MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Original four - Todd, Kirk, Laurel, Clare
December 2016

grown to 17:  Todd, Greg, Dawson, Eric, Alan, Jodi, Clare, Kirk, Carter

Laurel, Abbey, Elaine, Elly Clara, Lindsay, Shauna
Kristy, Jamie, Nora, Ashley

Greetings from SE 16 1 12, W of 2^nd. 2016 has been an exciting year on the Johnson homestead with the drilling of two oil wells on this quarter, one just west of the former Tenold School site and the other ¼ mile west.

We had an early Christmas with all 19 Johnson family members home for our gathering on Dec. 17 and 18. The 18^th also included taking part in Torquay's first “Winterfest” at the rink and community centre.

Torquay Skating Rink, "Winterfest"

Steak supper at Torquay Community Centre

Alan and I enjoyed several trips this year. In Feb. we flew to Yuma and spent two weeks, and my birthday, with cousins Myrna and Ernie Damm. In May we spent Alan's birthday in Minneapolis and took in three Blue Jay vs Twins games with Stagecoach Tours. In July we drove to Sparwood, BC and went to a cousin reunion on Alan's mother's side in Spokane, WA. Then we were off to Calgary and Edmonton and flew via Icelandair to Bergen, Norway. We took the bus to Førde and spent three weeks with Todd, Kristy, Nora and newborn Elly Clara. We also visited the Barsness area of Sogndal and the house where my great grandfather Peder Stenson was born in 1853. 

In Nov. we took another bus trip with Stagecoach and enjoyed a nine day trip to Branson, MO. We saw 11 shows in five and a half days.

We were blessed with good crops in this area, both in quantity and quality. Clare grew both red and green lentils, durum and flax.

We put in a small garden this year and want to increase the size next year. We were away in apple and chokecherry season so missed out on those.

2017 is our year for an Erickson reunion at Cypress Park, SK. The site is booked for July 22nd to 27^th. The Norwegians will be back next summer so we are looking forward to a special time together with extended family.

We were blessed with a good year health wise and are so thankful to be enjoying life together here on the farm. Visitors are always welcome!  We will be off to Calgary in early January to visit Alan's family - Derek, Jackie, JJ and Ben, Nancy, Trevor, Bram and Holly.

God's blessings to you and yours this Christmas season and in the new year.

Love from Elaine and Alan

Grandchildren: Dawson, Abbey, Carter, Jamie, Ashley, Nora, Elly Clara
Eric and Lindsay