Looking Forward

We have pointed the RV south and travelled to our winter home.

After a cool and wet summer in Ontario,we have been looking forward to the warm weather and beaches of Southwest Florida.

We took 3 days of travelling through the colourful hills and valleys of New York, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. A perfect time of year to experience the delightful change of season.

We continued on through Georgia and Florida, arriving in Naples on Oct.26 on the fifth day of travels.

We have become adept at setting up our site within a few hours and then could relax with friend Ed, our neighbour.

Heavy sweaters, sweats, jeans and jackets were quickly stored out of sight. Shorts, light shirts and bathing suits were hauled out to take their place.

The air conditioner, that sat idle all summer, was turned on and has been running day and night. This part of Florida is experiencing a late summer heat wave, breaking records each day by running in the low 90's. Bob, Helen, JJ and Pixie are all a little lethargic. A few afternoon siestas are in order.

We are glad to be here and look forward to friends and neighbours as they arrive. Soon we will be saying,"Where has the winter gone?"

Still Missed

Today is a day of remembrance.Eight years ago was the disaster of the World Trade Center. September 11,2001 will be written in history books and text books.People of all nations know what happened on that morning.

In our family, the date has a strong memory. On Sept.11,2000, we lost our beloved companion Zack. A friend to all, a favourite dog with family,grandchildren and fellow travellers.

Zack loved travelling in the motorhome. He sat beside me and watched the roadside changes.He never missed seeing a cow or a horse. A body of water or a river made him so excited, we often stopped so that he could have a swim. We believe he swam in every Great Lake, both the Pacific and the Atlantic,Gulf of Mexico(east and west) and most major rivers.

At the age of 14 he became ill and very quickly left us. A period of mourning descended upon us as we lost a member of the family.

So on this day, we miss a loved pet, a companion and a fellow traveller who loved the open road.

LABOUR DAY

The first Monday of September is Labour Day in many countries. This day was set aside by the labour unions to celebrate economic and social achievements of the workers.

Thirty nine years ago today I had a labour achievment of my own. It involved labour of a different kind. I guess you would call it a labour of love. Jennifer Leigh Boville came into this world in the evening of Sept.7th,1970.

Her birthday doesn't always fall on Labour Day. When she was in school her birthday often fell on the first day of school.

Baby of the family, something she can never change, no matter her age.

Happy Birthday, Jenn!

Deja Vu

Earlier this summer we spent an evening watching our grandson Jordy play hockey. Sunday evening we were back at an Arena in Grimsby, watching Tommy Boville at his first game of the season. Yes, we were able to go in shorts and T shirts and sandals. Drank our Tim Hortons and cheered our youngest grandson and his team of 10 yr. olds to a 4-1 win. On the opposite side of the ice, behind the home team bench was another familiar face. Son Scott is the trainer for the team and taking his work quite seriously. Father and son were very pleased with the outcome of their first game. Tommy's time at summer hockey and hockey camp has helped improve his skating and passing skills. After the game we returned to Scott and Sarah's for a BBQ with yummy salad and cheesecake.

First Cousins Reunion

On August 20,2009, we held our 4th annual first cousins reunion. This year's pot luck dinner was held on Lake Manitou at Grant and Eileen Williamson's cottage.Jim and Sharon Williamson were hosts with lots of help and set up from Grant and Eileen.

Eleven cousins attended, with either the last name Williamson or born a Williamson. Spouses added in to make a total on 21 attendees.

We had cousins from Michigan, British Columbia and various parts of Ontario.

The weather wasn't our friend. We managed to have some real visiting under temporary tarp enclosures. Dinner was served indoors and no one left hungry. A wide assortment of salads, crock pots and desserts were served.

Many of us came home with Indian Weather Sticks. Doug Heist replenished our supply of these weather predictors.

This year's reunion coincided with the Memorial service and burial of our Mom. She was Aunt Irene to these cousins and many attended the service on Sat, August 22.

