Tis the season - -

Copyright 2016, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

I’ll fess up, I have had a rough time writing my annual holiday letter this year.  2016 has been full of ups and downs. It was full of losses and happy days.

A summer wedding of nephew.  Lovely, beautiful people and family.  Beautiful setting. May they continue to radiate the true meaning of love and happiness.

We helped orchestrate the sale of a family home.  Lots of decisions had to be made in a timely manner.  But, it allowed me the fabulous opportunities to visit the home where my grandmother grew up, and several cemeteries I had been hunting for.  It was the right time to visit those cemeteries, kismet abounded.

Man and I are gaining in years, and thus, we are facing more health issues.  Happens. My own, the Demon diabetes, is a buggar, and I have now added shots to the mix of drugs that attempt to keep it in control.  It is a constant battle.

One of the issues that has been stressful was the bullying and stalking (perceived or otherwise) I experienced over the last year or so.  Sadly, I have said good bye to many peeps with whom I had friendships and acquaintances. In the end it was a good decision/act on my part, as it freed me up from much stress.  It was something I had to do for ME.  So, I did!  I am using the “free” time and less stressful life to concentrate more on research and hopefully will get back to posting here on Reflections more often. I have so many travel photos/stories I would love to review and share, over 3 years worth!  YIKES!

We are still Rving whenever possible.  This summer, in a 6 week blitz, designed to keep us off the internet grid, we made a bucket list trip to Nova Scotia.  Man’s grandmother was born there and we had long wanted to visit.  The research did not tell us why she cannot be found in any records from Canada or the USA from 1901 till 1918, but, we enjoyed the time away. Nova Scotia is wonderful, like Maine, but, on steroids! This is the view from Tana's desk at one of our stops.  It's a miracle we came home.  

This winter we will be spending our time in Arizona, or that is the plan.  You know us, we drift with the wind, dust and sea mist.  No sea mist here, but, we have wind and dust.  And beautiful desert, mountains, and saguaro and the SUNSETS!!!  

We have continued to enjoy Winston, AKA, Sir Winston, the sweet and sassy yorkie.  He is quite the character and has his own “page” at Facebook, “Winston’s Wonderful Wanderings”.

We end the year thinking of the many dear friends and family that are also facing health issues.  You know what they say - - Getting old taint for sissies - - Isn’t that the truth??

To all of our friends that celebrate during this season, Christmas or another holiday, we wish you all the same, a holiday full of family, fond memories and great food, celebrating your reasons, your beliefs.

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Dreaded Christmas Letter, 2015 Version

Copyright 2015, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

Happy Holidays from southern Florida.

Here is the dreaded Christmas letter from the Stevens' clan, the 2015 version, and I believe it is going to be very short.  Ya for you, my readers!

15 was a year of mixed blessings, sorrow and stress.  That's the short story.  

Man and I both had a few health issues that we have addressed and at this point, we are doing much better.

We lost our beloved Captain Hook, aka Cappy, in June.

We adopted the sweetest yorkie, Winston in November.  He has turned out to be such a blessing.  He reminds us at moments of our Abigail, Chantilly, Gallagher and Captain Hook. All but CH were from the same dear friend and breeder, and the glimpses of puppies past are delightful, what a wonderful surprise for Man and I.  Sir Winston, WWW, has decided he is a daddie's boy.  All good.

We have been able to continue our travels in Tana, The Heritage RV.  Tana got a bit of a do-over this summer and fall.  I pulled some items from the house that belonged to my grandparents and great-grandparents. We took out her kitchen table and installed a 33 inch kitchen base cabinet with the old kitchen table top as the counter top.  The storage is fab.  This change is really working out well for us.  Man had Tana's suspension and brakes upgraded in early November.  Man is delighted with his upgrades to Tana.  Jolly, the monster tow machine has had new feet (tires) and currently is displaying a 4-wheel drive error message.  Always something to repair and maintain.

We continue to watch in awe as our boys and the grandtwins conquer the world and grow. Nothing like family.

We have prayed and grieved over those who are suffering medical situations.  We lost a few friends, we miss them.

From our rig to you, where ever you may be:

Happy Holidays!

* Photo taken at the James Island County Park Holiday Light Show, near Charleston South Carolina.

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Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, the 2014 Dreaded Holiday Letter

Copyright 2014, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

This year Man and I are spending the holidays in Tucson Arizona, as we did two years ago.  We are staying in the same park.  New owners, lower pricing (really, when does that happen, the monthly rent is $60.00 lower than two years ago??  Merry Christmas to us!)

Photos on this post are from this years decorations in Tana, our home on wheels.

Our lives continue much the same, RVing as much as possible, especially during the "cooler" months.  We attended the 11th fall rally in Goshen for the Montana Owners Club.  

Our love/hate relationships with all things techy also continue. We have new iPhone 6's.  Yes, we love em.  

I continue to do my family history research, trying to spend more time linking and improving the data base, but, the shiny deep holes and the ever increasing amounts of original documents and information on the internet have a tendency to pull me away from the boring but fulfilling, err, necessary, linking.  Oh, ya, those shiny deep holes, magic indeed to a researcher.

