"The true light of Christmas still shines in seeking hearts"
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 Greetings, Friends –

Another year, and another year-end wrap up from Don and Colleen!  This is a summary for us to share as well as for us to look back ourselves as the years pass. 

In lieu of Facebook, come share our year in text and pictures.

 Where did 2015 go?  Our West Coast buddy, Charlie Burton, has a theory that as you age, each successive day or week gone from your life represents a more significant percentage of the time you have left, and because you are now more keenly aware of your likely remaining time, time's passing feels accelerated. It rather makes sense to us: the days do fly by now that so many are behind us with fewer ahead. 

And when you look back on 2015, you have to question: What is happening to our world? 

This was a Year of Transfixing Images: the drowned refugees, the relentless waves of asylum-seeking migrants overwhelming Europe, beleaguered EU politicians trying to do the right thing, emboldened extremists, knifings in Israel, murder in the streets of Paris. 

 

Lesbos, Greece, when we were there in 2013

Lesbos, Greece, 2015

The immediacy of CNN and the internet have, in just a handful of years, numbed us to the relentless onslaught of tragedies.

These two media formats sensationalize endlessly the bad news – inspiring copy-cats, of course – while underplaying uplifting stories, and we are forced to live the consequence.  It was reported that the USA now suffers 300+ mass killings per year.  Are we into the beginning of the end of Civilization?  We can only hope that we and future generations can find a way forward out of this plight.

 

Despite this, for the Frasers, it was another wonderful, joyous, celebration-of-life year.  We are so blessed and thankful. 

In 2015 - depending how you are willing to look at it - we simplified our lives: no international travel, no massive itinerary planning, no cruises.  Instead, however, we started the year by making a real estate investment in a small house in Palm Desert, California, two hours inland from both Los Angeles and San Diego. 

 

We have been spending several weeks each winter in Palm Desert for the past 11 years, through the Marriott time-share ownership world supplemented by rentals.

Life, however, is short and we decided it was time for longer California stays – and in accommodation where we could bring any pets we had – in this case, our feline, Zorro - and for that particular complication, there are not many accommodation solutions.

Palm Desert is one of the 4 desert cities that have grown out adjacent to that renowned winter Mecca, Palm Springs.  November through April in this part of the world is hard to beat.  The weather is perfect every day, and just seeing a cloud is noteworthy and a cause for concern. 

 
Our little house was a true fixer-upper, but it came with a million dollar view on a golf course, so we rolled up our sleeves and did, with skilled contractors, the fixing, between January and April.  Lots of hard work, but very rewarding, and this winter ahead should be far more relaxing. 

First , there was the fun of furnishing a new, completely empty place! 

 

 

Then, there were the many renovation projects, among them:

 

A new roof was years overdue

Colleen hired a crane to move the A/C
temporarily off the roof

Moving walls

Installing a mural





Zorro guards the new "Mid-Century Modern" perimeter wall
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Lynn & Steve, San Diego

And finally, there were the visits from various friends from near and far. They were pleasant and welcomed breaks from the restoration work.





Sue & Jake, Ottawa



Barb & Stuart, Los Angeles







Vancouverites George & Margaret, who introduced
us to the Desert  way back in 2004



Selinda & Bernie, who drove the 2800 mi
from Ottawa, then back

Diane & Dave, Vancouver


 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Carrie, Ottawa

Carrie, the best mudder to be found

 















 

While Palm Desert does have a truly marvelous climate, with reliable non-stop sunshine – it is only for December to May; by July, it’s 115F. 

As the thermometer ratcheted upwards, we packed our things and departed our wonderful winter project in mid April, retreating eastward across the continent to Hilton Head, South Carolina for the next 4 weeks of the South’s lovely Springtime. 

We had to be certain the final traces of snow had left Ottawa, right?

 Other than the last half of December 2014, we completely missed the snow of Winter 2015.  What a treat!

 

 

 April: During our month in Hilton Head, we continued our Reno World Winter and upgraded the tired old kitchen vinyl floor to a much more appropriate large tile porcelain floor, with the assistance of another skilled and speedy craftsman.  We installed some pot lights in the living room, and Colleen found - in our neighborhood - a gorgeous used $3200 Jenn-Aire fridge which - for $150 - replaced the ageing energy hog that had been in the house likely for the 35 years since the house was built.  



