Happy Valentine’s Day!

A bouquet from my honey.

~~~ 

Love planted a rose, and the world turned sweet.

Katharine Lee Bates

Recalling Christmas

We departed from the NW for warmer climates on December 9.  With me freezing all the time, warmer seemed like a better option for winter this year, plus I didn’t want to give up Thistle adventures just because of a little cancer.  Nope.  I wanted to travel still, no matter what!

We needed to scurry down to the Palm Desert area as my first SW chemo treatment was already scheduled so we couldn’t stop and visit with family and friends as we headed south, much to our disappointment.  We are hoping to set up a schedule on our return trip that will allow time to make some visiting stops as we head home.

After rushing down to Palm Desert for treatment, then meeting with the doctor, my treatment was cancelled due to logistics issues at the treatment center (with only 4 chairs), and issues regarding my lack of tolerance to chemo buildup.  So, I picked up a mini vacation from chemo.  Right away I felt slightly better, giving me more energy to enjoy the holidays and a visit with Brad and Yessi.

When we first arrived we camped in Joshua Tree and were delighted, as always, with Joshua Tree’s stunning beauty.  The majestic Joshua Trees, dramatic cactus, monumental rocks, big sky, not to mention watching the climbers, all enchanted us, as always.

                                     

After a few days we  happily, delightedly and ecstatically welcomed Brad and Yessi.  They spent ten days with us, flying away to home again the day after Christmas.  Before the government shutdown made Joshua Tree off limits (we didn’t want to add to the crowds, many of which were gravely  misbehaving), we enjoyed a few days of hiking this beautiful place.

And biking too...

But, Brad being Brad, more adventure was needed.  So off to the Palm Desert Tram for a ride to the top of the mountain and a two day pack trip for Brad and Yessi.

The hike from the top to Idyllwild for Brad and Yessi, back to a campground at Idyllwild for Ed and me.   Brad and Yessi reported a fantastic hike to the top of Mt. San Jacinto, reaching 10,000+ feet elevation and snow.  A warm Thistle, with heat, for Ed and me.

The wrap up was Christmas in Idyllwild, bike riding, dining out, snow on Christmas morning, and a 

collection of gifts, funny to useful,  we’d been opening each evening for days.  A very special holiday no matter which angle I view it from!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

~~~

“You can kiss your  family and friends good-bye and put miles between you, but at the same time you carry them with you in your heart, your mind, your stomach, because you do not just live in a world but a world lives in you.”

Frederick Buchner

Trip Delay

This isn't the first time trip delay has happened, in fact, it happened on our first Thistle Adventure too.  Yep, Mr. Ed was not blessed with good teeth.   His teeth want to die before he does so his non-travel days are filled with fillings and extractions and impressions and implants and dentures and bridges and huge outlays of cash.  The dental work, planned to be wrapped up in September, has slid into October. Our Rocky Mountains trip from Alberta to Colorado has shrunk to something much less ambitious because we're getting a late start and the snow is already flying in Banff.  We now have a departure date, God willling and the creek don't rise of October 8, with Ed wrapping up his dental commitments for this fall on the 7th.  

My teeth seem to be doing fine.  Other parts of my aging body, however, are acting up.  Having managed to put the digestive tract health issue behind me, I've now been diagnosed with osteoporosis.  As they say, we don't get out of this life alive, but wouldn't it be lovely if loosing our teeth and doubling over with bad posture didn't need to be part of the game plan.  I could forgo the wrinkles too.

Aah well, complaining won't help my bones, exercise will.  My wrinkles?  I think I'll find some relief with candlelight and no mirrors.  For the osteoporosis I now have my list of stretches and twists and balancing acts along with high impact exercises.  I've biked for years to avoid high impact exercise because of my fused ankle.  High impact exercise is now on the top of the list of what I'm supposed to do -- running, jumping rope, hiking, dancing.  Yikes.  Do I sacrifice the ankle for a straight back?  It feels like a "between a rock and a hard spot" kind of dilemma.

Examining my life, even the struggle parts, I am always able to find gratitude -- wonderful family and friends; beautiful home and community; years and years of high energy and good health; happy childhood; meaningful and stimulating work and leisure activities; and money enough to consider myself rich by world standards.  I'm even grateful to discover there is a payoff to being older bringing with it a sense of maturity I never imagined possible.  Our retirement years, or as I recently read and prefer, our "refire" years, can be full and rewarding!  Long held relationships grow even richer and there is free time to spend as we desire.  A contented feeling, like surround sound drowns out not all, but much of my younger life's anxiety.  And then there's patience.  I have much less for stupid stuff, but much more for a delay or postponement here and there.

So, with a bit of a late start on our fall trip, soon we'll depart.  Reduced in scope yes, but no matter, we definitely are looking forward to another Thistle Adventure.  We'll spend time in the North Cascades, head east to Glacier Park, and then backtrack to Idaho's panhandle.  To explore the panhandle we will drive south on Highway 95, searching for bike trails and sweet small towns, basking in Idaho's scenic beauty.  Fall colors are in our hope-to-see plans too.

