Happy Holidays 2019!
Well, the weather outside is crazy
Which is why I’m feeling lazy
But we’ve Christmas cards now to write
Let words flow…clean and bright…through the night…
The year started off with snow and with rain
Keeping stuff dry was really a pain
Ditches were dug and bridges refloored
Things finally dried up, normal living restored.
A steam train adventure popped into Jim’s head
Cross-country by train? Try Virginia City instead.
A great way to celebrate forty years of our lives
A winding path filled with hairpin curves and nosedives
And handle it all, we did with aplomb
With many an apple and pies (like Tom Thumb)
We admit we don’t always see eye to eye
But love conquers all—or gives it a try!
Traded trains for some boards to paddle around
More adventures with wildlife and wind to be found
From eagles on high debating with osprey
To fish and mosquitoes (who stole the bug spray?)
For plain old relaxing while enjoying the sights
There’s nothing much better than kayaking delights
Though our “kayaks” are truly paddleboards in disguise
They fulfill the purpose—to observer’s surprise
Five-dollar Fridays jumped into the fray
Skiing at Squaw—in June, by the way
There wasn’t much snow, but what they had was enough
For die-hard enthusiasts, (late) spring skiing’s the stuff!
Skiing and paddling and choo chooing on trains
Weren’t quite enough so Jim threw in some planes
He took several lesson in learning to soar
How to keep a straight flight path, practice landings, and more
The rest of the summer was more or less tame
Engineering and writing were all in the game
Brandon’s learning new skills—3D modeling is fine
Makes book covers and artwork truly divine!
Brandon’s other new skill is friendly debating
With family and friends, he keeps postulating
Studious replies and philosophical thinking…
He’s really quite good—I’m off now for drinking!
4H is his other intellectual pursuit
Teaches photography to the young ones—it’s really a hoot!
No matter the lens or equipment at hand
The camera is subject to his deft command.
Brandon helped Grumpy plant grapes in the sun
Jim helped with the well pump—it wasn’t much fun
Lynn’s back had some issues, no fun to be had there
Family rallied to help him with love and with care.
As for the greenhouses, they keep giving more,
Tomatoes and kale and froggies galore.
From elegant squash to grumpy cucumbers
Our plants keep producing, despite many blunders!
Ground squirrels and voles became quite a menace
Used the weather itself to create Greenhouse Venice!
Diverted spring runoff and flooded the paths
Cause ground squirrels, you see, despise ice-cold baths!
Voles were more stubborn; they needed persuading
Brandon won the war with nets for blockading
Seems voles like to dig, but they don’t like to climb
They particularly abhor hearing poems that rhyme!
Setting some traps while chanting some Seuss
Sent the voles packing, no more on the loose!
Drain the moats and plant the seeds,
Tomato-craving mouths to feed!
Another adventure that proved oh, so fun
—taking photos of horses in the wild, on the run
Carroll and I loaded Mom in the car
Added friend Kathy then drove rather far
Kathy knows places where horses are roaming
Where mommas and babies play deep in the gloaming
Kicking up heels and stirring up dust
A new foal to see—it’s really a must!
End of summer, we lost our four-footed feline friend
Twenty years of crazy Tasha, herself to the end
Her grumpy-cat moments will never be missed
But her sunshine—like a rainbow—was always sheer bliss
The neighborhood gossip hoots through the night
Lets the critters all know—Swann furries took flight
All furry friends have crossed the Last Divide
Leaving only their wild brethren to play and to hide
Brother Bear pays a visit every once in a while
Figures he might catch us lagging; then he’ll dine in style
We stay ever cautious and keep our wits sharp
Brother Bear will find nothing but boxes and tarp
October rushed in on a storm-ridden gale
Louisa committed to telling a tale
On the notorious Tahoe Gal cruise
For Liar’s only—with bubbly booze
It was loads full of fun—can you tell who is lying?
Sierra State Parks’ fund-raiser was flying!
The food was delicious, the weather sublime
Opportunities for fun were really quite prime!
Soon after the cruise, Louisa led her first tour
Hauntings in Truckee—what could be more obscure?
Dress in the fashion that befits the times
Gentlewoman bandit leads her group into crime!
As if cruise and tour weren’t really enough
Climb Tallac must be next—it’s really quite tough.
To the top of the ridge, the next ridge you will see
Over boulders, down gullies, wrap around the next tree
One foot, then the next, continue to climb
Can’t say all this pain is truly sublime
Sanity leaves—the peak is in sight!
Unfortunately, so is the dawning of night
We still made the top, a fantabulous view
Louisa, Carroll, and Jim—we made quite a crew.
Getting back down proved the worst situation
Knees, feet, and poor toes needed constant persuasion
Jim was our tree—solid to the core
He carried our packs and water and more
By the time we hit bottom, Louisa’s knees were a knockin’
Carroll dug for her keys, car doors for unlockin’
Then trundle back home where Carroll’s birthday waited
Where the three kids and grandma held their breaths bated
Carroll’s 60th birthday—first wish was granted
The top of Tallac, her foot had been planted.
After the ten-mile hike, a 3500-foot gain
The muscles and joints all grumbled with pain
Took near a week to begin to feel normal
A reminder, it seems, that we’re all merely mortal
A quick trip to Vegas for more writing biz
Casinos are…busy…and full of pop-fizz
We learned quite a lot to work on next year
To bolster the business and the writing career
More books have been published, short stories submitted
Marketing primed for next year—I’ve finally admitted
So spread the word wide and keep your eyes open
Six novels (published) next year are what we are hoping.
On a last crazy note, Mary’s art fairs went fine
The weather cooperated—most of the time
Though the fairs were quite grand, a price we did pay
With bedbugs and a broken thumb paving the way!
I guess this wraps up my yearly report
If you read this far—thanks for being a sport!
Happy holidays to friends and family, those near and far
Love to all and best wishes, here’s to your rising star!