We appreciate the hosting of these get togethers each summer and hope that other cousins will join us as we celebrate the descendants in the Williamson family.

A Milestone

Bob and I have reached and passed many milestones in our lives. You can plan some milestones and look forward to them. Time moves slowly when you have to sit back and wait for an occasion or date to finally arrive. Other milestones sneak up on you!

On Aug.1st we met an event in our lives that snuck up on us. We knew it was going to happen. Our son Scott joined the ranks of being a RETIRED person.

Where did the years go? Our son who we saw go off to school, play Tball, learned to skate on a pond, went fishing with his Aku and then the years whipped by and he was buying his first car.

We observed all these growing up years, first dates, first jobs, first girl friends.

It seemed no time at all, we weren't counting the years, when he became engaged, married and gave us 2 grandsons.

Now, we have to face the fact that he will be 50 on his next birthday and we are the parents of a retiree. How did this happen? We can't be this old, can we?

Face it Bob and Helen! Life slips along while you are not sitting in a rocking chair and wondering what you will do today or tomorrow.

To Scott we say," Son, we hope that your retirement years bring you all the adventures and happiness that we are experiencing."

BIRDS OF A FEATHER

We love having a bird feeder in our yard. We have our daily visitors from early spring until we leave after Thanksgiving.

For several years we fought with the squirrels,trying to keep them from the feeder. Clever devils had a way of outwitting Bob and his many anti-squirrel ideas. But Bob didn't give up and finally he came up with a squirrel-proof bird feeder.

Some of the nuthatches and chickadees are ravenous and often the feeder has to be refilled everyday. Cardinals,goldfinches,doves, bluejays,catbirds and an indigo bunting keep us enthralled with their antics and squabbling.

To our surprise, this summer, we have a new bird to keep us amused. Matilda, the wild turkey, has become a regular feeder. Bob had to go out and buy corn to feed her. She is so tame that she will come to the feeder while we are sitting in our lounges. Pixie is not her friend. She clucks and paces until we remove the cat.

Neighbours bring their cameras and come to watch her.

Summer Hockey

Where do you find the Bovilles on a warm,summer night in June? Not sitting on the patio or beside a campfire, sipping a cool one. No, we are sitting watching our grandson Jordy Benton playing hockey. Jordy is attending the Cambridge Winterhawks summer training camp. He has already spent a weekend with the Sarnia Sting of the Ontario Hockey League, and will have one more training camp with them in late August. Following these camps he will know where and who he will be playing for this winter season.Watch for news from these proud grandparents! Tonight Mom Peggy, Aunt Jenn, Bob and I sat there in shorts and short sleeves,sandals on our feet and drinking a hot Tim Horton coffee. This was a little different than the last hockey game we attended in late Oct. Jordy acknowledged our presence by skating by and sticking his tongue out at us. His smile told us that he was proud to see us there. Go,Jordy,Go!!

In Loving Memory of Irene Wiffen

On June 6th, Mom slipped away from us,suddenly and peacefully.

A blessing to all that she was not alone and had her two daughters with her. A social cup of tea and a laugh about spending some of her money on a new wardrobe, and then a time to go.

We were so lucky to have her with us for 93 1/2 years. Her children,grandchildren and great grandchildren will all have their wonderful memories of her.

Mine are dearest to me and I shall miss her.

Busy Hands

Several of the ladies here at Imperial Wilderness love to work on jigsaw puzzles. It is a winter hobby that we enjoy. We can sit and visit, have a cold drink, chat about the latest interests and fill an afternoon with an enjoyable task.

Men, on the other hand, tend to seek out different hobbies. Usually a hobby where tools and complicated instructions are involved.

Jim and Bob laid out the various pieces, assembled the necessary tools, and began the construction of our new garden shed. There was some visiting and laughs, some cold drinks, some misinterpretation of instructions and within a couple of hours we had a new storage shed.

