HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2017-12-21, Page 11THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2017. PAGE 11.
Christmas is a musical time for the Mitchells
Emily Cousins in Brussels when he
was a young boy. He still plays to
this day after first picking up the
instrument when he was about eight
years old.
This came about two years after he
had started piano lessons and then
moved on to the violin.
He said that he and his family's
musical inclinations usually
manifest themselves year-round,
whether it be at other family
gatherings, the annual reunion of the
Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby
Association or at different
jamborees in Huron County or its
neighbouring communities.
Around Christmas, however, it's
certainly part of the family's
tradition for everyone to get out their
favourite musical instrument and
make music together — sometimes
Christmas music and sometimes
not — but it has proven over the years
to be a powerful bonding experience
with the Mitchell family.
As for the Christmas holidays,
Mitchell says he always remembers
an emphasis on getting together with
family around the tail -end of
December.
On Christmas Eve, he said,
everyone would always be together
and they would play board games
with one another. That has
Continued on page 12
S,ec6wt'6, quetinv,
to all my valued
friends and customers
Getting together
Christmas can mean many things for the Mitchell family. For one, Jamie, right, always thinks
about music with his grandmother and family around the holidays, but it's really all about being
together. From left: Jamie's brother Rob, Rob's wife Tammy, Jamie's sister Mandy, her husband
Derek Dimaline and (a slightly younger) Jamie. (Photo submitted)
By Shawn Loughlin
Armstrong The Citizen
lauded for
cooking
Continued from page 10
staggers the times on the clocks to
make them go off consecutively, on
the hour.
"We get three clocks chiming one
after the other," she said. "The
grandchildren love it. It's a funny
little thing we love to do"
Another tradition includes a small
ornament that Elaine received when
working at University Hospital.
"I received a bird from a co-
worker there a number of years
ago," she said.
The bird was usually hidden on
the tree or somewhere throughout
the house to startle the children and
grandchildren, however recently, as
part of putting the tree up, Laura has
been hiding it.
"She takes the bird and puts it
somewhere to give me kind of a
start," she said. "It's not always in
the tree. Last year, she put it in a
wreath and I must have looked at it
half a dozen times before I
recognized it."
Elaine said these practices are to
honour the past.
She pointed to a table that her
grandfather had made for her
grandmother that now hosts items
from her grandchildren and recipes
that are part of Christmas that have
been passed down through families.
Her family, for example, loves
pickles, especially those she makes
with her mother-in-law's recipe.
As for specific celebrations,
Elaine's family, the Jacklins from
the Molesworth area, celebrate on
Christmas Day, while Boxing Day
marks the Armstrong family
Christmas.
"Depending on the day, we may
feed between 25 to 40 people," she
said.
All the cooking is worthwhile,
however, as she said her
grandchildren love her cooking,
earning her accolades like "number
one cook."
Jamie Mitchell, the young
president of the Brussels Branch of
the Royal Canadian Legion, says
that Christmas with his family has
always been quite a musical affair.
Jamie's grandmother was the one
who first introduced him to playing
the violin, but then he'd go on to
take professional piano lessons from
MERRY
CHRISTMAS
Thank you to my
customers for their
business throughout the
year. Best Wishes for a
great 2018.
Carter's
AL
O O Y
`Collision. Restoration. Detailing
Carter Cloakey
Licensed Technician
Owner & Operator
84561 Clegg Line, Brussels
519-440-2252
306 Josephine St., Wingham
519-357-3894
Wishing you and your family our warmest regards
and best wishes for a safe and happy holiday season.
From all of us at Huron Tractor
HOLIDAY HOURS
Saturday December 23rd - Open till Noon
Monday December 25th - Closed
Tuesday December 26th - Closed
Monday, January 1st - Closed
Visit Huron Tractor today for a great selection
of toys for the kids and the kid in you!
HuronTractor.com 1 BLYTH I 216 Blyth Rd. 1519-523-4244
® JOHN DEERE
Lit HURON TRACTOR
Greetings from the Municipality of Morris-Turnberry
Back row, from left: Dorothy Kelly, Jim Nelemans, John Smuck, Sharen Zinn.
Front row: Clerk Nancy Michie, Mayor Paul Gowing, Deputy -Mayor Jamie Heffer.