another season....

...and another year almost gone. Where does the time go?

  I know I've frustrated some of you with my lack of 'blogging' on our blog. After all, it's been almost a whole year now... Fact is, when I started this I had visions of us cruising with Solemates to a variety of destinations and having all sorts of adventures to regale our friends with. Reality, however, is settling in. Life gets in the way with plans sometimes, and our cruising days have yet to materialize. For a multitude of reasons, we've continued to be glued to Paradise Village (although to be honest it's a great place to be "stuck"!). Until the actual cruising begins, we will try to use the blog more frequently simply as a means of staying in touch-whether at home in Mexico or Crofton.

  Many of you will have received our Christmas emailing with all the news of what happened in the last year, so I won't rehash the whole things. Suffice to say there were two notable highlights: MacKenzie graduated her nursing program in the spring, and Cody gave birth to our grandson Lucas on May 17th. I was lucky enough to be present for both big events, and we're enjoying the spinoffs of both as well!

  MacKenzie is employed at the Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria and has her own neat little apartment right across the street. She bought herself a new car, is paying her own bills, and is doing well being an independent grown-up. Because she works shift work she has a few days off in a row, so she comes home to visit every week or so.





















  And of course, we've had many hours of fun with Lucas... He and Cody are living 1-1/2 hours away in Port Alberni so they spend the weekend with us every couple of weeks when we're at home. Being Grandpa and Gammy is even more fun than we imagined, and Cody is really enjoying the motherhood role as well. She is also involved with Search and Rescue, so is keeping busy.

We arrived back in Mexico on November 5th. Solemates survived another summer season well and we're pretty much done with all the million little things that need doing after you get back. Well, Roberto the engineer is making good progress at any rate. The Chief Stew (that's me) still has a lot of catching up to do, as does the deck hand (me again). Luckily, Roberto the chef jumped right back into his duties and whips us up amazing dinners a few times a week-as well as his signature margueritas.  Of course, you always take a risk when you feed your hairdresser a marguerita before she cuts your hair!

Rob's new hairstyle....a #6 blade!!

Oh, and check out my basil tree....  I had a few plants in this pot when went home in April, and just left them on the dock for whoever to enjoy until they died.  I had no idea that there was such a thing as perennial basil bushes-apparently the dock guys kept it watered over the summer and this is what I came back to.  Too cool!

  Anyways, now I've made a start and will try to continue with being a bit more diligent about staying in touch (think I've said that before??).  It's a bit tricky, as for some reason our internet on the boat can't handle blogging so need to go buy ice-cream at the mall and use their internet (sounds tough, I know).
Til then.....