There were no scratches, cuts or bruises, no foul language. There were no hard hats, steel-toed shoes or building codes. But there were the usual sidewalk spectators. This was their second shed in 2 weeks. They will soon be in competition with the women for enjoying a new hobby.

Just like a jigsaw puzzle,all the pieces fit into place. No spare or missing parts.

A thing of beauty!

ARRIVEDERCI

Ciao!

Everyone was up and about by 7:00 AM. We were docked and were asked to vacate our rooms in preparation for the next cruise.

We went to the dining room for a full service breakfast and then to our disembarkation lounge.

We called Carolyn and Pertti to suggest a meeting time and place. They were dockside waiting for us.

We were one of the last groups to leave the ship, but recovered our luggage promptly. Customs check out was basically a walk through. By 9:30 we were on our way to Naples to be reunited with our JJ and Pixie.The 2 of them fared very well with their caring caregivers in our absence.

Back in Florida after 7 days, 2,441 miles, concerts, dancing, sunshine and friendly fellow passengers.

Arrivederci!

Day 7

This was a full day of sailing and rolling seas as we left the Caribbean islands behind us and sailed northwest back towards Fort Lauderdale.

A very lazy, relaxing day of sun and pool, snacks, drinks and music.

Many cruises are listed as "theme cruises". People with like interests often cruise together sharing a common bond. This MSC cruise had 2 themes.

BASEBALL GREATS

Five baseball greats, former Major League stars,were aboard to give lectures, clinics , photos and sign autographs and collectibles.

DOO WOP CRUISE

Followers of the doo wop music of the 60's/70's paid extra dollars to take this cruise. Five quartets gave special concerts to these guests. The public were invited to sit in the pool area and listen to their last evening of music. Lots of dancing to good,familiar tunes.

At 10:30, we all crowded into the Savannah Bar for the Talent Show. Excellent entertainment from our fellow travellers!

Most people headed back to their rooms before midnight,as our bags had to be packed and placed outside our doors for pick up.

Sign language--

"Good cruise!"

Day 6

Westward Ho!

We have started our return trip. An overnight sail brought us to the Dominican Pepublic. We anchored in the beautiful Samana Bay.

Bob and I had booked a Catamaran Sail and Snorkeling trip. We were tendered into the town of Samana where we boarded our catamaran. About 15 people had signed up, and so the boat was not crowded. We toured the coastline of the bay observing the greenery and palms of the mainland. We were given the history and facts of the area. Much of the income is derived from tourism.

The area had received rain and high winds the day before and the weather was still a bit unsettled. We anchored next to a small island and proceeded with our snorkeling gear. I was so pleased with myself. I was able to slip right into the rough water and make my way towards the shelf of the island. I was able to observe many tropical fish and a variety of coral. I returned to the boat after 20-25 min. as Bob was unable to snorkel with me.

We were welcomed back on board with drinks of rum and coke.

Next stop was Cayo Levantado. The vast majority of the Orchestra guests had been tendered to the island for a day of beach and sun bathing. What a beautiful way to spend several hours.

The last tender back to the ship was at 3:30 PM with sailing at 4:00.

As we were leaving Samana Bay we were able to see a Humpback whale.These whales winter and calf here during the warm winters.

We had time to shower and prepare for another Gala evening . The theatre programme was Celtic Spirit. Another amazing performance of talented dance and music.

This was one of our most enjoyable days and evenings.

A midnight buffet was missed by the Bovilles. Enough food already! Another time change tonight. Fall back!

(to be continued)

Day 5

It was a short 88 miles of travel overnight. We awoke to the beautiful port of Phillipsburg, St. Maarten.A bright and sunny morning and we were anxious to go ashore.

At the end of the pier was an area of modern shops,a ferry terminal, taxi and bus stands,phones and steel drum welcoming groups.

