Merry Christmas to you and your family and may this find you with love, peace and in good health.

Manuel and I are still in awe that our home in Hilton Head sold so quickly! 3 weeks must certainly qualify for some kind of record! It's hard to believe the move is behind us and that we are now residents of the state of Tennessee. We have come to appreciate the seasonal changes here compared to what were accustomed to on the east coast. We had a comparably mild summer here at the lake and the fall was remarkable.

The new house, appropriately named, Firefly Cottage, is by now home and we are enjoying the process of making it our own. It's charm and coziness is what we have always wanted in a retirement home and having the lake in our own backyard is a dream realized. We spent the summer on a small boat we bought learning to navigate as much of Tim's Ford Lake as possible. The lake's 35 mile length, 250 miles of shoreline and up to 100' depth have made for exciting adventures. Manuel and I have become adequate boat drivers although we're both still working on the “docking” process, some days are better than others:-)

Manuel, is living an enriched life here in Tennessee, working in his new workshop in the basement, doing projects, enjoying the Air Force Academy’s success in football this year, walking, and reading to his hearts content! He is entertaining the idea of painting again. His beautiful landscapes of life in Colorado are displayed in our home. Together, we have been exploring nearby towns, old mills, and chipping away at a long list of historic sites we still want to explore.

I am still trying to find my place since retirement. There is rarely an idle moment as I spend time on the house enjoying various projects. I have also been working on my blog and photography. Both can be seen at thehappycardinal@gmail.com I love being closer to my sister, Nadine, and her family, who live nearby; it’s truly a dream come true. While I'm working on the idea of learning to “just doing nothing”, Manuel and I are beginning to come to terms with the idea that it may never happen, although, I have enjoyed reading more, walking, and I'm humming a lot.

Country life is a simple life. The natural rustic beauty of this part of Tennessee is breathtaking and Manuel and I refer to it as God's Country. Our street is quiet most of the time as many of the homes on the lake are second homes for those not yet retired. Our town, Estill Springs/Winchester, is approximately half way between Chattanooga and Nashville, 120 minutes in either direction.

Our son, Aria, still loves life in Santa Cruz, California where he works as an organic grocery store manager, plays and writes music and poetry, and is attending college taking music theory and poetry classes. He will be home for Christmas with his girlfriend, Nina, and we are so excited for them to see the new cottage for the first time.

Our daughters, Nadia, and Natasha, are taking a bite out of the Big Apple and share an apartment in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Both girls are gainfully employed in the city and enjoying the many adventures it has to offer. We were thrilled that they were able to be here for Thanksgiving and that they will also be joining us for Christmas. They love the cottage and the “coziness” it offers them and are very excited about spending summer vacations here on the lake.

Alex and Opal, now two years old, are enjoying country life and their newly fenced backyard where they are able to romp and play. They continue to be spoiled rotten canines.

Manuel and I wish you and your family the best of health, peace and a happy 2015. We welcome you to visit our little piece of Heaven, whether it's a destination vacation or you are just passing through. You are always welcome.

Much love,

Kim and Manuel