Life is a Special Occasion

Here are a few of our reasons why.

VANCOUVER. Snowcapped crags, city-hugging beaches, dense waterfront forests, friendly, laid-back residents, gleaming glass towers, and world-class cuisine.

VIEWS. To be admired everywhere, this one in our backyard, Whistler Mountain.

HEART-SHAPED POTATO. Cupid must be close.

SKIING. Tim is very happy in this photo.

SKIING CROSS-COUNTRY. Even better under the stars.

FRIENDS. FAMILY. Fun.

SUSHI. Japanese art which tastes as good as it looks.

HOT TUBS. No explanation required.

CRYSTAL GOBLETS. They really do make cognac taste better.

A COSY FIRE. Not only does it keep you warm it sets the mood for...

LOVE. The most important of all.

Happy Valentines Day.

Happy Christmas to All

Twas a week before Christmas when all through our house,

many creatures were stirring besides just a mouse.

A noise outside we were sure was a hoof,

was just Scritchy and Scratchy up on the roof.

Our stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

behind the moving boxes in front of the chair.

One hundred and eighty Santas came out to ski,

with free day passes and hearts full of glee.

On the crest of our street in the new-fallen snow,

we spotted a local letting his hair grow.

For Christmas Tim wanted a cool, new ski jacket,

so St. Nick brought one to suit his age bracket.

To the top of the mountain to dine with our friends,

where the fine wine flows and the fun never ends.

You'll hear us exclaim as we call it a night,

Happy Christmas to all and we hope you will write.

Happy Birthday to Tim

We roll into Vancouver just in time for the birthday boy to be served a blueberry pancake breakfast at Sandi's mom and dad's house.

Brrr-aving the Wild West

Temperatures are in the red in Ogden, Utah.

All the snow and mountains makes Tim smile and itchy to ski but he has a few days to wait yet.

Unluckily, we get a flat tire in Portland, Oregon. Luckily, it happens in the parkade at the gorgeous Benson Hotel where we're staying the night.

Happy Thanksgiving

Day 2 of our cross-country journey finds us at Applebee's Gobble Wobble Party on the outskirts of Cleveland, Ohio. We have so much to be thankful for...

each other first and foremost, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Michael Jackson.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is a modern landmark located on the shore of Lake Erie, dedicated to archiving the history of some of the best-known and most influential artists in the area of rock music.

We are also thankful for not getting the...

after the Gobble Wobble party.

On the Move

Our life these last few weeks has been all about stuff. Lots of stuff. Mostly Tim's stuff, trying to purge a lifetime of it and pack up the rest because the house in Litchfield has sold and we're on the move to the great land that is Canada. It starts with a big garage sale.

Then comes the packing station. We're so good at it now we're sure Santa would hire us for his workshop.

The heirloom ironstone from England waits to be wrapped.

As does the portrait of Tim painted when he was 13. It's been a lot of places but never Canada.

As the packing nears an end our reward is feet up in bed with a fine bottle of bubbly.

Tim underestimates how long it takes and scrambles to go through things he didn't know he had.

Wrapping up the job literally and figuratively we head for a final meal at the Tollgate Inn (built 1745) down the road.

We raise a glass to lovely Litchfield and the wonderful memories we have of it and our friends here. We'll miss it and them and over the lamb and Beaujolais Nouveau (thank you Chris at Casa Bacchus) we resolve to visit again someday.

Happy Halloweenies