As we were shopping 3 other large cruise ships docked. If each ship held 2500 passengers, you can imagine the influx of shoppers in the small market area. Enough crowds for us! We returned to the solitude of our own ship and the pool.

The cafeteria lunches were always spectacular. There was a specialty pasta each day and always their wonderful pizza. Americans could always have their favourite hamburg or hotdog. Make your own salad or a full entree if you should choose. Their pastry and dessert was mouth- watering. This being said, Bob and I seldom had a full lunch.

We set sail again early afternoon and watched this picturesque island slide out of view.

Dance music in the evening with specialty coffee after dinner.

A wonderful cruising day!

( to be continued)

Day 4

We began our day in the usual way of coffee on the balcony , then a buffet breakfast in the cafeteria. Since "it's a long way to Antigua" we rushed to get lounges poolside. We knew it would be crowded around the pool. Sunny,bright and very humid.

While sunbathing, a young cocktail waitress noticed Bob's tattoo and stopped. She said,"Aku. Me. My country." Bob was startled and pleased to see someone recognize his tattoo. We sought her out later to ask her country and the meaning of the word. She is from Indonesia and Aku means "me" in her language.

After 50 hours at sea we docked at St. John at 4:00 o'clock. All of the people who had booked excursions hurried off the ship to meet their buses,etc. We took our time to exit the ship and enter the hubbub of St. John. We were met at the end of the pier by a hoard of folks selling tours, trips and souvenirs. We literally had to push our way through to the main street.

We walked several streets observing their shops. We noticed a few Internet Cafes,so took advantage of one to receive and send email and check on Jordy's playoff status.

The smell of open or slightly covered sewer at curbside,was a complete turnoff.

Hindsight is wonderful! Bob and I should have taken one of the many taxis and spent an hour touring and we would have had a much better opinion of Antigua.

The entertainment was poolside that evening. We returned to our room early so that we could sit on the balcony and watch the people return to the ship.

Our neighbour on the next balcony shared the time with us. Small world! He was from Waterloo and had honeymooned in Antigua,17 years ago.

We set sail at 11:00 PM. (to be continued)

Day 3

We left Nassau at 1:00 PM for the 1028 nautical miles to St John, Antigua. Smooth sea to begin with,but as we passed the Bahama Islands and reached open water we began to feel the pitch and roll of the heavy seas.

Day 3 was a day of relaxing by the pool,interrupted with a brief but violent wind/rainstorm.

After a light buffet of Italian, homemade pizza it was time for our Italian lesson.

Benvenuti! Come stai? Mi chiamo Helen. Vengo da Waterloo,Canada.

Sunshine on our balcony until informal dinner time. We were joined at our table by a couple from Oshawa. Very nice tablemates.

Bachata dance lesson,casino and dancing until 11:40.

To be continued

Day 2

March 1, 2009

We were out on the balcony to watch our 6:30 A.M. arrival in Nassau . As we were docking, the phone rang.It was the manager of Public Relations welcoming us to Nassau and to wish me a Happy Birthday and a lovely stay in port.

We enjoyed a light breakfast of coffee and croissants on the balcony followed by a buffet breakfast.

Since it was a Sunday morning, the shops were slow opening,so we went ashore about 9:30 and walked the main streets,poking our noses into the many jewellry shops.There is a large straw market in Nassau where many of the guests did their souvenir shopping.

After 4.3 miles of walking we returned to the ship to relax by the pool for the remainder of the afternoon.

Time to shower and change so we hauled out our gala finery and attended dinner, followed by the Captain's cocktail party. Plenty of complimentary drinks.(were we offered plenty or drank plenty??)

After watching a very good illusionist/magician in the theater,we returned to our room for an early bedtime. Set clocks ahead for an overnight time change.

