So much has happened since I last wrote.  Shelley’s father passed away the actual day of the last post, so that has presented us with many changes.  The holiday’s have come and gone.  It’s been very unusual not to see virtualy any of my family during the holidays as I have been in North Idaho since July of 2008.  I’m finding it very difficult to get back to Seattle.  One of my goals this year is to make a better attempt in visiting Seattle to see my family and friends more often.

I spent my birthday, November 5th, in Rapid City, South Dakota as I was there helping people to live healthier lives by breathing fresh air.  I regret to say I was only 12 miles from Mount Rushmore but never made it there to experience it.  I was blessed by SO MANY well wishes from people.  I had many Facebook Happy Birthday’s and over a handful of Happy Birthday songs and messages on my phones voicemail.  My daughter Lindsay sent me a care package with a DELICIOUS (albeit very sweet) marshmellow dessert she made and a picture of her and my other daughter Tabitha all in a hand made ”Keepsake Box” which I am now using as my Dream Makers box.  

My computer broke while I was there so I didn’t even get to SEE the Facebook birthday wishes until I got home!  I loved them all the same.  I didn’t necessarily like being away from home on my birthday BUT I knew Shelley had planned something quite fun for when I got back so that kept me going.

When I got back we went to Walla Walla, Washington (no need to repeat Washington, just the Walla) for a wine tasting weekend.  We stayed at the Hampton Inn and visited over ten wineries.  Washington is making some absolutely fabulous wines and we tasted some good ones.  Woodward Canyon, Basel Cellars, Gifford Hirlinger and Waterbrook Winery were just some of the wineries we visited and impressed us most.  We tasted nearly 50 wines!  Yum!

I am in the process of putting together a telesummit for people wanting to learn more about wine from square one so they aren’t so intimidated and that will be released by the end of October so they can put the information into practice during the holidays.  If you have any suggestions please e-mail me at aphilip369@aol.com with the subject line General Wine Thoughts Telesummit.

The holidays were a blur for me.  They came and went so swiftly.  I spent Thanksgiving without my daughters for the first time in many, many years (maybe ever?) but Shelley’s children came up from California with their significant others.  We actually spent it on Friday because of travel challenges on their part.  We took them up to Schweitzer Ski Resort which was the only place we could find snow for them

I was in Libby, Montana three seperate times in December.  Because of all the asbestos there are many people experiencing horrible breathing issues in Libby and I helped them clean up their homes with the Indoor Air Quality System I am selling and that made me feel very good.  Because I was in Libby so often I didn’t get a chance to really enjoy the Christmas Holidays or the decorations around the house.  I’m of the belief it’s all for a reason and I’m ok with that, just not again! 

We rang in the new year at some friends of ours that own Log Spirit Bed and Breakfast.  We had dinner and played games.  Very mellow.  Not like the Sahalie Ski Club days, for sure!  I will admit I sorely miss bringing in the new year with my friends at Sahalie.

Here is our front yard which is usually just grass. Now it's a lake!

Unlike the past two years here, the snow has been difficult to find.  The cold, however, isn’t.  It has been as low as ten below zero at times.  We’ve had lakes around our house, there has been so much water, and when it got THAT cold we had ice rinks.  I actually take the dogs out ice skating from time to time.  Honestly, it’s more for my own entertainment than it is for theirs!  Two years ago the last day there was snow on the ground was May 7th and last year it was April 7th.  There’s very little snow on the ground right now so maybe this year will be March 7th!

With the new year brings a new decade and a new start.  I have some aggressive goals I have made for myself.  Some are financial and others are just to spend more time with the people that mean so much to me, namely my daughters.  I am still very happy to help people live healthier in their homes, the only environment we can control.  If you are at all interested in more information about the indoor air quality system I am representing please e-mail me at aphilip369@aol.com with the subject line Indoor Air Quality System and we can set up a time for me to come by and show you this remarkable system.  Shelley is so impressed at how much cleaner it is around here she is actually telling people about it too!  Now THAT’S an endorsement!

Until next time, thank you for visiting Phil Anderson Enterprises, the home of all things Phil! 

Ciao for now,