It's Novemeber 17 and Christmas feels ages away -- especially since we're experiencing weather that feels more like North Carolina than Ontario. I'm writing early to somehow make up for failing to write last year. 2014 was a year marked with loss. My mom, at
the age of 95, passed away towards the end of March. My sisters, cousin Caja
and I gave her a beautiful send-off that I am certain had her smiling from
above.
Three months,
later, Pierre and I had to make the tough decision to have our Jack Russell,
Maevis, put to sleep. It was a beautiful spring morning; the vet came to the
house. We said goodbye to her in the
backyard where Maeve and I gardened together for almost 15 years. After burying
her, Pierre and I planted a serviceberry tree over her. It will flourish and
feed the birds and squirrels for years to come.
2014 brought more sadness with
news of the passing of my Uncle Tony and Carol, a dear childhood friend of my
sisters and mine.
New beginnings
were in order for Pierre and me – we decided it was time to leave our 2 1/2 story century
home on Mornington Street; so on December 12, 2014 we downsized to a bungalow
in a quiet Stratford neighbourhood. Pierre is thrilled to finally have a garage
and a basement with ceilings high enough that he hasn’t hit his head once on the
furnace ductwork! My joy comes from having a yard that was basically a blank
canvas. From spring to fall, I’ve been designing, digging, and planting gardens
– many of my choices are native species that will benefit the birds,
butterflies, and pollinators of Southwestern Ontario. [Photo is of Pierre
putting cedar shingles on our new garden shed].
At the end of April of this year,
we welcomed Fitzy into our lives. He’s a dachshund-cross senior citizen with a
ton of spunk and personality. He came to us from the Kitchener-Waterloo Humane
Society under their palliative foster care program. The thought of this old fellow
stuck in a shelter broke our hearts – we simply had to bring him home. Fitz has
brought us so much joy and given us such a boost after a year of mourning.
Overall, 2015 has
been a great year highlighted with visits from both my sisters, a fabulous Lemieux/Meyer
family gathering in Sutton, Quebec , camping and canoeing at Silent Lake
Provincial Park, a father-daughter hiking trip on the Bruce Trail, and news
that William has been accepted to Fleming’s Forestry Program starting January
2016.
We wish you a wonderful Christmas
season with your loved ones near and far and best wishes for the coming year –
2016.
Lots of
love from Pam and Pierre xoxo
At the end of April of this year,
we welcomed Fitzy into our lives. He’s a dachshund-cross senior citizen with a
ton of spunk and personality. He came to us from the Kitchener-Waterloo Humane
Society under their palliative foster care program. The thought of this old fellow
stuck in a shelter broke our hearts – we simply had to bring him home. Fitz has
brought us so much joy and given us such a boost after a year of mourning.
