You might need to give this page a few seconds for all the photos to load...
Season's Greetings!
We are both doing really well and had lots of fun this year. We wanted to share our highlights with you so we're trying something new with a web page update in addition to Facebook, Instagram, etc. 
We hope the holiday season brings you laughter, joy, and good health. 
Much love, 
Betta and Thom

---

Betta had the opportunity to visit family in Italy and saw her cousins' growing families. She also went with her mom (Albertina), step-dad (Ike) and Aunt Nellina on an 8-day tour of Brittany and Normandy regions in France.

Over the months, from trips, hikes, visits, dinners, birthday parties and more, we had great times and got to catch up with lots of dear friends.

Great camping all over Colorado (often with our wonderful friends Gisela and Judy) in our trusty little camper, MOW (Moneypit On Wheels). Even one fateful trip that didn't happen because our truck broke down.

We had two fun getaways this year. Amelia Island, Florida, during Shrimp Fest was an unexpected gem with great food, wide empty beaches, and fun kayaking. We liked it so much we're going back in 2023. Also, a lovely week surrounded by the amazing art in Santa Fe, New Mexico with our first visit to Meow Wolf (thanks Christy and Tony for the tickets). 

Teva is still with us. At 12 and a half, those old shepherd hips are starting to give out so she can't do the long hikes anymore. She's a lot slower and is starting to lose her hearing, but she still brings us joy every day, goes camping with us and loves the road trips.

We got to hang out with Betta's side of the family this year. Betta's brother, Albert, his wife, Tamara, and our niece, Arielle, drove their camper up to Colorado and we met them at Fun Valley Campground near Southfork, Colorado. It was a great weekend escape! Games, inner tubing on the river, and driving over Wolf Creek Pass to enjoy the overlook into the valley beyond. And then we had a lovely visit from our niece Amber and her husband Jakob and 2-year-old Baby Jake. 

We had a fabulous time in Winona Lake, Indiana, for July 4th where we visited Thom's brother David and wife Michelle. We spent many happy hours on dear friend Mimi's boat.

We were fortunate to get to see and spend time with Thom's family on several occasions. We saw Bob and Doris (Thom's parents), Aunt Virginia and Thom's cousin, Kim, and Thom's brothers and their wives (James and Sawsan, David and Michelle).

Despite being slowed down by knee surgery and a slow ongoing recovery, Thom was able to get some artwork done this year. He's still showing his art at Art 1Eleven Gallery in Colorado Springs. We also got to meet one of our favorite artists, Sean O'Meallie, and take in his retrospective exhibit in Ft. Collins. 

We got out of our comfort zones and tried some new things

Betta faced her fear of water several times by riding an innertube on Winona Lake, Indiana, and giving a paddle board a spin at Jackson Lake State Park, Colorado. (Sorry, no photo of the paddleboarding, but here's one of Betta and Teva in Jackson Lake.) Thom tried cupping for the first time. This is where a massage therapist puts suction cups on your body to relax the muscles. It was a neat experience, but since Thom's skin is his kryptonite, the bruising was extensive, making him look like he had been attacked by a giant octopus. He might try it in a more localized way next time, to keep the bruising down to just a few places. We also got back on the wall, doing a wall yoga class that our friend, David Sweetman, teaches. This is kind of new, since we haven't done it since before Covid. Fun to get out there and "trust the straps."