Loved Ones,
Another year has gone, and again we are here wishing you happiness this Christmas season. The past year has brought us much joy. We love being on Whidbey Island ; we love cruising in Puget Sound; we love having friends and family visit; we love finding a church home; we even love the Northwest weather!
We continue to enjoy living on Whidbey Island. It is slow and small town, but just right for us. The base is a good resource, and we have made friends at our Yacht Club, the Sail and Power Squadrons, and our church. This is a great place to retire! We continue to work on our house, remodeling this and that. We got new bathroom floor in the guest bath this year.
This past summer we were out for two 10 day cruises in the Puget Sound islands, even getting to Canadian islands once. We had several shorter cruises, too, and we know we love our boat for cruising in these waters. The islands and north into Canada offer rich cruising grounds, and next year we plan to go for at least one longer trip up along Vancouver Island. Of course, we had day sails and everyone who visits get to go on the boat!
We are busy with visits from friends and family: friends from Mendocino College came over Spring break (at the same time as Missy and Meghan); Don and Barb Vasconcellos were here for a week, including a trip to Victoria, BC; the Miller/Parise clan was here with their boys; Scott’s mom, Peggy and her brother, Jim, were here for lunch; Libby was here with her friend, Marielena, from London, UK, and we had to turn down a few people. Make your reservations early! We know the best places to go. Teacher friends from Ukiah were here for the Tulip Festival in Skagit Valley and saw fields and fields of blooming tulips in all colors! Our light house, Admiralty Head, is a popular spot, too.
We are busy with our church, St Stephen Episcopal Church in Oak Harbor. Virginia was elected to the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Olympia, one of 4 lay people on the committee. (That means we are getting to go to Seattle much more often than before!) Jim is the guy who looks after the building and grounds, but since we are in the small chapel, he doesn’t have much to look after. Things could change any day!
The Northwest weather isn’t all bad. Last winter we lost power after wind storms so now we have a generator on the pump house (we have a well). This winter looks like it might be as wild, with lots of wind and rain and a few snowflakes every now and then. However, we get less than half the rain as Seattle, we do not get floods, nor do we get much snow or freezing weather. And, in the summer it might hit 85, and that is considered HOT! We love the mild climate, and it loves to grow things. Our flower garden is a wonder every summer, blooming with everything I plant.
Family Report: Missy got tenure as an English Professor at her community college; Missy’s husband, Scott, played the world’s hardest golf course, Ko’Olau, in Hawaii (according to Extreme Golf); Libby’s business is going great, and she bought a new BMW; Brett Wagner (nephew) got his short film accepted at the Sundance film festival (look for Chief); Brett’s wife Kathryn is the Managing Editor of the Honolulu Magazine; Meghan is in Junior High!; Grandma Wagner is 97!!! Of course, we miss our Karen, especially at Christmas, but our family is doing just great. Come see us and find out why we love Whidbey Island.
Wishing you all the Best for the New Year
The Whidbey Wagners
The Northwest weather isn’t all bad. Last winter we lost power after wind storms so now we have a generator on the pump house (we have a well). This winter looks like it might be as wild, with lots of wind and rain and a few snowflakes every now and then. However, we get less than half the rain as Seattle, we do not get floods, nor do we get much snow or freezing weather. And, in the summer it might hit 85, and that is considered HOT! We love the mild climate, and it loves to grow things. Our flower garden is a wonder every summer, blooming with everything I plant.
Family Report: Missy got tenure as an English Professor at her community college; Missy’s husband, Scott, played the world’s hardest golf course, Ko’Olau, in Hawaii (according to Extreme Golf); Libby’s business is going great, and she bought a new BMW; Brett Wagner (nephew) got his short film accepted at the Sundance film festival (look for Chief); Brett’s wife Kathryn is the Managing Editor of the Honolulu Magazine; Meghan is in Junior High!; Grandma Wagner is 97!!! Of course, we miss our Karen, especially at Christmas, but our family is doing just great. Come see us and find out why we love Whidbey Island.
Wishing you all the Best for the New Year
The Whidbey Wagners