One trail we'll seek out is the Pend d'Oreille Bay Trail off Highway 200 (referred to as Idaho's Highway 66).  Highway 200 begins at a junction with Highway 95 in Ponderay, just north of Sandpoint.  A short sweet trail that has Benton wiggling with anticipation.

                                 

                                  

Our plan is to get far enough south before too much mountain snow and then home before it snows here on Whidbey.  We'll be home for the holidays. "Let it snow!  Let it snow!  Let it snow!"

Early January our first 2017 Thistle Adventure will begin.  Branching out from our southwest travels of these past two years, we currently have two destination bike trails in our sights.  First is the Natchez Trace Parkway, 444 miles from Natchez, Mississippi to Nashville, Tennessee.  The second is the 200 mile Katy Trail State Park in Missouri, along the Missouri River.  But before the trails, we're looking forward to meeting up with Ed's brother and his wife at Big Bend National Park in Texas.

~~~

"When I reflect upon my life, the best things were like a fine wine.  It took more time than I wanted but how glorious the taste when it had matured."

~ Ron Sims

Here We Go…2016!

We wish you all a gloriously healthy and happy New Year!

```

We returned to Whidbey Island from our Thistle travels last year at the end of May.  Since then it has seemed like we'd never get back on the Thistle Adventure Road.  First one thing and then another.  In mid July we opened our doors to an Airbnb business and have been slammed with visitors...meeting  one delightful guest after another.  We enjoyed an amazing trip to China and Thailand.  We celebrated the holidays with eating and decorating and family and friends.  Plus, we are trying to put garden and home  in order so we can leave again.  You know, it's called living life...

We finally saw the possibility of driving away in early January, but then Ed was called for jury duty.   With a whole lot of luck we might still make a mid January departure, but late January is looking more and more realistic.

In the meantime, life is good and the holidays were wonderful.

It's fun to be surprised!   And with the arrival of Brad and Yessi in their Chinese-Wedding-Red-Silk-Pajamas for Christmas morning,  we were delightedly surprised.

Rather than heaps of gifts under the tree, these past several years we've limited ourselves to stocking stuffers only.  Well kinda.  Cheating is a big part of the game so we switched from stockings to large shopping bags.    We squeal with delight, still, at the excesses of jams and vinegars and chocolates and pens and doodads.  And who can be blasé about WD40 or the ugliest joke gift imaginable?    

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?

Showing off the new socks. 

Benton loves celebrations with all the excesses of
snuggling and doggie treats!

How do we rate the holidays?  Well, by the food…of course!

Greg wears the crepe chef hat this year.

The house empties out after breakfast as Greg and Deb depart for snow at the Pass and Brad and Yessi depart for his Dad's in North Bend.   With so much snow, guess who couldn't stay away from the Pass, with North Bend just being down the road a bit? 

Brad just had to get a little white
stuff fun.

~~~

"Love doesn't make the world go 'round; love is what makes the ride worthwhile."

~ Shannon L. Alder

Sharing Joy

It seems like sharing joy is what this season is all about and, for me, religious diversity feels as American as apple pie.   

Admittedly, it can be confusing to respect and acknowledge each person's faith, especially when we find ourselves in the middle of a red and green coffee cup battle, seen as too Christmas-lite.  But, here's the predicament.  From November 1 to January 15 there are approximately 29 holidays observed by seven of the world's major religions.   Bodhi Day is celebrated by the Buddhists.  Christmas is celebrated by the Christians.  Many Atheists and Native Americans celebrate "Winter Solstice".  "Yule" is often celebrated by  Pagans.  And the Jewish celebrate Yom Kippur.   Just to confuse it even more, we have added to the mix non religious holidays like Thanksgiving and New Year.  Our country is rich in celebrations.

I consider myself fortunate to have friends and family of many faiths with both traditional and non-traditional customs.  Our family puts up a Chrismas tree but we do not attend church.  The ornaments on our tree range from angels to santas; ferry boats to clowns.  We honor Buddhism and with our new Chinese family, it is a family faith now.    We have Jewish friends.   We celebrate the solstice.  In our home not believing in God is as respected as believing in God.

Brad, Yessi , Ed & Fran

The season's greetings we pass out are with a smile and our loving best wishes.  Our words are not carefully calculated, although they will be neutral, as the all inclusive shoe fits us best.

To a joyful present and a well remembered past.  Best wishes for Happy Holidays and an exceptional New Year.
Love, Fran & Ed & Benton too!

~~~

"This is my wish for you:  peace of mind, prosperity through the year, happiness that multiplies,

health for you and yours, fun around every corner, energy to chase your dreams, joy to fill your holidays!"

~ D. M. Dellinger