Happy 2014 to All!
Happy 2014 to Everyone!
Dear family members,
First, thank you, Randy for setting up our blog. And Happy New Year to all of you!
I have to say, many of us were glad to turn the calendar to a new month. Even though I’m a ghost fiction enthusiast, I’m not particularly superstitious. Still, year 13 brought its share of bad luck. In the McClaws/Pocock/Isgreen/Herron clan we suffered deaths, illnesses, and setbacks. Sigh.
Ready or not, here comes 2014! (image credit: Galina Onshenko via Dreamstime)
Globally, we experienced record heat, record cold, record dryness. Here in (too) sunny California it appears we may be headed into a dreaded drought. Lani and Brian lost many of their mango trees and much of their house when the typhoon hit Cebu.
But I’d like to look at some positives.
Mother (Twylla) spent a busy year engaging in some of her favorite activities: reading lots of novels, creating beautiful quilts, watching Korean dramas, and cuddling Suzie, her devoted King Charles Cavalier. In October Mother and all her daughters made their annual foray to the International Quilt Festival. Thank you, Carolyn, for coming out west to join us!
Husband Kim just returned from a relaxing week with friends in Arizona, refreshed and ready to pilot our little tutoring center into the new year.
Daughter Hillary and husband Jason enjoyed a wonderful trip to Ireland sightseeing and hiking. Hillary had to drop out of a triathlon due to a hip injury, but her physical therapist prescribed lots of walking, which came in handy on their trip. I like that prescription myself!
Daughter Manda pursued her favorite past-time of riding Troy, a Friesian mix she leases. She lives in the old Presidio and spends weekends meeting friends, practicing her sewing, and hanging out with dear old dad and mom.
Here is a photo of the two of us as we prepare to make our World Book Night debut.
And me? In September I took the train to Seattle to spend time with Hillary and Jason (and did more reading and writing). We spent my birthday eating a yummy Italian dinner in an eclectic Seattle setting. (Old bicycles, vintage toasters, kitshy art hung from every available surface.) Overall, this year I had fun quilting, writing, and reading. Our extended clan comprises many readers, so if you’d like to know my ten favorite books for the year, click here. (Mary Ellen, look for another book parcel soon.)
How about you? Do tell!
My fondest wishes to all of you for a healthy and happy 2014!
Deb and family
Deb, Love your blog! Thank you so much for the catch up. Did not know what World Book Night is, so thanks for the info. Good thing to do. Looking forward to new books to read. I have passed on the last group and they are circulating. In fact I am taking one of them out to Elaine this next week. They are being well used and enjoyed. Thank you again. Give your mom a big hug from me. Please pass along happy new year wishes to all your family. Keep writing – you do a great job! Love, Mary Ellen