Bridge to Paradise Island and Atlantis Resort

to be continued

A Daily Journal

February 28,2009

Carolyn and Pertti drove Bob and I to Fort Lauderdale to board the MSC Orchestra.This floating giant of a ship loomed over us at the port. Sixteen decks high with a capacity for 2500 guests and a crew of 1000. A very easy embarkation with passports and tickets, then we found our stateroom on Lira, the 10th deck. (lira, in Italian,--money) We quickly unpacked and went exploring with map in hand. First impressions were of all the mirrors and brass,easy access to lifts(elevators) and the colourful lounges and hallways.

We enjoyed a tasty buffet lunch and had "muster call" at 4:30.

At 5:30 we went to the main dining restaurant where we were seated at a 4 place seating. We dined alone with excellent food and service.

We set sail for Nassau at 6:30, just as the sun was setting.

The evening entertainment was in a huge theater called Covent Garden. An Evening in Paris was the theme of the music presented that evening. Song and dance.

Next!! Dancing lessons. Tonight was the Merengue. uno, due, tre, kackity! We were part of the spectators but the dance floor was full. What a fun group with a multilingual dance instructor.

On to the Casino to lose some of Ed's money. He gave us a little spending money hoping for a big return. HA!

Back to our room by 11:00 for an quiet,restful night.

( to be continued)

Directional Winds

My blog title suggests that the wind is at our backs, moving us along in this lifestyle we have chosen.

But the wind is known to be changeable.

From Feb. 28th to Mar. 7th, on our Eastern Caribbean cruise, we experienced just how the winds can change.

We left Fort Lauderdale in the early evening just as the sun was setting and the lights of the city were beginning to twinkle. Calm,peaceful, and the feeling that we were in a large hotel.

That was the end of the calm seas. Each following day the wind increased. First it blew from the west as we travelled south. You get the idea! The ship began to roll from side to side.

In each succeeding day the winds increased and blew towards us, slowing our progress, then would change and speed us onto the next port.

Laying in bed at night we were lulled to sleep with a gentle roll from side to side. Nothing to cause any problems.

It was detrimental to our morning of snorkeling. The wind kept the waves washing us toward shore and caused the water to be slightly murky. Grin and bear it! I got to see some colourful tropical fish and a variety of coral.

Wherever the wind may blow, you will find Bob and Helen enjoying themselves. New experiences, new places to visit and new people to meet.

Birthdays

Another birthday is rolling around for me. My, a year goes by so quickly! A year ago we were basking in the sun in another country. The scenery changes but the family calendar still marks March 1st as Mom's birthday. Tommy,who is nine, probably wishes that the year would go by faster and his birthday in April would come sooner. Jake is looking forward to being a teenager. Jordie,who plays hockey with a team of older players,is wishing he wasn't the rookie. Devon,at nineteen,wouldn't want to be referred to as a teenager and our Lisa ,in her twenties,is watching the years start to speed up. Our youngest daughter Jenn is nearing the end of her thirties and Scott has a big 50 just ahead of him. Wow! where are those little kids who sat around the kitchen table,laughing, teasing, who had their likes and dislikes of food? My baby sister probably doesn't want her age published, but she's about to become a grandmother. Mom (Nanny) is ninety three and so we hope we carry some of those great aging genes within us. So! I'm going to get away from it all! Next Sunday, I'll sit on the open deck of the Orchestra, sipping the drink of the day, and glide through the Caribbean. It can't be so bad turning 74. Better than turning 75! So, Happy Birthday Helen and here's to many more!

