2022
Happy Holidays!
Almost time to say goodbye to 2022. Not such a bad year when you compare it to the last 2 years. It does seem Covid will become a memory soon!?!?
We didn’t do much traveling but did go to England in late November for a month. Met Julianna there, so we could have a holiday celebration. We saw this as a “test trip”, to help remind ourselves of the traveling basics. Boy are there changes! We always take local currency, only to find out very few places in England take it. We came back with more than enough for another trip.
We took in some theater, lots of museums, a concert and some shopping. We took a trip to Dover to see the tunnels used in World War II only to find out they were closed, except for weekends. Google had it wrong. But we enjoyed walking along the seaside and taking in a local museum. From there we went to Canterbury. Hugh had been but I hadn’t. It is a lovely village. We took in an Evensong at the Cathedral and we managed to get up early one day to photograph along the river.
Then it was back to London to meet up with Julianna. We were staying in the area of her flat, so we visited old haunts, local pubs, and retail stores. We took a trip to the Boroughs Market. On the South Bank. That had really changed since the last time we were there, larger with more variety. We all saw “Hamilton” together. Then it was time for her to leave for Dubai and for us to travel to Bath. I had wanted to see the Christmas Market and Bath had long been on Hugh’s list. Hugh and I both managed to get the flu and I spent one day in Bath in bed. Hugh went out and took photographs to show me what I was missing. I did get up early Saturday, our last day there, and walked through the markets, had a meal and then onto the train, back to London.
We are looking forward to more travel next year, we don’t have much planned, but New Zealand is probably going to happen in the fall.
I spent the year taking sewing lessons which will need to continue in 2023. I am learning how to draft patterns which is a learning process with an unknown destination. I took a sewing with knits class. Knits wasn’t something I explored during my 4-H days and I really like being able to make my own sweatshirts. I have discovered my clothing needs are very different than my current fabric stash. Guess I need to buy more. But the sewing and drafting are fun, and it keeps me somewhat sane. Retirement is wonderful, but…. Sometimes the days feel long and without much purpose.
My knee seems to have mostly healed with an abundance of exercise. I am almost back to where I was before the pain started in August 2021. That is the good news. Exercise, for me, rather than a total knee replacement is the better option. I am even back biking although not quite able to do the hills yet, my 2023 goal. One of my retirement plans was to bike more than what I had time for when I worked. Now is the time to make that a reality.
Our kitchen fully finished its remodel in May 2022. It took almost exactly one year. But what a wonderful kitchen we now have. And, I am so enjoying cooking and baking in it. I have continued to try lots of new recipes and lots of new ingredients. Used celery root for the first time. What a discovery! When you cannot have a traveling adventure you have to find other ways to explore!
Hugh’s year has involved a good deal of time with the kitchen remodel and a variety of home projects and maintenance. This year he did manage to complete his Japanese landscaping renovation along the west side of the house. Also, retirement has provided a lot more time for some hobbies and activities he enjoys like astronomy and art work. In an effort to stay mobile and sane both of us are much more committed to exercise, biking and hiking, as well as a more generous sleep schedule.
Tim is now an HVAC technician. What a wonderful thing to have at our disposal when the air conditioning dies in July. He seems to love it and that is the best news possible. He finished his first training class in July and now is looking at next steps. His personality is a perfect fit for the job.
Julianna has had a VERY interesting year. Julianna has been “adopting” stray cats for a few years now. After spending months feeding two different cats, only to find out (after an expensive vet visit) that they had owners, a stray with no attachment showed up on her patio. It was love at first sight for both cat (now named Camille) and Julianna. And, no owner this time! A total win….oh, except she was pregnant and due to deliver in approximately 10 days time.
Julianna moved Camille to a separate part of the house and installed a webcam. We got to see the birth of three kittens. It was in the middle of Julianna’s night but thankfully we thought to record the event for her. They were almost immediately named – Lizzie, Lottie and Louis, after members of the English royal family. At the time of this writing they are now 7 weeks old, and the web cam is a continued source of entertainment as we watch them grow and play. Still no homes for the kittens but they are still nursing, so that will come. But they are so cute. We looked into bringing a couple here so we could keep them in the family, and although that is not ruled out, it does seem difficult. But one has clearly stolen my heart. But we really don’t need 2 more cats. The one on the Christmas card is Tim’s cat, Kiwi. He is my sewing companion most days when he isn’t testing gravity.
Update on the kittens since the trip to London. It does now appear that Lottie and Lizzie will be resettling in Phoenix. But I’m still not convinced Julianna will part with her playful companions.
We arrived home on December 13th, so now it is getting ready for the holidays. We are looking forward to sharing it with family. Hope all of you have a wonderful holiday season and a Happy New Year.
Happy Holidays,
Jean and Hugh