2016

Best wishes to you and yours this holiday season! 2016 has been an interesting year to say the least but we hope that you are in good health and spirits. As always, we stay pretty busy, but do take a little time to smell the roses now and again.

Our year started with helping Anna’s mother, Marie, move to a house that is just down the road from us. There was much work to be done in getting the new place ready for Mom, and the old one on the market, and Mom is still settling in. We’re so glad to have Mom close by!

Over the summer we had a wonderful road trip that started with friends in Baltimore, MD and ended with the Sterling Renaissance Faire in Sterling, NY. We got to spend time with many friends, visit breweries and brew pubs, and go to a new-to-us Faire just for the fun of it. Anna got some time in the studio with Master Tessem, and she may have helped rescue a colt while visiting Hanover Shoe Farm. Most importantly was getting to spend quality time with folks that we don’t get to see nearly enough.

Medical care was a recurring theme this year. Anna underwent a heart catheterization in the spring (turned out to be a false alarm), and in August had surgery to repair a torn meniscus. Luckily, Gregory is a fantastic nurse in addition to being an awesome husband.

Prancing Pony Pottery’s business continued to grow, with Anna’s pottery being carried in two local galleries and Master Tessem’s shop in addition to the other shows we attend. Both the VA and MD Renaissance Festivals continue to be great venues, and the (now) annual open house was well attended.

Gregory’s work from home gig is ending soon, and he in the process of transitioning to a new assignment. We’ll miss our lunches together, and Gregory will certainly miss his office days on the back porch, but we’re grateful that working from home lasted as long as it did.

Brodie and Duchess have recently ended up with a little brother of sorts. We rescued an Eastern Box Turtle in November, and he’ll be living with us for the winter since he is need of a little rehabilitation. Never a dull moment around our country home!