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 blog (web log in computerese) www.l2o2.com

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.

So I felt I really must get another entry done as it is beginning to look like no one lives here. Actually we have just been busy living and that takes a good amount of time, yes really, it does. Work keeps interfering too. Many changes in the staff at my workplace happening. Three out of seven is a lot when we haven’t had a change in five years. One moved, replacement starts in January. One on four month assignment, no replacement yet. One retiring and no replacement yet either. I’m sure the changes will all be good in the end, but painful to start as usual. Lawrie’s work is as normal as it ever gets, which doesn’t say a lot. They are going back to a rotating 8 hour, 7 on, 3 off, 7 on, 4 off shift schedule. Yeah! I gather there were many who liked the 12 hour shifts, but I can’t understand why. I guess if work is your life, then it isn’t so bad.

Now I did title this Holidays and Homecomings for a reason … Jon & Michaelea and Chris are all arriving on Air North’s flight from Calgary and Edmonton on the 21st. They are with us until the 30th. So there is the homecomings part. And it is the end of the year so there’s where the holidays part comes in. We are certainly looking forward to the fun of sharing this time with our sons & daughter-in-law. The weather is not really co-operating. Early November we had a huge amount of snow … that melted during the Mixed National Curling week. Then we got another dump … rather meager compared to the first batch though. And now it is back above zero and melting again. Arrrgh! Global warming is for real in case any of you didn’t notice! I think it is more than scary too.

I have yet to send out our Christmas greetings to friends across this land. If any of you expect to hear from us, please be patient. We had thought to save trees and send greetings electronically, but so far we aren’t especially pleased with the presentation. Perhaps we should just post it like this entry and then email you all a link? It actually sounds like a smart plan. I did realize I bought Christmas cards already though, but maybe there are other things I could do with them? Hmmm, if I ponder this long enough I might just have to skip it altogether and how not like me would that be?

So, just in case we don’t get there or even if we do … Happy Holidays, Happy New Year and especially Peace on Earth to all of you who read this, whether we know you or you are a friend we have yet to meet.