1998 was a year of many changes for us. The biggest being our move to another city in Ontario. We still get excited on Sunday nights when we realize that we live here and don't have to go home. Al built a deck across the end of the house and a raised walkway along the other side. He and Kim's fella, Chris, also built a wonderful little bridge in the Japanese style across the creek that runs beside our home. We're looking for a little Troll to live under it.

Our house fronts onto a river which flows through the city. You're supposed to be able to walk across the river but I'm not going to test that theory as I've seen the snapping turtles in there. You always know when ones about because the geese sound the alarm. Across the river is a bird sanctuary and beside the park is a conservation area. It's so peaceful the loudest noise we hear is the geese honking .

During the summer we watched families of Canada geese raising their babies. There are at least 200 who have stayed during the winter, not to mention a few loons and lots of ducks. There is a rabbit who lives close. We've not seen him yet but we see his tracks up our ramp across the deck and back down the other side.

Blue Herons often stop to feed across from us and fish jump leaving ever- widening rings in the calm river water. Al has seen deer many times when he gets up for work. Goldfinches drink and bathe in the creek outside my window.

There are mink playing along the shore and beavers swimming down the river. They built a dam upstream from here. Al and I feed peanuts to the chipmunk who lives beneath our ramp.

I can't wait until the spring when we can start our planter for the front of the house. The most fun is when you transfer months of planning on paper into the real thing. It's like having your project come to life. I promise I'll include pictures soon.