An unwelcome resident of our distant lagoon

New HH floor


 

 

 



Hilton Head living room

Sharing a laugh with HH friend Lisa




We spent the summer at our inherited Greer (Colleen's maiden name) family cottage where we are the sole inhabitants of a delightful 1 acre island on Christie Lake, one of a hundred lakes in eastern Ontario, 50 miles from our Ottawa house.  And what a beautiful summer it was this year in Ontario – it’s been a while since that happened – and the Fall was even better, so we stayed from mid-June until mid-October – a full month longer than usual. 

Catch, drive, recover, catch, drive,, recover ...

 

Our island sanctuary



Hide and seek with Zorro

Aquanauts Sue and Jake, coming ashore
for refreshments

Don moved TONS of quarry stone
 for 3 raised garden beds






On August 1, our realtor, friend and neighbor in Palm Desert called to report that a small tornado had roared down our street, laying waste to several roofs, pieces of homes, many telephone poles and some 60% of the deciduous trees in the area.  It was, more accurately, a “microburst” for you meteorologists out there – which is a severe downdraft creating high wind sheer and high wind speed for a few seconds, usually followed by intense rain. Being 8 miles from the San Andreas Fault, we perpetually expect an earthquake – the Big One – but instead we received a tornado.

It was all over in 10 minutes

Neighbor Ron dwarfed by 75 year old storm victim

 We have determined that our house must have been near the eye of the downdraft; we suffered only some roof minor damage and a blown over small tree, while our neighbors across the street were hit so badly that they had to relocate for 2 months,  and further down the street a small condo complex was flattened.   Others, we've heard, are still out 5 months later.


Power was mostly restored within 24 hours - though much longer for some who had broken poles and hydro lines ripped right out of their homes - which meant no A/C during the season of 115F degree days.

 

While this incident and its aftermath caused us much angst, our insurer kicked in (after serious intervention by Colleen – yet another story…) and all is well for us.

In the end, we did not have to fly west to oversee repairs. Colleen screened roofers from the comfort of the cottage, and our helpful friend, Ron, oversaw the on site coordination. 

 

The respectable Giffin Gang, minus the photographer

Life resumed at the cottage.  In August, the Giffin Gang reunited for the 32nd (?) successive year, this time in Kingston, Ontario.  And for another year, there was too much wonderful food and beverage consumed.











On the St Lawrence R: mighty Ivy Lea Bridge links Canada - US

September, we broke free from the island to sightsee a famous, nearby locale.  With cottage friends, Diane and Brooke, we journeyed out for a day trip to the world renowned St Lawrence River’s 1000 Islands area and did the scenic boat cruise among the Islands.



The main stop was at the US heritage site, Boldt Castle, a summer mansion of the turn of the century magnate proprietor of the Waldorf Astoria - until his wife suddenly died, and he abandoned it, 80% finished.  A recommended trip.

 

New occupants of Boldt Castle (not exactly as illustrated)

With Diane & Brooke at The Opinicon

Spectacular Fall foliage at Christie L

 
 

 

 

 



Colleen & her Dad say
goodbye to his old car

During the summer, we also saw our second car, originally Colleen's Dad, Lloyd's, reach the end of its useful and safe time with us.  And this is newsworthy, because this was a 1983 Olds Delta 88 - not a restoration, just a workhorse I took to work for years, then back and forth to the cottage.  It was 33 years old!  We got our money's worth, we think.


With friend Shawn as we bid adieu






More classic Fall colors at the lake, this year.

 



Backyard view in Hilton Head

As many of you know, we do not really stay “home” in Ottawa very much anymore.  We keep well occupied with our vacation rental business, but using omnipresent internet, we can manage the bookings for  Hilton Head and Victoria, and most of the rest of our day to day lives, from wherever we are. 

However, the properties always need maintenance and upgrading.  Accordingly, soon after closing the cottage, we set out for a few weeks in Hilton Head again.



