Sue & Tim Metcalf 235 Cayuga Rd · Lake Orion, MI 48362 · (248)690-7192
December, 2024
As amazing as it seems, another year has flown by. Let’s look at the highlights. On Christmas in 2023 we were in Seattle once again. It’s always fun to spend time with Chris, Sarah and Slone. Sue and Tim took Slone to a stage adaptation of “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” It was a fun time. We also spent time at the Museum of Flight. In February we flew to Florida for our annual pilgrimage to the Miami Beach International Boat Show. We always enjoy this show. There are many companies there whose products interest us. We also had the chance to spend a couple of days with Tom and Sandy Wadsworth, close friends from Tim’s high school days. We enjoyed the chance to spend some time on the water and do some fishing. In March, The ClintRMint Company was back at the Michigan Horse Expo. Sue redesigned the booth again this year and it looked great. It’s always fun to meet the show visitors and ask them about the treats they feed their horses. Our boat went into the water in early May. This was our thirty-third season with “Insatiable.” This year, for the first time in several years, there were no major work projects to hold us up. We had an enjoyable season, sailing less than we might have liked, and no weekends away. In late July Chris, Sarah, and Slone joined us for a week. It was wonderful! Slone is seven years old now and is really a boy. He is still fascinated with all things space, loves playing with Legos, and enjoys sailing. He took riding lessons at Sue’s barn and seemed to enjoy it. We launched Estes rockets, including one that accepted an egg as a payload (the egg survived). We spent a weekend on our boat with them and went out onto the lake. We also visited Tim’s Mom. Seeing Slone always makes her happy. Tim’s Mom celebrated her ninety-fourth birthday in July. She still brightens up when family visits and loves to see the Slone photos that Tim brings on his monthly visits. Tim’s sister Jackie continues to take excellent care of her, and we are grateful for that. September was bittersweet for us. Our black male cat Nigel had been having health issues, and we made the difficult decision to have him put to sleep. He was fifteen years old and had lived a full life. We miss him. So does Bianca, our white female cat, who is without a companion (for the moment). October was a busy month. After we hauled the boat, Tim drove to Petoskey, Michigan, for the Salty Dawg Sailing Association ’s Midwest Rendezvous. The next weekend we flew to Annapolis for the Sailboat Show. We spent one day at the show and worked at the SDSA ’s booth the next day. On Saturday we visited the Smithsonian’s Udvar-Hazy Center at Dulles airport before returning home. At the end of the month, Tim spent a week in Hampton, Virginia, the last week before the SDSA Caribbean Rally. One hundred boats left, bound for Antigua and the Bahamas. Thankfully there were no major incidents this year. The pace didn’t slow in November. This year, for the first time, we were poll workers and worked both primaries and the general election. It was fun to be part of the process. Later in the month, Tim drove to Rochester, New York, to attend a Celebration of Life for our long-time sailmaker Steve Haarstick. While there he stayed with Sarah’s Mom Marsha, and her partner John. Sue’s businesses are doing very well. As we write this, she is in her busiest time of the year. She bakes ClintRMints every week and spends much of the rest of the week in her embroidery studio. We are impressed with everything she does! Tim’s business kept him “as busy as he wanted to be.” One of his projects was a total system upgrade for a delightful couple who are looking to go offshore next year. It was his biggest project yet. This year, for the fourth year in a row, we will be flying to Seattle for a week at Christmas. It will be fun, and we’re excited to spend some time with Chris, Sarah, and especially Slone. We wish you and yours a joyous holiday season and invite you to visit us if you are in our area.
Sue and Tim
Sue@SueMetcalf.net • Tim@TimMetcalf.net |