I continue to do a bit of volunteer work here and there.  These days, most of that is via the internet, and yes, she whispers, on Facebook.  FB is a interesting taskmaster.  That's all I am going to say.

Blogging continues, when I have time and the spirits move me.  I have done 50 of the 52 Ancestor Weeks meme.  Ya me!  And, I write once a month for Worldwide Genealogy, which is a terrific blog, despite my participation. (Wink, wink!)

2014 has been a very busy and somewhat stressful year.  We sold my beloved 1994 Ford custom van.  We purchased a new mini mini van, we call her Zoom Zoom, a Mazda.  Was not Man's first choice from Mazda, but, it worked out well, we are both very happy with Zoom Zoom.

My brother died unexpectedly.  He died golfing, something he loved dearly.   We are all still spinning from the shock.

We sold Man's mother's home this year as well too.  Closing was just before torrential rain storms and flooding of many basements in the area.  Several neighbors reported serious flooding.  Our hearts go out to them, but, selfishly, we were glad to not have to deal with that disaster.

We spent a bit of $$ and a lot of time, with the physical help of my mother, spreading 11 cubic yards of mulch around the homestead.  I was rather gushy all summer, exclaiming how wonderful it looks.  It makes me smile just thinking about it.  I added some new plantings too.  It was a mild weather summer, we enjoyed our deck for many quiet peaceful hours.

We lost our yorkie, Mr. G, Gallagher in September.  He remains in our hearts and in our memories.  He was a saucy spirit.  Cappy, AKA, Captain Hook is our only fur kid now and he is almost 16.  He is a gentle sweet soul whom we treasure.

Our lives as retirees give us opportunities.  We enjoy our precious time with our children and the grandtwins and all of our extended family and friends.  We mourn the loss of dear ones, and celebrate that they are no longer in pain.  We pray for many, daily.

Life is slow and full and rich.

May your holidays be special and may 2015 bring you rewards and riches beyond your greatest dreams.

Blessings to you from Man and Carol - - 

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The Annual Christmas Letter, Annoying and Now Digital

Copyright 2012, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

Yes, I am one of those annoying friends that used to send you annoying Christmas letters in my holiday cards.

(Guilty!)

Since 2009, I have become either more or less annoying, depending on your view of blogging, digital holiday greetings and of course, annoying Christmas letters.

(Yep, that's me!)

I'll even be more annoying by giving you the links to prior posts here on Reflections that cover the annoying holiday letters - -

(Yep, I will!)

2009 (The history.)

2010 (I was not the first to write holiday letters.)

2011 (Full octane annoying holiday letter, digital style.)

I will refrain from giving you a lot of links back to any number of holiday posts, stockings, meals, cookies, decorating, trees, I have a number of posts.  If you are really interested and have lots of time on your hands, you can use that search block in the right hand column, grab your drink of choice, a holiday cookie, and read away.

(I must be mellowing, refraining like that - - - NAHHH!  LOL)

My tree in Tana, taken in 2010.  

So, here goes the abbreviated version of the annoying holiday letter, version 2012:

Regular readers will know we are on the road again, this time I am calling the trip, a very original type name,   THE Trip, THE Encore'.  We started out about November 1st, traveled the Natchez Trace, visited, New Orleans, New Iberia, Galveston, Fredericksburg, Big Bend National Park, Fort Davis area, a quick stop in Las Cruces, the Tombstone Arizona area and are now in Tucson for a month for the holidays.  So far it has been a delightful trip.  Our friends J & D are traveling in their beautiful Motorhome with their border collie.

With bated breath I tell you that the 2 fur kids are hangin' in there (Cappy has had a rough week, I fear he is exhibiting signs of kidney failure like Tilly did just before we lost her).  Living with seniors is a challenge, we are thankful for each additional day they share with us.

Our children and grands are our anchors, our delights.  We do miss them while we are on the road, and profess that we believe that Skype was developed just for us!  There are times when we just cannot connect via Skype, but we do so enjoy it when the net is fast!  WOOT!

2012 has also been one of loss for us, several family members and friends have passed, we miss them so much.  We know they are with their Maker, this knowledge gives us peace.

If you have a burning desire to know too many details of our lives in 2012, may I suggest that you start reading, there are 248 posts, give or take, so far here on Reflections for 2012.

(Yes, I suggested that !  LOL)

I think I will end this 2012 holiday version of the annoying holiday letter with a quote from my 2011 version, which is heart felt and hopefully not annoying to you my friends and readers:

Man and I wish you and yours a peaceful, wonderful holiday season and a hugely successful year in 2013.  May your wheels (for our RVing friends) roll you to places yet unexplored.  May your brick walls (for my genie friends) come tumbling down.  

May your family be happy.  May your souls find peace.

Love and Peace to All

Man and Carol

* From now till Christmas I will refrain from trip posts, I have posted some photos of holiday lights and some other "fun?" things.  THE Trip, THE Encore' reports will return sometime after Christmas Day.

(You have been warned!  LOL)

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