often more stiff and slower than she likes. She now is a one-eyed Wonder Dog, having lost an eye to injury this last spring. We are so grateful that it was not the cancer the vet originally feared. Her supplemental calcium has kept the seizures that plagued her in 2008 at bay. She continues to alert us to deer, bear and foxes (and the occasional horse or cow) who trespass on her property. Her property expanded somewhat this year when we were able to purchase 4+ acres behind us to prevent possible construction of a view-blocking McMansion.

Equally important, of course, kids and grandkids are well and happy. Jessica is 8 and in 2nd grade and excelling (of course) in singing and art and all scholarly endeavors. Zach is 6 and in kindergarten where he excels in being a kid. We visited them (and their parents Lizzie and Brooks) in Oklahoma last spring and Lizzie and the grandkids visited us in Albuquerque just before Thanksgiving. In the beginning of this year they continued their tradition of joining us for skiing at Durango Mountain Resort.

Ben is still with a private equity firm in Houston where we stopped by to see him en route to a stay at his new (shared) beach house on Galveston Island. We enjoyed beach walking and kayaking and another longer visit with Ben. He also spent Thanksgiving with us in Albuquerque -- just missing Lizzie and the kids.

After some years of Costa Rica/Panama, Galapagos and Maui trips we have abjured air travel for a couple of years and spend a month in 2009 "house sitting" Susan's sisters house in Carmel valley -- a nice visit with Sharon and Max. This year the Oklahoma-Galveston trip continued on to New Orleans which Susan had never seen. We walked about, ate a lot and had a couple of dinners with friends from our Colorado church who were excellent tour guides as well.

Willy-nilly, church has become an unexpectedly large part of our lives. We had added a small-group Thomas Merton-based contemplative living study group to our weekly schedule. This group of seven is now three years old and a wonderful addition to our lives. Last year Susan joined the Vestry of St Marks for a three year term and also became its Treasurer. Brad is on the Finance Committee and the Endowment Committee. It's amazing how much time this can all take but the budget for 2011 has been prepared and is ready for vote by the Vestry. It's been an interesting two years and I'm sure 2011 will be at least as challenging. Susan is also co-convener of Integrity of the Four Corners http://www.integrityusa.org/

Last winter (2009-10) was REALLY snowy. Great skiing but snowy enough that shoveling was a daily chore. In preparation for a time when shoveling, hauling water and chopping wood will seem less than attractive, we bought a condo in Durango. Plan is to stay there in the winter and do vacation rentals in the summer. Since we aren't quite ready to abandon the winter wonderland at the cabin, we're renting it out and that's working well.

Aside from all that -- We ski, hike, read (we have dueling Kindles!) and play with the dog. Do some charity work. Keep healthy. Keep happy. Feel blessed.

Much later -- snowed again

We had snow on the mountains this last Wednesday. Aspens are glowing gold early this year.
Weather cooler and Molly the WonderDog LOVES the cooler temperatures. Sunny summers aren't easy on a fuzzy black dog.

Valentines Day

And it's snowing. Pretty 'tho.

As Mimi said ...

This is just a pretend blog but maybe it will grow up