Happy Holidays

 Well, it's been quite a year, hasn't it.

2021 started with Peter and I both being vaccinated.  He also had a side order of "falling on the ice downtown" which resulted in very, very bruised ribs.  I serenaded him with my new ukulele.

We opted out of FL and decided it was safer to stay in our cozy new home in our cozy new home town and actually didn't mind the MI winter - too much.

Early March brought our first fully vaccinated friends to our house for an afternoon visit.  We were so excited and so were they that we chatted for 4 hours straight.

April dished up more dinners with friends and a new customer for my bracelets - Lake Effect Gallery in downtown Holland.

May was fun.  We had our first overnight guests.  We were beyond excited to have our niece, Stephanie, her husband, Jeff and their two daughters, Sara and Emma, visit. We showcased MI for them: Mackinac Island, Traverse City, Saugatuck and Holland.  They were impressed.

June got the outdoor music scene started.  We were starved for live entertainment.  There was plenty right here in Holland but we also traveled to Allegan, Fennville, Saugatuck and Grand Haven. It was wonderful.

We had our own 4th of July parade here at Hidden Creek.  All the golf carts were decorated and flags were flying.  Very festive.

August was a continuation of the two previous months:  food, music and art.

My sister, Stacey, was our second overnight visitor in September.  The 3 of us drove up to Newaygo to visit our cousin, Barb and her husband, Steve.

Peter became a gym rat in October and is loving it.  It's less than a mile from our home so he has his workouts in one direction and the golf course 3 miles in the opposite direction.  He's smilin'.

Another highlight for October was our trip out east.  We finally got to see where my sisters (Stacey and Lisa) live!  Chestertown, MD is beautiful and Heron Point (their residence community) is amazing.  Next trip out we'll stay longer - so much to see. 

We left Chestertown and drove up to Bethlehem, PA to visit Stef and Jeff and our nephew Mike and his wife Michelle came up from Philadelphia and joined us for a very nice dinner.

This year November has a more festive feel; much better than last year. Craft shows, special shopping days downtown, music and a parade ramped up the holiday season.

                                   A beautiful dock out to the Chester River at Heron Point.

                    I bought a ukulele last January to fight the virus blues.  I'm really enjoying it.

                                             Tulip Time in Holland this year was outstanding.

                                        The top of Mt.Baldy in Saugatuck with the Pattersons.

                                         Outdoor music with our friends Nathan and Robert.

                                                  Hanging at Ottawa Beach with Stacey.

                                A shot of Big Red in the distance from the top of Mt.Pisgah.

                                            On the dock with Stacey and Lisa at Heron Point.

                                                The dock at Heron Point on the Chester River.

                                                      Our niece Stef with her brother Mike.