Shelties an enduring part of our household

Indie, pictured here in a moment of repose, is the third in a line of Shelties to grace our household since 1990. We acquired Indie just five days after her predecessor, Reina, died in July 2007, as the result of a tumorous growth in her chest. The new addition to our family, who has similar coloration to Reina, was still a pup -- 5 1/2 months old -- when we found her. The photo was taken in December 2008, just before Indie frolicked in her first Portland snow storm.

Pass your mouse over Indie for a look at Reina.

Our first Sheltie, Bonnie, was 15 when she died of old age several years ago. We wish dogs lived longer.

See pix of our youngest granddaughter, Harriet Levi, and some friends taken by some really good photographers.

Grandson Alexander helping adorn one of his first Christmas trees can be found here. On the same page, check out the photos of our then new house before and after it was touched by snow.

And here's a travel bargain for the ages: Seven days at sea for only $21. Frequent stops at exotic ports to entice even the most jaded traveler. It's definitely economy class. but with all the money you save, you can do plenty of shopping ashore.  Click here for the lurid details, along with a pic of John and his fellow travelers.

50 colors -- count 'em -- on wall hanging embroi-dered by Kay

Three months of tough work on Christmas Island

Our son Johnny recently completed an  assignment  stripping  steel sheeting and asbestos insulation from abandoned "vessels," ominous looking structures that had been used in phosphate mining. It was tough, dangerous work. As compensation, he received triple his usual pay and all this expenses, travel and living, were covered. He wiped out all this family's debts and got a new motor for his boat. The island, an Australian holding, is in the Indian Ocean, about 1,600 miles from his home in Perth.

"It was also a chance to visit a tropical paradise on somebody else's dime," he says. He encountered some exotic creatures such as the big land crab shown circled on his shoulder. Click here for a further look Johnny's work and some catches on Christmas Island.

John has a long-standing interest in coin collecting. A recent addition is the 10-rouble piece shown here, from the bad old USSR. He has been forced by the wretched current economy to quit adding to the collection. Click on the image to see John's numismatic page.

His wife Kay does wonders with machine embroidery/knitting.  See some of her work by clicking here.

While you're here, check out Kay's  Christmas village, which she created in our living rooms in Chula Vista and Portland.

The Europe page features highlights of John's trip a while ago to Italy, Austria, Britain and Germany.