A warm greeting to all of you from chilly Vermont! 

2022 has been an eventful year for us. We have a new grandchild, our first. Quentin Reed Bailey was born on Halloween. Quentin's parents, Dave and Natasha, continue to live in Seattle, where we are visiting them over the holiday break.

Dave, Heather, Melissa, Natasha, Steve and Quentin

We continue to enjoy living in Vermont. We volunteer at the Montpelier Food Pantry and lead hikes, kayaking and cross-country ski trips for the Green Mountain Club.  Heather teaches ESL and serves on the Montpelier Recreation Advisory Board.  Steve is on the Montpelier Tree Board and meets with a group for Italian conversation and study.

Leading a hike on Mt Elmore, VT

Our 5th annual hike to the ice falls on Laraway Mountain, on Vermont's Long Trail.

We have many Spanish-speaking friends here in Vermont. We often meet up with them to hike or snowshoe together.

In March we flew to El Paso where we met up with our good friends George and Lisa for some hiking.   Our first stop was in New Mexico at White Sands National Park.

We drove to Big Bend National Park, our first visit to this vast and remote area.

Lost Mine Trail in Big Bend National Park

Closed Canyon

In May, we met up with Dave, Natasha and Melissa in Taos, New Mexico.  It was the first time we were all together since before the pandemic. It was great to have everyone there for Mother's Day.

In May Steve had his 50th MIT reunion.  It was nice to see old friends after many years.

In July it was time for a trip to California.  We stayed with Heather's childhood friend Chris in San Francisco.  We walked the Golden Gate Bridge after sailing under it on July 4th.

We also attended Savannah's wedding in the Napa Valley.  She was one of our Peace Corps colleagues, and there were lots of other Peace Corps people there too.

We returned from California just in time to head out to the Adirondacks, where we shared a house on Upper Saranac Lake with two other couples.  We enjoyed lots of paddling and swimming.

Relaxing on the dock after a day of kayaking

Back in Vermont, we camped at three different state parks

Green River Reservoir State Park - canoe camping

Brighton State Park in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont

In September we reunited with the Bailey brothers and their wives in Door County, Wisconsin.

After Wisconsin, it was off to Cape Cod for a visit with our friends Bob and Judith, who also served in the Peace Corps.  

Paddling the salt marshes kept us away from the sharks!

We try to be always at home for foliage season in October.  This year it did not disappoint!

Bobo visited us from New Jersey.

Also in October, our daughter Melissa stopped by on her way to England. We dropped her off at the Montreal airport after spending a lovely sunny day at Mount Royal Park.

They have colorful foliage here, too!

Best wishes for a happy and healthy 2023!  

Love, Steve and Heather