Happy Birthday Janis

I first met Janis fifty-five years ago. She had just turned 16.

It quickly became apparent to me that Janis was special, quite unlike anyone I had ever met. She was super cute and extremely smart. She was very loyal to her family and loved by her friends.

As we began to spend more time together, I quickly saw and felt more of her qualities. As we became more serious, she made me feel cherished, wanted, and truly loved. She supported my dreams and encouraged me to be the best version of myself. The way she looked at me made me feel like the most special person in the world.

It wasn’t long until we began planning our future together. Her wisdom and insight helped guide us through life’s challenges as we learned to live together, start a family and build a business.

Through all of life’s challenges, Janis has been my confidant, my partner in crime, and my very best friend.  Her unwavering support gives me strength when I falter. Janis’ trust in me has fueled my self-confidence.

Janis has always made ordinary moments extraordinary with her presence. Her thoughtfulness in little things always surprises and delights me, and the warmth of her hugs instantly melts my worries away. Janis’ understanding and patience have taught me the true meaning of love.  The love we share has grown stronger with each passing year, and my life is immeasurably richer because she is a part of it.

Today is Janis’ birthday, and I wish her the absolute best!

One more day...

Three of the signs I am building for the Sign Invitational to be held in Las Vegas at the International Sign Association EXPO in March 2027 are nearing completion. These three pieces are for display in the sponsors’ booths as a thank-you for their support. ‘X’ marks the spot is for X-Edge tools, makers of the finest router bits and accessories. After I took this photo, I painted the first coat of metallic purple on the base. One more day should wrap up this piece. Stay tuned…

PIE!

Our family has a long tradition of gathering and working together to make apple pies each year. They are frozen and then enjoyed at family gatherings. The all time record is a whopping 60 pies. We used to make an annual trip to the Okanagan in late summer to get the fruit for this and other canning. About fifteen years ago we planted three Granvenstein apple trees in our yard. This old fashioned fruit has a tart flavour, and it is used as a cooking apple which is perfect for pies and apple sauce. The harvest from the trees is extra bountiful this year and this week it was time to begin our annual tradition. The grandkids have helped since they were very young and this year was no exception. Becke is the master of the homemade dough, Janis the expert mixer of the filling ingredients. My job is to peel the apples while Peter and the kids slice them up. Today, in a couple hours we made a dozen full sized pies and a couple of mini pies for the kids.