It has been a very long time since I posted anything to this blog but I decided that I would check in at least once more.  Life for Felix and me has become very much a series of obsessive routines, mostly revolving around hiking.  We generally try to hike between 7 and 14 miles every day the weather permits and that I have the time.  This generally means 5 or 6 days a week.  Wednesdays rarely work out due to my standing bridge game in the afternoons.

Felix is now 3-1/2 and is at least as big a celebrity here in Asheville as Abner was.  Everywhere we go people want to experience an encounter with him and as long as they don't smoke and are respectful, I generally let them.  He is very tolerant (up to a point) of the attention and generally will make it clear when he has had enough.

My parents are doing well but a little more than a year ago, sold their home of 69 years and moved to an apartment in Carmel, IN.  It was quite an adjustment but to all appearances they are content in their new lives.  They still miss certain aspects of life in Fort Wayne, but they are now living very close to my youngest sister, and a couple of their grandchildren and great grandchildren so I think the trade off has been worth it.

I have gotten into the habit of doing a few road trips every year.  The long summer in California was a good one but it turns out that 4-1/2 months away from home was really more than I want to experience so I am now doing 1-3 week trips in the car with Felix to see friends, my parents, and sites I have wanted to visit.

Last winter, and into spring, we visited Boston, New York, the Laurel Highlands in Western PA (to see Wright's Fallingwater House) and Carmel to see my parents.  We also did a trip to Melbourne Beach FL to visit old friends at a house I designed for them almost 30 years ago and a trip to the Outer Banks of NC with my old friend Jim Sundquist.

All these pictures came from those trips.

The heavy tourist season is on hiatus in Asheville for about 10 weeks so we are generally just enjoying the town and our normal lives while everything is accessible.  We will probably also head North again sometime in late winter or early spring, as well, I hope, as another trip to Florida to see Ann and Bowers.

If anyone is still reading this blog, I hope you are well.  We are.  I will continue to check in here from time to time as I think there is something worth reading.