We've Gone to the Dogs

We have been planning to go to the dog races for the last 3 weeks. Poor health and cool weather kept us postponing the day. Yesterday was picked as our outing to the races. Four couples drove to Bonita Springs to the track.Sunny and breezy,just right for a day of fun,laughter and friendship. First of all--feed our faces.Hot dogs piled with sauerkraut and a cold drink. Now we are ready for the races.Check our programs,pick our dogs and place our $2. bets.(Big gamblers !) The dogs are paraded before us.Have we made the right choices? Male,female,large,small,past history of times and races. Decisions,decisions! The bugle sounds post time and here comes Sparky! The mechanical rabbit screeches toward the starting gate and THEN they're off. Aku Bovill loved to say,"Here comes the bunny, there goes my money." Those beautiful greyhounds race their hearts out trying to be first to the finish line.The fans are cheering for their favourite dog. Winners wave their tickets in the air, losers throw their paper bets to the floor. Oh boy, a win of $2.80. On to the next race. Now for a little fun. Let's pool our money and place a bigger bet with the chance of winning a little more. Four couples,four dogs to choose and the excitement heightens. This method continues through the afternoon. Four couples pick; four women pick;four fellows pick;etc. The girls pick just right. Oh, we're in for the big money! Sorry! You didn't read the fine print. You have to pick winners in 2 races for the big winnings. Oh well,$50. sounds pretty good. The next big gamble paid much better.Three gals,plus Bob hit a $331. pot. Now there's lots of cheers and smiles. Are we having fun? You bet your sweet bippy! All in all,you win some,you lose some. By late afternoon we are ready to move on to a lovely dinner at a special Italian eatery. Candlelight, a glass of wine,a plate of pasta,a mellow ending to the day. This is just one afternoon out of the many wonderful experiences we have here with our friends in Naples.

AKU/AKUTOO

Bob has been asked many times why he is called Aku. So here is the history of Aku.

When son Scott was just a little gaffer,his grandfather Bruce Bovill,delighted in taking Scott to the cottage. We would pack a little suitcase with a change of clothes and night wear. The two of them would go to Monetville for a couple of days of fishing and camping.

From the very beginning Margaret was called Nanny and it was easy for Scott to say. But the word Grandpa or Grandad didn't come so easily. In baby talk Scott referred to his grandfather as Aku. Remember,he was less than a year old at the time. He also called his little suitcase Aku because he related this word with going to camp with his grandfather.

As Scott got a little older and began to enlarge his vocabulary,the baby talk of favourite words were lost. But his grandfather was so pleased with the name Aku,he encouraged Scott to continue with this familiar word. Nanny and Aku Boville was established.

This endearment continued on with all five children. The originating of the name was repeated to friends many times.

Time marches on and within a blink of an eye Bob and I were grandparents to Lisa Trencs.Without any thought we knew what we wanted to be called by our grandchildren.Tradition had been established!

As our five children grew older and left the nest, Bob and I realized we could now fulfill one of our dreams. We bought our first RV to travel in. A Winnebago Chieftain came to sit in the yard in Carlisle. Bob was working at the School for the Deaf with a talented faculty. One of the teachers painted a tire cover for the spare tire on the back of the RV. Now we had graduated to a new term. AKUTOO.

Now it's time for Bob to retire from teaching. We threw a small party of family and friends. Silly little, appropriate gifts were presented on this momentous occasion. Our kids knew what their Dad would love to have. A personalized licence plate reflecting his name. AKUTOO.

They couldn't have thought of a better gift to give him. A lifetime gift!

Speaking of lifetime!! Bob will now carry the word Aku on his upper arm in the form of a tattoo.

Now our grandchildren are growing up and they have no problem introducing their grandfather to friends as Aku. But the explanations never stop. We don't mind,we love to tell the history.

The Way

These words were fitting 10 years ago at our 40th Wedding Anniversary. Family and friended gathered and sang these words to us. This song is still relevant as we have now celebrated 50 years of marriage and continued "on the road".

They made up their minds

And they started packing,

They left before the sun came up that day;

An exit to eternal summer slacking

But,where were they going

Without ever knowing the way?

Anyone could see the road that they walked on

is paved with gold

And it's always summer

They'll never get cold,

They'll never get hungry

They'll never get old and gray;

You can see the shadows

Wandering off somewhere.

They won't make home

but they don't care,

They wanted the highway

They're happier there today.

