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  • Jujube a few weeks before he passed over the rainbow
  • We attended a burleque show in Langley. I’m third from the right.
  • Rich and I after sea kayaking in Ketchikan, Alaska. We can go back to doing the activities we love!
  • We celebrated our 19 year anniversary on a cruise to Alaska.
  • Rich was thrilled to swim on the cruise ship we took to Alaska. Not the best swimmer, but equal to a dog paddling!
  • Lunetta a few months before she passed over the rainbow
  • We celebrated the completion of our deck by having a couple over for snacks.
  • We were thrilled with the completion of our two decks, complete with a hot tub off the master bedroom
  • Julie rode in a monster truck (the back) at the Skagit Speedway
  • We had a fabulous 3-day get-away to Coulee Dam, Winthrope, and eastern Washington
  • Julie constructed this masterpiece on our bluff, using metal sculptures from our neighbor. We’ve seen many birds perched on it
  • With a shorter deck, we needed to landscape. Julie used ornamental rocks to fill in some of the space, along with pots from our neighbor
  • Another view of the completed deck and the very dead lawn
  • We used rocks that our neighbor didn’t want to create the edges of a pathway out to the bluff, and then filled with pea gravel
  • Our garden didn’t disappoint this year. The planter boxes were made from the old deck boards that Rich removed
  • Stacey (daughter), Chris (son), Coen, and Caitlyn joined us in Olympia to visit the Children’s Museum
  • Rich spent months removing the old deck.
  • We had a concrete pad poured between the two decks to add interest. Check out one of our rain barrels
  • Rich feeding the grass. Prosthetic leg be damned.
  • Jujube curled up with Zephyra on the sofa. They were best friends, and Zephyra struggled for a few months after Jujube was gone.
  • Planter boxes under construction from the deck boards that Rich removed.
  • Valentine’s Day pot pies
  • We had lots of snow and the wind created enormous snow drifts! Everything was melted a week later
  • Rich trapsing through the snow
  • One of our favorite sculptures from a park in Coupeville

JANUARY

Wanting to simplify our lives, we started 2020 off on a good note. After the tenant gave her notice, we sold Julie’s mother’s house in Sherwood, OR to a young couple.

FEBRUARY

Unexpectedly, several feet of snow fell. Rich used his trekking poles to explore the white wonderland.

MARCH

Starting in 2019, we lined up craftsmen to do household projects, including rebuilding the deck that ran across the entire length of our house. Rich set to work taking apart the deck and turning the wood into planter boxes for our garden. To commemorate his final COVID vaccine and my birthday, we ordered a hot tub and bought two cakes.

APRIL

In April, I received all my vaccines, and we felt empowered to go on mini “masked” trips, including a sculpture park on Whidbey Island and Port Gamble. The last time we visited, we both struggled to walk. Sadly, Jujube (tabby) quietly passed with the help of a visiting veterinarian.

MAY

With much of our deck removed, we had a concrete pad poured and held a Cootie Emancipation Celebration for vaccinated friends. We also ventured to the midget car races at the Skagit Speedway and visited Port Ruston with Stacey and Shawn.

JUNE

In early February, Rich’s half-brother, Ralph passed away in Anaheim, CA. In June, Rich with the help of his brother, Phillip, listed and sold the house within hours!

Later that month, we journeyed to the Children’s Museum in Olympia to visit with Chris, Coen (8) and Caitlyn (6). Stacey joined us later in the day, making the day extra special.

JULY

Progress on our deck picked up, with the hot tub being delivered, second deck started, and house repainted. For fun, we visited with family in Bremerton, enjoying Sawyer’s (5) birthday, paddleboarding (Julie), and watching Maisie (3) dance.

AUGUST

By August, our deck was completed, stonework and large ceramic planters added, and the plants we’d accumulated for months planted. We also had a mini-3-day vacation, traveling to Coolie Dam, spending a day in historic Winthrop, and then concluding with watching Monster Truck races… with Julie riding in one of the trucks.

SEPTEMBER

Early in the month, Lunetta passed “over the rainbow,” once again with the help of the island’s visiting veterinarian. A few weeks later, we took the last Holland America cruise up to Alaska, celebrating our 19-year anniversary and unwinding. Rich enjoyed the pool, we watched lots of performances, and in Ketchikan, we sea kayaked, proving we can use our pedal kayak next year.

OCTOBER

Our dry summer, quickly turned to blustery weather, necessitating the need to trim plants, pull up what was left of our garden, winterize our house, and plan our holiday baking extravaganza (14 types of cookies, 10 different candies)

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

Along with visiting with family (and giving away cookies/candy), we’re starting to plan more home improvements before Julie stops working next year. In the meanwhile, she’s happily creating communications for Microsoft from her home office.

We hope this letter finds you in good health and having a memorable holiday season.