We started the year with an Epiphany party, gathering with friends and celebrating the new year. A great start.
In February we went to Ottawa, Canada for Winterlude and the 2010 olympics. We wanted to go to Vancouver, BC for the Olympics, but tickets were not available, and lodging was prohibitive. We had a great time watching the events with the Canadians – getting lots of tips on curling strategy, and celebrating as the Canadian snowboarders started winning. Great TV coverage of all events (actual sports, not just filler or summaries).
Winterlude is a special time in Ottawa with lots of public celebrations, especially along the Rideau Skateway. The canal freezes over and a 10 kilometer skating rink appears through the middle of the city. Food vendors, hot drinks, maple syrup demonstrations, snow and ice carving, all manner of winter activities along the way. Highly recommended.
We finished off the week with the Gatineau Ski Marathon, a 50 km race through Canadian forest near town. This was our 10th in the Worldloppet race series, XC ski marathons around the world.
We continue to volunteer at the Chinese Classical Garden in Portland, and helped out at the big Chinese New Year celebrations. I do greeting duties, Ellen leads educational activities, and we’re both training as guides.
Springtime brought us back to the Oregon Food Bank garden, and we spent a day a week in the summer tending and harvesting vegetables.
In June I had a bum shoulder checked out, and confirmed a torn rotator cuff. So I had surgery which slowed me down for several weeks as it healed. Today, with 6 months of therapy, its all functioning normally and rebuilding strength.
We had been studying Chinese and getting the travel itch, so we set course for a fall trip to Chinese gardens. I arranged a private trip through China Highlights, with guides in each city and travel and lodging pre-arranged. The itinerary included Suzhou, the garden city, Hangzhou, a lake city also know for its gardens, the Yellow Mountains, revered by Chinese for its natural beauty, and Guilin, including a trip on the famed Li river (our boat had a picture of Nixon on the trip so it must be famous). We started and finished in Shanghai, the ever-changing metropolis.
We had a fabulous time (no, I haven’t posted any pictures or written about it yet) and we learned a lot more about Chinese gardens and their history.
That was in September. Back in Portland, fall brought the Autumn Moon festival and final garden harvests.
Ellen continues to work on fused glass creations, adding more yard art, bowls, picture frames and buttons to her repertoire. Taking more classes at Bullseye, her techniques and work gets more varied all the time.
We’re now ready for winter, having skied in the mountains at Halloween and had snow in town at Thanksgiving. We’re now spending a week skiing and relaxing in the Methow Valley, northern Washington. Christmas takes us to Ellen’s brother’s in Seattle, then back home for the New Year.
Good Solstice, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year to all!
Michael & Ellen