Another sunset: this time Hilton Head

Since there were still renters in the house, we scheduled our first week 4 miles away from the house at a wonderful, restful Marriott timeshare property on Hilton Head Island, called Surf  Watch.  We have traded into it several times over the years.  It is beachfront, right on the Atlantic Ocean, and from there we would  venture out to visit and/or do lunch with friends on the Island – including our renters this time. 

 

Cruise buddies & frequent HH
dining partners, Ed & Eileen



Colleen racing on the miles of HH's
wide, hard-packed Atlantic beaches



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 





View from our Victoria condo

Now it is December, Christmas is here, and we are back in our exciting little house in Palm Desert for the winter. 

We stopped en route for 10 days in Victoria, BC, to check up on the condo and make some minor repairs.








Long time friend Charlie & family

While the rain in Victoria was too constant, we enjoyed the good company of old and new friends and revisited some of Victoria's haunts. This is certainly a city worth visiting where many more stay-at-home Canadian tourists than usual are venturing this winter  because of the vanishing buying power of the CAD$.



Victoria-based cruise buddies Alec & Linda

Vancouver friend Christy visits us
at the cond



 

Our first outside Christmas tree

In Palm Desert, some neighboring homes are still under repair, but the seasonal lights and spirit are all around us. 

And in that spirit, earlier this week, we reached back into the past 43 years, and phoned Don’s graduate school supervisor to touch base.  Retired plant physiologist, Tony Bidwell, at 88, still plays the piano, walks 4 km a day, and bikes.  Bravo, what an example to us all. 

 

We lost 3 friends and acquaintances this year, a shock which startles you.  So, seize life!

We are glad to count you amongst our friends, so take care of yourselves and do please continue to make contact with us.

Warm regards,

Don and Colleen

Clockwise in Toronto: Don's Aunt Daph,
 Friend Fran, Mother Doreen, and sister Jan

Cruising Palm Desert with friend Ron





More street cruising

I don't do BROWN !

Cottage sunset

Palm Desert moon



Starry night Christie Lake evening fire







Another day at the office...

 

Prettiest birthday bike

What water shortage in California?

Christie Lake boating

Palm Desert house patio



Merry Christmas !



 

Colleen on a major birthday



 

And lastly, this year's inspirational YouTube video. Just think for a moment on the accumulated generations of human knowledge needed to compile and present this complex

 Christmas carol sound:

 

click here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIGpydEwwes

For several years, in the 2000's, we went "pub caroling" in Ottawa around Christmas to attempt to sing like this- which the addition of pub beer impeded - and this carol was a favorite.  We unfortunately can't locate this activity where we are in California.

Turn up your volume - and join in !

 

Lyrics

 

1. While shepherds watch'd their flocks by night,

All seated on the ground,

The angel of the Lord came down,

And glory shone around.

And glory shone around

The angel of the Lord came down,

And glory shone around.

 

2. "Fear not," said he, (for mighty dread

Had seized their troubled mind);

"Glad tidings of great joy I bring

To you and all mankind

To you and all mankind

Glad tidings of great joy I bring

To you and all mankind."

 

3. "To you, in David's town this day,

Is born of David's line

The Savior who is Christ the Lord,

And this shall be the sign

And this shall be the sign

The Savior who is Christ the Lord,

And this shall be the sign:

 

4.  The heav'nly Babe you there shall find

To human view displayed,

All meanly wrapped in swathing bands,

And in a manger laid

And in a manger laid

All meanly wrapped in swathing bands,

And in a manger laid."

 

5. Thus spake the seraph, and forthwith

Appeared a shining throng

Of angels praising God, who thus

Addressed their joyful song

Addressed their joyful song

Of angels praising God, who thus

Addressed their joyful song:

 

6.  "All glory be to God on high

And on the earth be peace.

Goodwill henceforth from heaven to men

Begin and never cease

Begin and never cease

Goodwill henceforth from heaven to men

Begin and never cease."

 

 

Text: Nahum Tate, 1652-1715; based on Luke 2:8-14

Music: Daniel Read 1795

 

 

If you are REALLY into this, here's the sheet music:

 http://www1.cpdl.org/wiki/images/sheet/read-she.pdf