We wish you all good health and happiness as we bring 2021 to a close and welcome in the New Year ahead. 

In 2021, we moved to a new home. A big upgrade from 900 square feet to 2200. We’ve also made some improvements in the first 6 months and it’s really starting to feel like our own. We enjoyed the transformation, with only one or two occasional construction hiccups along the way.

We had the privilege of working with Gavin’s cousin, Christian Neary, who fabricated and delivered a beautiful dining room table for us in the Summer, and later in the Fall crafted and installed an outstanding “single stringer” staircase. His skill has blown us away and we are proud to have such beautiful statements in our home.

We are now on month 7 and can rest comfortably knowing that the efforts of the Spring and Summer have paid off, so that we can retreat to our cozy oasis and even begin to plot out future Spring and Summer plans and the planting season.

We have a shortlist for next projects including a greenhouse extension of the 2-car garage(already got the foundation and frame), an upstairs bathroom renovation(ordered the tub) and perhaps a custom built pergola by Gavin(just daydreaming) on the side porch/patio area.

In November, we were thrilled to have Lily’s grandparents, Jerry and Lucy come and stay a week, as well as host a Thanksgiving dinner which Gavin’s parents were able to attend.

We were able to show everyone one of our favorite hikes at Peach Hill Park. It’s a former orchard and the trees, at least 50 years in age, grow proudly and abundantly giving us more apples in the past few months than we’ve been able to keep up with! It is by far our favorite place to get away, enjoy a small picnic or just to lose yourself in nature. 

Perhaps one of the most adorable updates is that our dear Maddy (dog) and Lucy (cat) have some new funny friends to observe! Please welcome our new flock: Ducks and Chickens! 

The ducks were adopted at only 3 weeks old in September, making them now just over 3 months old. And they’re huge – pekin ducks are one of the largest breeds. Their names are: Dotty, Littles, Chunks and Gus Gus. We have yet to confirm all of their genders – but we do know Chunks has recently developed his drake feather. The Chickens were a more recent adoption in early November, and they are: Doris, Caroline and Ninja(formerly known as Helen). 

All three chicken hens are laying eggs, which will never cease to amaze and delight when we go to their coop to find one or two treasures every morning! And the ducks are anticipated to lay in the Spring. Duck eggs are known to be fabulous for baking and pasta dough! 

We also added a new addition to the smaller coop we bought. The new arbor-based home made it a little easier to muck as they grew bigger and bigger. And the chickens then transferred to the pre-made coop.

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS

After our vaccination status was made possible in Spring of 2021, we looked to book a trip to the EU to share ‘a getaway’. We were welcomed warmly by our dear friends Wesley and Jenna, who live in Amsterdam. We had a phenomenal time biking around, exploring, eating and devouring the city and the outskirts towns and farms. We were able to visit museums, make new friends, and try our hand at speaking Dutch!

There were a few defining experiences in Amsterdam that left a deep impression on Gavin and me. The first being the bikes. There are MORE BIKES THAN PEOPLE in Amsterdam. Our bodies thanked us after a long day of exploring. And because there are less cars, the city is much quieter.

We biked to Muiden Castle (Muiderslot) which took just over one hour. The breathtaking castle on the canal and sculpted gardens left you with a sense of calm and upkeep. 

The second part of trip included a dinner of a lifetime. We were invited to join a private group on an island just outside of Amsterdam, called Vuurtoreneiland. The ferry took about an hour and included a light picnic and drinks, and we were awestruck by the beauty upon our landing. The island, literally made during WWII as a bunker post, had been converted to a beautiful cottage, outdoor pavilion where they cooked and served our meal, and with an iconic lighthouse standing guard at the opposite island corner. The bunkers had been modified to become the indoor restaurant, where we learned they serve meals in the winter. And part of the old bunkers were wine cellars. The whole scene became perfectly idyllic once the fuzzy white and black sheep flock came and galloped past just before sunset. 

We also visited our friends Adam and Betsy in Marblehead, Massachusetts. The visit was just what we needed – a time to rest, reflect and enjoy heartfelt conversation.

Our hobbies continue to provide resilience and a break from zoom fatigue. Gavin has been reading graphic novels, baking, brewing, golfing and also recently started karate thanks to a generous birthday gift from his sister and Lily.

Lily’s hobbies includes reading novels, designing the gardens on our land and also of course gardening vegetables and flowers, building her dream greenhouse which involved cutting down several 40+ ft tall trees and spending quality time with friends. Most recently she is planning a hiking trip to Scotland which will take place in May of 2022! (details to come!)

Lily also turned 30 this year! She’s pretty happy about it and Gavin made a delicious 3-tier black forest cake which didn’t last long.

Career-wise, Gavin continues to grow his business at Person Consulting, and Lily continues to enjoy her role at Beacon Digital Marketing as the Director of Production. We continue to support our favorite organizations including Habitat for Humanity, ACLU, For The Many, Sparrow’s Nest, and God’s Love We Deliver.

We seek great blessings in the New Year for you and yours!

With love,

Lily & Gavin