Another Year Almost Over
Now I sound like an oldster, which I guess I am, because I'm using the title of another year almost over! I hope everyone reading this had a good year and is looking forward to 2023.
It's been a busy one for us. Doug and I are still managing the acreage although with all the yard work, a bumper crop of saskatoons and raspberries and weeds that never seem to end, it does keep us busy! But, the mountain views and the mule deer literally strolling across our front walk remind us how fortunate we are to live in the Alberta foothills.
On my drive west of Millarville yesterday to visit a friend, the light on the mountains was so striking that I almost forgot to watch where I was going.
We're home for Christmas this year and looking forward to visits from our families. I think I went overboard on gifts for the grandchildren, but at least I managed a few 'educational' gifts with child-size binoculars that really work, paint sets and, of course, books. The nature organizations had some wonderful gifts offered this year so each child also has now officially adopted an Alberta mammal. Unfortunately, I couldn't find a skunk to adopt as that is our grandson's current favorite animal. We do have the 'real' thing in the back yard though, but we try to avoid them!
I'm hoping to get back to the family history work after things settle in the new year. I've been able to trace my Great Grandmother Ida Greenfield Racher/Rachar's family back to the early 1400s. Our branch of the family had done a great deal of work on the paternal Racher/Rachar side, but not much on the Greenfield side. Fortunately, much work had been done on Ancestry although not all of it seems accurate. (Really, I don't think people can have children before they themselves are born.) So, I've been wading through all that information trying to figure it out. I was able to able to add a few photos that I found in my Grandmother Eva's albums.
I've had a few queries from people on Ancestry and online as to other branches of the family. I have much more information than I've had time to post so I hope to get to that soon. The good part about doing family history as a hobby is the work never ends; the bad part about family history is the work never ends.
Along with volunteering for three organizations in the Millarville, Diamond Valley and Okotoks areas and trying to make it to aqua fit a couple times a week, my life is busy. Doug continues to golf once or twice a week in the summer and curls twice a week in the winter. He also continues with his car hobby. Along with all the time required for health maintenance and our regular Sunday dinners with family, there is always something to keep us busy.
We attended our grandchildren's school concert on Tuesday evening, and it was so nice to be able to enjoy such an event again. Although it was bitterly cold even for someone like me who doesn't mind cold weather, the auditorium was sold out. The concert had to be held on two evenings to accommodate all the parents and grandparents. I was absolutely amazed that the music and classroom teachers could get grade ones to do complicated actions and beats together, the grade fours strummed their ukuleles in time and even changed chords accurately, the grade fives did a stunning rendition of Pachelbel's Canon in D Major on xylophones and the grade sixes topped it all off with Carol of the Bells. Of course, the other classes did extremely well too, and the kindergarten children 'stole the show' as they always do. Our granddaughter is so very proud to finally be able to sing in the choir. I was impressed with the obvious hours that went into getting a large number of children to enunciate so the audience could understand every word.
That concert meant Christmas to me and although I can be a bit of a scrooge about all the work involved in putting together Christmas year after year, the music is what means the most to me.
I hope you find what is meaningful to you during the Christmas season. Best wishes for health and happiness in 2023.
It's been a busy one for us. Doug and I are still managing the acreage although with all the yard work, a bumper crop of saskatoons and raspberries and weeds that never seem to end, it does keep us busy! But, the mountain views and the mule deer literally strolling across our front walk remind us how fortunate we are to live in the Alberta foothills.
On my drive west of Millarville yesterday to visit a friend, the light on the mountains was so striking that I almost forgot to watch where I was going.
We're home for Christmas this year and looking forward to visits from our families. I think I went overboard on gifts for the grandchildren, but at least I managed a few 'educational' gifts with child-size binoculars that really work, paint sets and, of course, books. The nature organizations had some wonderful gifts offered this year so each child also has now officially adopted an Alberta mammal. Unfortunately, I couldn't find a skunk to adopt as that is our grandson's current favorite animal. We do have the 'real' thing in the back yard though, but we try to avoid them!
I'm hoping to get back to the family history work after things settle in the new year. I've been able to trace my Great Grandmother Ida Greenfield Racher/Rachar's family back to the early 1400s. Our branch of the family had done a great deal of work on the paternal Racher/Rachar side, but not much on the Greenfield side. Fortunately, much work had been done on Ancestry although not all of it seems accurate. (Really, I don't think people can have children before they themselves are born.) So, I've been wading through all that information trying to figure it out. I was able to able to add a few photos that I found in my Grandmother Eva's albums.
I've had a few queries from people on Ancestry and online as to other branches of the family. I have much more information than I've had time to post so I hope to get to that soon. The good part about doing family history as a hobby is the work never ends; the bad part about family history is the work never ends.
Along with volunteering for three organizations in the Millarville, Diamond Valley and Okotoks areas and trying to make it to aqua fit a couple times a week, my life is busy. Doug continues to golf once or twice a week in the summer and curls twice a week in the winter. He also continues with his car hobby. Along with all the time required for health maintenance and our regular Sunday dinners with family, there is always something to keep us busy.
We attended our grandchildren's school concert on Tuesday evening, and it was so nice to be able to enjoy such an event again. Although it was bitterly cold even for someone like me who doesn't mind cold weather, the auditorium was sold out. The concert had to be held on two evenings to accommodate all the parents and grandparents. I was absolutely amazed that the music and classroom teachers could get grade ones to do complicated actions and beats together, the grade fours strummed their ukuleles in time and even changed chords accurately, the grade fives did a stunning rendition of Pachelbel's Canon in D Major on xylophones and the grade sixes topped it all off with Carol of the Bells. Of course, the other classes did extremely well too, and the kindergarten children 'stole the show' as they always do. Our granddaughter is so very proud to finally be able to sing in the choir. I was impressed with the obvious hours that went into getting a large number of children to enunciate so the audience could understand every word.
That concert meant Christmas to me and although I can be a bit of a scrooge about all the work involved in putting together Christmas year after year, the music is what means the most to me.
I hope you find what is meaningful to you during the Christmas season. Best wishes for health and happiness in 2023.
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