L2O2

What happens to all the time in a year? Where does it go to? It seems like only last week it was Christmas 2004. Oh well, time marches on whether we like it or not.

This time last year was troubling times at our house as George, Lawrie’s father, was locked in a struggle with that most devastating of diseases, cancer. George lost his struggle on Dec. 18, leaving a huge void in a lot of peoples’ lives. We were back and forth to Saskatoon several times for a family internment and then a memorial, to shed a few tears and to comfort, and be comforted by family and friends.

Chris was again home for the holiday season and as usual the weather turned to -35. That’s two years in a row Chris! Perhaps this year when Chris, Jon and Michaelea are home it will be -10ish or something pleasant!

During the winter months we pretty much hibernated. Lawrie was playing hockey and curling as usual. I was busy with the Northern Fibres Guild and many, many knitting projects. There were the usual discussions about what to plant in the gardens, how about two weeks somewhere warm and so on. Eventually however, Old Man Winter lost his grip and by May we were out cleaning up the yard and preparing the gardens for another summer.

This year in the garden was a wait and see what survived from the previous summer as we were not home for any of it. Most of our perennials made it but we lost several plants that had been with us from the start. Replacements and annuals were bought and those winter discussions were put into action. By mid June most things were up or established and the garden boxes all planted.

Early in the winter, Pat Paslawski, a friend Lawrie curls with, asked us if we would be interested in going on a five day raft trip on the Alsek River in July. It didn’t take us long to sign up. We also volunteered to look after all the food for what finally ended up as thirteen intrepid travellers. This was a great trip with great people, great scenery and by all accounts great food. Find out more by looking at our flickr album here

It’s a milestone year for me as I turned fifty in June. This year I am often filled with questions of my relationship to humanity, my place in the universe and how I fit into the grand scheme of things. I guess as we get older we start to look back on our lives and wonder what it is we have accomplished and what is there still to accomplish. That process continues as I still haven’t sorted it all out yet. In the meantime when Lawrie turned fifty several years ago he got his much wished for boat and motor. (Nice wife eh?) On my fiftieth, Lawrie gave me a three week fibre arts tour to Peru with a company called Puchka Peru. Nice husband eh!!! My friend Jean agreed to go with me and so early in the year (January actually) we noticed great airfares all the way to Lima with Air Canada, so we booked them. I spent a considerable time this year reading about Peru and things Peruvian. There are about 700 pictures and a few blog entries to be found at …. you betcha www.l2o2.com. This blog is really our photo album, online. Easy when one has a digital camera.

And so that is about it, another year gone, all too quickly I might add! We are anticipating the arrive of our grown family next week. Go for walks with the Os, eat way too much food, play games, and generally enjoy each others company.

We would like to wish you a safe and wonderful holiday.