OK, so it had been a long time since we (or should I say I) have blogged. I have been given a hard time by two family members to get something new posted so here goes. As most are aware, I am currently unemployed. I resigned from the Ontario Beekeepers' Association at the end of July due to very unfavourable conditions given to me and so I have been sending out my resume to many companies, school boards etc in hopes of finding a position as a office administrator, secretary or receptionist. I have had a phone call from a company in Clinton but not for the position I was applying for and because of the issues that I have with my neck and shoulders since the accident last year, I felt I could not handle the job they were offering so I declined and was then told that they will have a position in accounts payable/receivable in a couple of months which I took as a good sign that they will consider me at that time. I also had a job interview this morning at a new doctor's clinic in Bayfield this morning that I felt went very well although I am no longer certain that this is where I am to be. The thoughts of committing myself to working every Saturday in not really what I had in mind at this stage in my life. I prefer to keep Saturdays open to spend with Ken getting jobs done around here or riding. I guess we will just have to wait and see what happens. I will continue to watch the classifieds to see what else may turn up that I may be interested in.
Ken continues to do well, has absolutely no trouble with his neck or lasting effects from the accident and keeps busy at work.

Lori, Darryl and Sarah were home this summer, we enjoyed the time spent with them. They were here for supper one of the evenings so had my kids here for the meal and evening as well. The boys were able to meet their newest little cousin.
Ken and I, Doug, Elisabeth and Rebecca, Lori, Darryl and Sarah all spent one day at Canada's Wonderland, I do not enjoy rides but I had so much fun looking after Sarah with Daddy's help so mommy could enjoy them. It was difficult for Sarah to sleep in her stroller so after lunch I took Sarah to a nice quiet building where they had rockers and change table etc and I was able to hold her so she could have a good sleep.

We all enjoyed our day together, some of us riding the rides and a couple of us enjoying Sarah.


We also enjoyed two weeks of holidays, one in July and one in August, and I am sure that no one is surprised to hear that both weeks involved camping with our horses. Our week in July was spent in the Wiarton area where we have gone for the past 10 years or so. And as always it was a great week of riding, friends and food.
Our week in August was spent in the Peterborough area with two other families who have become good friends over the years.



Pictures of the Dodge line up and our friends that went with us to Sandaraska Park. An equine friendly campground that borders the Ganaraska Forest where you can ride 10,000 miles of beautiful trails for days and not see the same ones twice.Each campsite had 2 - 3 corrals for your horses not large but really nice not to have to put up a picket line for them.



Our campsite Our Lizzy and Doc.

We had a wonderful week with the Uyls and Dibbles.


And of course, we spent some time with Bryson, as much as possible. I love to have him, it is so much fun to play with him and I know he loves to play with me, whether it be in the sandbox, playing with playdough, reading stories or chasing each other until he giggles himself out of energy, we always have so much fun together.



We look forward to the birth of our second grandchild this week. Will do my best to post about this awesome addition later.

The rest of the summer sped by incredibly fast and the snow this morning did not make me happy. It is hard to believe that Christmas is less then two months away. Will definitely try to post again before then.

Our last Christmas dinner for 2007 was last Sunday with Jeremy & Tab, Jeff, Jocelyn & Bryson ,Mom & Dad, Doug, Gisela, Elisabeth and last but not least Rebecca. We had ham and scalloped potato's,Tabitha's delicious squash casserole, Doug's great salads, Jocelyn's tasty cheesecake and Mom's famous Christmas pudding.


We opened more presents played games and generally had a great time!

A Year in Review

Because it has been well over a year since our last post, we thought we should go back over the last year and bring everyone up to date.
I have been extremely busy with work as business administrator for the Ontario Beekeeper's Association. With several board meetings, spring, summer and annual meetings to plan for, plus regular office duties, there isn't a lot of time left for me but I really enjoy my job so don't mean to sound like I am complaining. Ken who works for Tuckersmith Communications Co-operative as a telephone/internet technician also enjoys his work, (now that he is back at it, but I am jumping ahead, we'll get to that before the end of this session)
This year, January, February and March were calm months for us with nothing too exciting happening, April took us to Michigan to pick up our new (to us) horse trailer, which we enjoyed thoroughly over this last summer and plan to use again this coming year as often as we can. We left on Friday after work and headed to Michigan to look at a couple trailers that we had lined up but never looked at after seeing the first one, it is a 2000, 26' (on the deck) three horse slant load with an 11' living quarters (quite new looking) and quite comfortable when parked in a pasture field. We managed to bring home a little surprise which you will have to ask about when you see us if you haven't already heard this story. (No, we are not smugglers)
May brought us into the warmer weather and riding season which we were able to do right up until the end of August.
Our fall was a little stressful and not something we ever want to repeat. On August 28th Ken and I were in a motorcycle accident on our way to Niagara Falls via a friends house. After failing to negotiate a severe curve and ending up in a swamp (which probably saved us), Ken managed to break the C2 vertebrae in his neck and his right forearm in two places. I didn't seem to hurt any until the next day. Ken was in a halo for 9 weeks and then a collar for another four weeks.
His fall season was spent pretty much on the couch and mine was spent caring for him and extra hours spent in the office preparing for convention. That, physio and numerous trips to London for Ken's doctor's appointments has kept me very busy.
We have so many people to thank for all their help, for all the meals brought in, cards sent and prayers said, wood split and piled for the winter months, house cleaned, Ken's hair shampooed, face shaved, and the list goes on. You all know who you are and words of thanks just don't seem adequate. Your support and love was overwhelming. We especially want to thank our boys, Jeremy and Jeff, we are so proud of you both and the way you pulled together to make things happen around here that needed to be done this fall. We love you!

In November we also celebrated our grandson's first birthday with him. Bryson is such a wonderful, cute, smart, (I could go on forever) little or should I say big boy and we love him dearly.



We love to keep him as often as we can, and hope to have many more opportunities before he doesn't want to spend time with his grandma and grandpa.
December (I can't believe 2007 is almost over) was a quick month, Ken got the OK to go back to work on the 17th so we decided that before that happened we would surprise Lori with a visit so we booked our flights after emailing with Darryl to make sure it suited ( we didn't want the surprise to be on us) and flew to Saskatchewan on December 11th to see Lori, Darryl and new little Sarah. What a darling little girl and I had four wonderful days to spoil her.



We left Regina early Sunday morning on the 16th and after being stranded in Winnipeg for two days because of storms here in Ontario, we arrived home in lots of time for Christmas. Our kids were home on Boxing Day for Christmas and we enjoyed a turkey dinner at noon. We spent the afternoon together, visiting, opening gifts and watching Bryson help everyone rip the paper off their gifts. A grandchild makes Christmas extra fun and so enjoyable.






And here we are on New Year's eve, reflecting on another year that has passed by very quickly. So much has happened and we have so much to be thankful for. I think it is time to close for this time, we have 18 minutes until 12:00 but we will try to post more regularly in the New Year.

Sleigh Ride

Feb.25 2006 Chesly Saddle Club Sliegh Ride was well attended food and fellowship was great.

Saskatoon bound

Hi! Everyone were going to Saskatoon . Yes its true Lori finally let him chase her till she caught him! She is getting married May 6 2006 and Ginny and I, Jeremy and Tabitha and Jeff and Jocelyn are heading for Saskatoon. Congradulations to Lori and Daryl...