The children woke up

and they couldn't find 'em

They left before the sun came up that day;

They just drove off and left it all behind them

But, where were they going

Without ever knowing the way.

Explanation of our Title

I thought that I would try writing a blog and get into the vernacular of this century. I still don't know what a twitter is!

It was only going to be an try-out and when I had to set up a home page I was at a loss for a title. Without a lot of thought I typed in a first,temporary title.

What made me think of "Wind At Our Backs"?

After 14 years of full-timing and travels and living a very different lifestyle, it is time to reflect.

We started out by putting many of our belongings in storage,where we would retrieve them in 3 or 4 years. We loaded our small motorhome with what we needed and hit the road.

Friends and family either admired us or thought we were out of our minds. No home, no home base, no plans for the future. With heads down and determination we knew that this was something we had both looked forward to. You might compare it to setting sail into a head wind.

Each year was a new adventure.

New highways and places to explore. New friends along the way. From cities along the thruways to small towns and villages on the backroads. We followed the sunshine and the warmth. We have stayed in luxury resorts and boondocked in the desert. Parked on the beaches and stayed in the deep woods. We've changed motorhomes and left the furniture in storage. We added a pet named Pixie and when our Zack no longer travelled with us, we added our newest dog, JJ.

The winds began to change. Life on the road became easier. Saying goodbye to our family was not as difficult.The wind had shifted to our backs and were pushing us along to places we had only dreamed of. We travelled from ocean to ocean.We saw mountains and plains, canyons and broad rivers. We've been across Canada,visited most of the United States and spent time in Mexico.

We hope that those who doubted our adventure all those years ago,now admire and envy us.

The wind is blowing today and the wind will blow next spring, next year and the year after that. It is now at our backs,taking us wherever it blows!

A Global Experience

Our friend Ed received a most unusual Christmas gift. It was a 3-D jigsaw puzzle. He took one look at it and passed it to me.My sister Carolyn,my friend Jan Hounsome and I love to work on jigsaw puzzles.The puzzle was set aside until we had some cool weather and could work indoors.

I took the puzzle to Carolyn's on Thurs. and the fun began.

The finished puzzle is a 9 in. globe on a stand.

Carolyn and I knew we were in for a great geography lesson or a mathematical equation.The 540 pieces were plastic and snapped together very tightly. Each piece was also numbered and a directional arrow on the inside of each shaped piece. We started at 1:00 PM with Antarctica and slowly worked north.We worked in a circular direction, piece by piece. Eventually Jan joined us to contribute her pieces. As we began to reach the Arctic, the space became very crowded and needed one person to finish.

At 3:00 Carolyn was able to put the last piece,Finland into place.We joked with Pertti about the last piece being stubborn and difficult to fit in.

Pertti put the frame together and by 4:00 PM we had our completed globe. A few uneven pieces that didn't snap together evenly gave the appearance of waves or mountains or perhaps a slight earthquake (our excuse).

Friday morning we presented it to Ed and it now sits on his desk.

A not too perfect globe,but what an accomplishment!

Late Addition

I tried entering this in yesterday's blog,but I'm a slow learner and can only do one step at a time.Give me a little time and I may catch on to blogging.

A Bucketlist

Have you made your bucketlist? It was the topic of conversation at Carolyn and Pertti's this afternoon.Cousin Pat (Thirkill) Sitko and her husband Dave were part of this discussion. Some may call it "goals of their lives", but when you reach your sixties and seventies it's referred to a "bucketlist". You know that old expression about "kicking the bucket"'when you pass on from this place on earth. Bob has started checking off a few items on his list. One of his ambitions was to fly in a glider and he was thrilled with his silent glide through the sky. Last week he added another check beside something on his list. What's on your list? Should I be worried?

And So It Begins

This will be a trial run as I have no idea what I am doing. The age of fun computer communication is way beyond my knowledge. So,Sue tell me if I have at least made a beginning of a blog.