2016: A Year Well Lived! - Pincher Creek, Canada
Pincher Creek, Canada
December 26, 2016
Dear family and friends,
“Joyeux Noël” and Merry Christmas to you all! I hope you are well and enjoying this beautiful time of the year with your loved ones. Outside it is blustery, a perfect day for indulging in a warm chai latte and taking the time to write, while Tom & Liliane work on a Christmas puzzle together. Zeke is downstairs whining; he’d like to join in but doesn’t quite have the manners.
And grand-maman is all cozy next door in her “Hobbit House”, reading by the fire. We’ll be sharing the delicious left-overs of the past two sumptuous meals later, for supper.
Yesterday was another blissfully, perfect day for different reasons: bright sunshine, no wind and frosty, with a generous blanket of powdery snow left the day before, on Christmas Eve.We cross-country skied to the end of our property and back, gliding easily in such ideal conditions, while taking in the view, enjoying some exercise and being together. The snow sparkled everywhere you looked; in the air, on the ground. It was magical...Thank you, God and Happy Birthday Jesus!
I’ve taken to keeping a journal since Liliane came home, to help me remember special days and moments, as well as to preserve and pass on, recollections, thoughts and impressions.
I aim to write 4-5 times a year. This year, I was pleased to find that I had taken the time to write on many more occasions. 2016 was indeed a very special year, with many milestones and proud achievements.
Liliane enjoys cross-country skiing and keeps up with us, willingly. At five years old, she skied all the way to Cameron Lake (Waterton) and back (about 5km). The good ol’ Chariot
is gone now and so it was time. Last winter, we also introduced Liliane to down-hill skiing. She loved it and we will return to Castle Mountain for lessons this winter. We are fortunate to live close by, and also to Beauvais Lake Provincial Park, where we enjoy cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and even moonlight skiing and picnics with friends Denice, Sheena and Denis and their children.
At Easter, our family traveled to Roatan, Honduras for an early celebration of grand-maman’s 80th birthday. For the occasion, Tristian joined us from Toronto as well. Together we snorkeled from West Bay Beach to the beautiful coral reefs, off shore. Liliane was enthralled by the many colorful fish and was as thrilled as her Daddy to see a large Barracuda (maman not so much). Thanks to grand-maman and Tristian who minded Liliane, Tom and I were also able to go diving together for the first time in five years! Liliane loves the water and has completed her first three levels of the Red Cross Swim Kids program. Along with other activities such as soccer in the spring, riding in the summer and violin playing (year around), Liliane is well occupied.In July, Liliane and I took part in a Fiddling Camp at the Great Canadian Barn Dance. We learned so much and had a great time fiddling with other children and their parents. The beautiful setting and weather, for the most part, made camping there and swimming at the Waterton Reservoir a very enjoyable experience we look forward to next summer.
In August, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to go on a long ride with “Ginger” my mare, to the Lion’s Head on Vimy Ridge in Waterton Lakes National Park. Together with horses from Alpine Stables, “Ginger” kept up with the others and was a great credit to the Rocky Mountain breed in her display of heart, stamina and courage (we forded rivers, did some bush-wacking, rode along narrow paths, etc.). A proud day for her “maman”! Liliane enjoyed her first open trail ride with us (also with Alpine Stables) and continued taking riding lessons from Kerry on “Cass”, a true gentleman and awesome mount. She has gained much confidence, negotiates cavalettis and is learning to rise at the trot.
Our little girl has given us many reasons to be proud this year. Just before the start of the summer, Liliane learned to ride her bicycle! Grand-maman was there to share in the momentous occasion and to cheer her on. Later in the summer, Liliane and I biked ~9km to the Waterton town site where Daddy was working. In Yoho National Park while back-country camping at beautiful Lake O’Hara, we hiked the Alpine Circuit as a family, in the course of a day. It was a great adventure encompassing a stunning 14 km loop which took us on a sequence of three alpine trails and elevation gains of 3200 feet. In May, Liliane and I completed separate events of the Cross-Fit “Rough Runner” event in Pincher Creek and in September, the three of us took part again in the “Moon Shadow Run”, this time in the 5km event. Daddy came in ahead of us while Liliane ran her little legs off for most of the distance. Way to go “Fuzzy Chestnut Team” !
One of the most joyous occasions for our family this year was undoubtedly Liliane’s baptism on June 12. We were honored and so happy to have “Uncle Esa and Auntie Toni” accept to be Liliane’s godparents. Together with Fr. Silvano and the support of many kind and loving friends and community members, the day was made extra special and memorable.
Tom worked hard into the late fall, much time being spent in Waterton on projects related to the celebration of Parks Canada 150 Year’s Birthday, next summer. Over the course of
the summer, Tom still made time to build two more greenhouses. One for herbs and starter plants, the other for tomatoes (5 new varieties), peppers and cucumbers (“bad boy” size). Tom also broke land for our new veggie patch and “community garden” which we shared with some of our fiends and staff from St. Michael’s School. This winter, Tom will take time to finish the flooring in our basement. Our guest bedrooms are quite cozy now with new carpet. Come for a sleepover and try it out! Tom had a rare window of time this summer and so we were thrilled to get away together for a camping trip in our old RV. Grand-maman chose to go to
the sea and in this way, we discovered Olympic Park in Washington State. We took in hikes through moss-covered, old-growth forests, saw elvish “Legolas” waterfalls (so dubbed by grand-maman), marine-life-rich tide pools, unspoiled beaches and sea stacks covered in clusters of mussels. We were even lucky enough to spot a puffin, a life-long dream of Tom’s. On the beach adjoining our campground at Quileute Oceanside Resort,Liliane climbed to her heart’s content on huge logs of driftwood and made friends with other like-minded children. It was a wonderful get-away complemented by a full moon and nightly fireworks (sometimes a bit much for those trying to get some “shut eye”; for others, a reason to smile and laugh in wonder).
