Living on the edge�.of the Horicon marsh
by Andy
2005 was a rather momentous year for us, as Peter, Lara and the grandkids headed west to Oregon. They are following their dreams, but obviously their move left a big hole in our lives. With Joe and Ceci in Virginia, we were glad to hear that Hank wanted to move home with us for a year in between college and grad school. We have now settled down to a somewhat different life than we had before, but it is still a good life.
We visited Joe and Ceci in Virginia in March and saw Joe�s law school , in addition to touring several Civil War sites and president�s homes, such as Monticello and Montpelier. We also got up in the mountains and played in the snow. Joe is in his second year at UVA law school, and Ceci is still managing a branch of the Bank of America.
We had a wonderful trip in August to visit Denise and Rob at their cabin on Lake of the Woods in Canada. My dad and Diane were also there, as well as Braden, Rob�s grandson. We enjoyed great fishing and other water sports, and enjoyed seeing eagles, deer, otters, and a red fox which stopped by the cabin to beg treats. Rob got a new fishing boat just before we arrived and it�s a beaut!
In October we visited Pete and Lara and saw their beautiful new home in Eugene. We reconnected with the grandkids, and took some great nature hikes, both up in the mountains along a mountain stream, as well as a beach along the coast. We also got to carve pumpkins with them, which is a treasured family tradition for us.Pete is with a group of 30 anesthesiologists in Eugene and enjoying his work .
Things at work are as hectic as ever. We have enough cases for 4 or 5 judges to handle, but are stuck with only three, so there is something to do every minute of every day (even when we routinely stretch the days into 10 hours or more)�I never thought that the day would come when I would find myself reading briefs in the bathroom, but that has been happening. At least I still enjoy the work and the people I work with. I am still carving Santas, and this year Santas were sent to Pete and Lara, as well as to my brother Tom. I am carving one now with a Santa sitting on the up-stretched paws of a polar bear lying on its back (with a scarf around its neck).
I am still enjoying biking, taking 2 or 3 trips this summer around Horicon marsh, a 32 mile ride, as well as rides to and from work in Juneau once or twice a week. We still enjoy seeing of the birds and animals of the marsh, and enjoyed sharing them this summer with my aunt Anna and Marion, my brother Tom, as well as brother Ed and his family. This year we saw more American whiter pelicans, snowy egrets, sandhill cranes, great blue heron, black-crested night heron, and Canadian geese than we could ever count. I am still bird feeding, with 10 feeders out there at the moment. With the cold and snow we are having these days, this is a popular place for birds to gather, especially the cardinals, which congregate in what Debbie calls �card parties� late in the afternoon. They are so beautiful set against the white snow.
Well, there you have it from the edge of the Horicon Marsh. Come and see us sometime, we would be glad to have you! |
