Season's Greetings To All

  Merry Christmas To All

Since it is that time of year we begin to wish everyone the best of the holidays, any Season's Greetings and Merry Christmas messages that come the group's way via e-mail can also be posted to the blog.  (You don't have to send any directly to me...I'll pick the message and image up directly from e-mail.)

I received these two lovely photos from Barry and Bonnie in Belleville this morning.  We'll use their wonderful report as a fine "kick start" to the season.

Here is Barry's message my way.  "Hi Mike, I know you are intersted in "special projects" and figured you might like to share this one.  The HoN3 train, buildings and accessories were all Thomas Kincaid, whom we once met in the US many years ago. " 

"It had been in boxes since we moved here, and unfortunately, I didn't have time to wire all the lights again, but we thought since there won't be any family visiting this year (the first time since 1977, when we moved back east from Calgary), it would be nice to share, at least this way.  Merry Christmas, Barry and Bonnie."

Thank you so much, Barry and Bonnie!

That's Bonnie to the right in her beautiful garden taking lunch orders with Noel and Johnny Chuff Chuff during the special summer visit to their home in Belleville.

Here's Barry seated to the left enjoying friendship with Marcel while Bonnie is spotted on the upper deck to the right.

Image of three trains taken in Jasper Alberta while on a family holiday back in 2005.

"Our train, "The Canadian" is to the left, a CN freight train is entering the yard to the left and in the distance you see the Rocky Mountaineer...a perfect trifecta in my books!"  Mike tells us.

Mike and Lisa with daughter, Alison and our Governor General David Johnston.  (Alison has worked at Rideau Hall for the past few years.)

"We attended a special book signing (book entitled...Trust) with this wonderful Canadian!"

I couldn't resist having fun with my editing software as I "doctored" up this image I took while out train running with the gang in December of 2015.  (The 12th day of the 12th month of that year!)

Seasons Greetings From Chris

Yes, 2021 is just around the corner, and I’m sure most will not be sad to leave 2020 behind. Wishing everyone all the best for the holiday season and the new year. 

Seasons Greetings From Chris

And just so you don’t get the impression I’ve abandoned large scale, here’s a shot taken under the Christmas tree. Unfortunately I seem to have misplaced one section of curved track, so the radius is a little tighter than usual this year, but it still runs okay!

We find Chris crewing with his son, Jonah, in this "father and son" team.

And...a fine crew they make!

Chris is along with his friend, Evert, in this image taken from 2018.

Andrew has sent along his Christmas greetings via the story above and the image below.  Thank you, Andrew, for your wonderful Christmas message.

And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:10-11). 

Dear Friends,

For all of you who will be celebrating this evening and tomorrow, I wish you and your families Peace, Joy, Happiness, and every Blessing from above!

For all of you who will be celebrating this evening and tomorrow, I wish you and your families Peace, Joy, Happiness, and every Blessing from above!

As we say in the Byzantine tradition: Christ is Born! Glorify Him!

(Fr.) Andrew T. Onuferko

Again, thank you, Father Onuferko, for your lovely message to the group!  May the masked bandit above be able to remove his mask in a safe manner next season!

Merry Christmas to all!

Mike Hamer, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada