Nature’s “deep sleep” that comes to this part of the world in this season has settled around us. For the busy year it has been, Janet I welcome the chance to “settle our heads for a long winter’s nap.” Snow arrived for Thanksgiving creating a Currier and Ives landscape for our family’s gathering, and then left us during an unexpected, but welcome, mild late-autumn. Now winter is back for the duration.
Janet’s mother, Florence, passed in August after a long struggle with dementia. She was lucid for moments during a three day reunion of all of her children and grandchildren that we hosted in July. Although Florence was too weak to leave the nursing home, family was able to visit with her in her room daily during the course of their visit. My sister Judy,whose husband Ken died this year as well, flew out with her son Eric to the Midwest from Oregon to reconnect with family and old friends. They spent several days with us at Bayfield in June, and Janet and I returned their visit by attending the memorial service for Ken in Oregon in November. Janet’s friend Edith from Seattle spent a week with us later in June and my brother Brian made a visit during the summer berry season—as did our niece, Sanae. Lots of company—lots of family—it was all good.
Our kids continue to partner in the Farm. It is really their operation now. They had another big blueberry crop, and Jon launched his berry wine business, Pikes Creek Winery, at the farm. Construction is now underway for Magdalen and Jens’ new house—they hope to be “in” by spring. Chris and Honey completed a new front porch on their Washburn home, as did Janet and I on our home at the Bayfield farm. Our greatest joy is our grandchildren: Silas 10½, Milo 9, and Oscar 3½. They are with us at the farm a lot—especially during the summer months. Despite all the activity, we did find time for travel: the desert Southwest in February visiting as many National Parks as time allowed, and the trip to Oregon in November which we extended to include Astoria and the Oregon Pacific Coast.
I was called back to the Republic of Georgia in April and again in September for two follow-on USAID blueberry production development projects. I don’t know how much longer this can go on for me—the travel gets harder every year—but as my work week will be shortened to five days, I agreed to return again in February of the new year.
Life is good—we hope for you as well!
Janet’s mother, Florence, passed in August after a long struggle with dementia. She was lucid for moments during a three day reunion of all of her children and grandchildren that we hosted in July. Although Florence was too weak to leave the nursing home, family was able to visit with her in her room daily during the course of their visit. My sister Judy,whose husband Ken died this year as well, flew out with her son Eric to the Midwest from Oregon to reconnect with family and old friends. They spent several days with us at Bayfield in June, and Janet and I returned their visit by attending the memorial service for Ken in Oregon in November. Janet’s friend Edith from Seattle spent a week with us later in June and my brother Brian made a visit during the summer berry season—as did our niece, Sanae. Lots of company—lots of family—it was all good.
Our kids continue to partner in the Farm. It is really their operation now. They had another big blueberry crop, and Jon launched his berry wine business, Pikes Creek Winery, at the farm. Construction is now underway for Magdalen and Jens’ new house—they hope to be “in” by spring. Chris and Honey completed a new front porch on their Washburn home, as did Janet and I on our home at the Bayfield farm. Our greatest joy is our grandchildren: Silas 10½, Milo 9, and Oscar 3½. They are with us at the farm a lot—especially during the summer months. Despite all the activity, we did find time for travel: the desert Southwest in February visiting as many National Parks as time allowed, and the trip to Oregon in November which we extended to include Astoria and the Oregon Pacific Coast.
I was called back to the Republic of Georgia in April and again in September for two follow-on USAID blueberry production development projects. I don’t know how much longer this can go on for me—the travel gets harder every year—but as my work week will be shortened to five days, I agreed to return again in February of the new year.
Life is good—we hope for you as well!
RSS Feed
