Floyd & Jeanie's Annual Update -- Dec. 2010

Christmas is less than three weeks away, and I still have so much to do. The one thing that stays at the very top of my to-do list every year is writing this letter and touching base with everyone during the holidays. We've had a good year and hope yours has been good, too.

Highlights from this year include a brayer workshop; the rescue of Lucky-13, our thirteenth kitty-cat; a summer visit from Jacqueline; Floyd's big birthday party; a trip to Wisconsin with my Mom; a couple of short visits with my Dad and Reen; and our holiday visit from Floyd's Mom.

Riverside, CA: Site of a Michelle Zindorf Beginning Brayer Workshop. My friend, Sandy, and I joined a small group of stampers to learn brayering from The Queen of Brayering who travels around the country from her home in the Dayton, OH area to teach her technique. We made three gorgeous cards and had a fun time crafting for three uninterrupted hours.

In June, we found an abandoned newborn kitten under our steps. She was a fighter from the get-go and was not going to be overlooked. We brought her in, fed her by eye dropper and bottle 'round the clock, and are watching her become a beautiful little cat who is the life of the party. All of our other cats, Mollie the Bluetick Hound, and Sadie (our new watch dog) are also doing very well!

Summertime was another scorcher, but that didn't stop Jacqueline from visiting. As always, she divided her time in the U.S. between three cities and at least four households. She timed her visit with us to coincide with a 60th Birthday Celebration I held for Floyd in July. It was wonderful to have her here with us to visit and celebrate Floyd's big day.

Traveling to wonderfully green Wisconsin with my Mom in late August was a neat experience. We stayed with Mom's cousin, Shirley (and hubby, Milton) where we were given the royal treatment. We spent time in beautiful Door County, took side trips to Madison (where we witnessed a lot of family history) and Freeport, IL, plus saw cousins we hadn't seen in decades or met others for the first time!

Most years we have a couple of short visits with my Dad & Reen while they're in Southern California on other business, and this year was no different. It's a pleasure to spend time with them, although it's always too short. We also enjoy an annual holiday visit from Julia, Floyd's mother. This year she arrived before Thanksgiving, and we hope she'll be with us until after the new year begins.

As another year comes to a close, we're looking forward many more blessings in 2011. I imagine I'll find myself busy with more of the same...interpreting in the community and for China Lake; La Leche League work; crafting cards, scrapbooks, and earrings; reading; writing, blogging; and, my favorite, spending time with family and friends.

Season's Blessings to you and your family. As Calvin Coolidge once said, "Christmas is not a time or a season but a state of mind. To cherish peace and good will, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas." Here's to keeping our Christmas spirit the whole year through.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!