Liliane loves climbing and thoroughly enjoyed exploring the hoodoos at Writing-On-Stone Provincial Park, at the start of the summer holidays. With Tom working in Foremost during the
day (~ 50km away), it was a great way for him to combine work and play and for us to spend time together in the evenings. It was Tom’s idea. These days Tom’s thoughts and energy, when he is not working with wood or on the house, are filled with trying tasty new recipes from various sources and perfecting the ultimate pizza crust. Combined with grand-maman’s “Salsa Pizzaiola” sauce, the term “gourmet pizza” has reached a new level of deliciousness! Following a bountiful harvest last fall, Tom created relishes, salsas, fried up tangy green tomatoes and continued to make and bottle wine from our favorite kits. Some we drink, some is used in cooking. One thing is for sure: Tom and grand-maman make a mean team in the kitchen!
We were all so happy and relieved when Grand-maman averted painful treatment to her eyes on December 22. Thankfully, the medication and treatment she had received twice before were effective and a follow-up exam for now was all that was prescribed. Besides her passion for “serious” cooking (“Coquille St. Jacques”, braised duck, raspberry mousse, poached Artic Char...) grand-maman devours books! She loves to sit by a roaring fire with her ever-faithful friend “Saki”, a well-fed cat of Siamese persuasion who is very proprietary of his mistress (no wonder). In this way, they enjoy each other’s company and listen to music, while grand-maman escapes to wherever her reading takes her. Winter is not her favorite season but she puts up with it and still takes Zeke on daily walks, unless the wind prevents her from doing so. Grand-maman is always there for us and has a quasi unlimited patience for reading to Liliane: “Encore un grand-maman!...” (one more grand-ma!).
Thanks to the excellent foundation laid by grand-maman, Liliane is off to a great start in learning to read in both French and English. She is very excited to read signage while sitting
in the back, discover that she can read birthday and Christmas cards, words in story books and titles on posters in class. I am privileged to be Liliane’s teacher this year and fortunate to get to know and teach all of her little grade one classmates. A very bright group of 18 children, they are energetic (two thirds are boys) and progressing rapidly. Liliane is lucky to have such kind, fun and able friends to learn and play alongside with. Like any child, Liliane has much to learn but I am touched by her forgiving nature and pleased that she plays with all her classmates. We are all learning from each other every day... Besides teaching full-time in grade one French Immersion at St.Michael’s School, I have been taking part in a Catholic Leadership class once a month, since the fall. Though I am unsure about where this venture will lead me, it has been an interesting and worthwhile professional development opportunity thus far. In my down time, I play the violin, read, play outdoors and ride (mostly in my dreams).Time is indeed a precious commodity!
In addition to grand-maman’s birthday, we celebrated other happy, family occasions in 2016. In May, Michel and Dominique made time to visit us on their way home to Montreal, from
Vancouver. We had such a delightful visit and together we celebrated 206 years of life! (Michel, Dominique, Liliane and grand-maman all had birthdays within a few days of each other). Judging by their enthusiasm, Michel and Dominique loved hiking in Waterton, looking both up in awe at the mountains and down at the myriad of delicate flora. It was a great pleasure to act as their “tour guides” and to share in their excitement. In August, Lisa and Hannah came home to live permanently in Canada. We couldn't be happier! We also welcomed new family members this past year: Sage born to Beth and Stephen in August and Gracen to the Woodcock family, in September. Bienvenue ! And Cole celebrated his very first birthday in September. Though Tristian preferred to stay in Toronto this summer, we stay in touch and hope to see her again in 2017. She is 15 now, tall, bright, beautiful and
full of life.
This Advent we tried something new. For each act of kindness done unto another (to whomever and wherever), a family member placed a piece of straw in a “crib” (a purple
planter converted for that purpose). The idea being that the crib should be full by Christmas, to make Jesus’ "bed" as comfy as could be. The exercise was not only a lot of fun, motivating and timely but made us realize and appreciate each other and what we have, that much more. It was cause for laughter too. It was because of Tom apparently that we enjoyed softly, falling snow on Christmas Eve. He said he had placed an order for me and in so doing, took the liberty of adding two bits of straw for his good deed.Between Liliane's delightful trust in goodness, beauty and magic, her giggles and excitement in the smallest of marvels, Tom's steady kindness, strength and humor, grand-maman's constance, care and support, I feel blessed beyond words.
Well, if you’ve read this far, congratulations! You’ve made it through the longest blog entry ever! Ha!Ha! I hope you enjoyed reading it and if you didn’t, “there isn’t much I can do about it!” (playful words from guitarist and performer Oscar Lopez at a recent concert in Ft. Macleod~ a surprise date with Tom!).
Seriously though, we do hope to have the pleasure of hearing from you or better still, spending time with you in the new year!
Sending you much love and very best wishes for happiness and health in 2017,
Dominique, Tom, Hanne & Liliane
xoxoxoxo