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The Citizen, 2016-12-22, Page 16PAGE 16.THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2016. Christmas the foundation of Redmond's green thumb An occasion to mark Karen Redmond of Auburn can look back to the Christmas holidays as the beginning of her green thumb roots that have led her all the way to the presidency of the Auburn Horticultural Society. (Shawn Loughlin photo) By Denny Scott The Citizen As family members grow up and strike out on their own, it has a permanent, lasting effect on how Christmas is spent and no one knows this better than parents. Karen Redmond of Auburn, for example, will be celebrating Christmas with her youngest son Markus and his wife Mandy as well as their two children, Tanner and Troy, in their home of Everton this year, which is a big change from when she celebrated with Markus and his brother Matthew. "All of a sudden, about seven years ago, my kids were no longer at home," she said. While Everton, which is near Guelph, certainly isn't around the corner, Matthew is in Fort McMurray, Alberta, and has been for nearly a decade, which means Christmas is kind of a floating target for the family. "We don't always have Matthew at home for Christmas," Karen said. "This year, he's only off for four days, and if he came home, that would mean two days flying and two days at home, so we're hoping to have him home at the end of January." Before the boys moved away, there was a pattern to things, Karen said. "We would go to Christmas Eve mass and then we would host the Redmond crew at my house on Christmas Eve," she said, saying there was a group of family members who would always be there to celebrate. The Redmonds used to alternate between a real and artifical tree, dependent on Karen's work schedule. "The years that I worked, we had an artificial tree," she said. "We did that for safety. The years I was off, it was a real tree. Sometimes we would buy our trees at the Auburn Co-op and other times we would go to a tree farm. Markus used to work at the co-op, and we bought it there then, he would drag it home from work." Christmas is spent with her family, the MacPhee family, enjoying time with family,and this year marks one she is extremely excited for. "I'm coming back from Everton to spend time with my family and we probably have 34 coming," she said. "We have four new babies in our extended family, so there will be seven children under the age of two at the MacPhee family Christmas. I'm so looking forward to all these little ones, and I'm really truly enjoying our next generation." The MacPhee family Christmas is all about family, Redmond said, whether that be blood relatives or adopted relatives, like Boris and Heather Dekker. "Boris moved to near the Goderich area when he came to Canada and visited my dad because Boris was a Volvo nut," she explained. "Dad asked if Boris could be here." At that point in time, Karen explained, Boris didn't have a girlfriend or family, so she welcomed him to the family Christmas. When he asked if he could bring anything, Karen said it wasn't necessary. "Then he showed up with a German chocolate cake," she said. "We had five teenage boys at the Christmas that year, and they were in awe of Boris for making this cake and sharing some of his heritage with us." Boris is about the same age as Karen's brother, 16 years younger than herself, so he quickly became an adopted brother. Now when he comes he brings Heather as well as their two girls Olivia and Anneka. "They're very much a part of our family Christmas," she said. "That goes back quite a few years." This year will be the first she hasn't attended church locally on Christmas Eve as she has traditionally gone to the Benmiller United Church (until it closed) and now to Goderich. Christmas has always been about tradition for Karen who said, when she was younger, baking was a big part of Christmas. "That has continued over the years," she said. "I worked with my mother and grandmother and I've done the same with the boys. Shortbread cookies are always a favourite They decorated the cookies. They each had a job and we would make the cookies as gifts and drop them off at the neighbours." Karen said she still does that, and looks forward to next year when her grandson Tanner will be able to help her with the cookies. As far as keeping the tradition alive, however, Matthew has already seen to that. "My son is making shortbread cookies out at Fort McMurray," she said. "He decided he could make my shortbread and has mastered them, right down to getting his own cookie press." She said the family likes to laugh about him making cookies, but he has really gotten the hang of making them and shares them around his work camp. "Whether he's home or not, he makes the shortbread cookies," he said. As far as other traditions, Karen said her mother always had handmade items, like new pajamas for the family, and she always makes carrot pudding. The sewing has also continued, said Karen, who is looking forward to making Advent stockings for her grandsons for next year. "I do like to sew," she said. "Digging in the dirt is my stress management, but I do like to sew." She said she has also started to learn how to quilt, though that has been put on the back burner due to other commitments right now. Christmas is also a time when Karen flexes her green thumb, preparing Christmas arrangements 45, Y.. Season's Greetings from the Huron County Museum! Looking for the perfect last minute holiday gift? Give a membership to the Huron County Museum! Receive special discounts, exclusive invitations and unlimited admission to the Huron County Museum, Historic Gaol and Marine Museum for one year. Membership cards can also be used for regular admission at Waterloo Region Museum, Grey Roots Museum and Archives, Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre and Simcoe County Museum. er Student or Senior - $30• Individual - $40 • Family - $60 110 North Street, Goderich ON 519-524-2686 Follow us on Facebook - www.facebook.com/huroncountymuseum to share with family and keep. "That's actually how I ended up being involved in the Auburn Horticultural Society," she said. "I would do the arrangements because I enjoyed doing that and, when I moved to Auburn, Maxine Seers was my next-door neighbour, and she watched me in my garden." Karen was quickly brought into the society, of which she is now the president, as well as being the secretary for District 8 of the Ontario Horticultural Society. She has also joined the preparations for the International Plowing Match 2017 in Walton as the landscaping chair. • ' • • Season's Greetings •from �•The Board and Staff of Blyth 14/19 Initiative CANADIAN CENTRE FOR RURAL CREATIVITY www.blyth1419.ca www.ruralcreativity.ca freeagfal CRAWFORD, MILL & DAVIES ROSS E. DAVIES, B.A., LL.B., U.L. CONOR T. O'KEEFE, B.A., B. Mgmt., LL.B. BARRISTERS & SOLICITORS Box 610 Lucknow, ON NOG 2H0 Tel: 519-528-2818 Fax: 519-528-2848 Box 100 Ripley, ON NOG 2R0 Tel: 519-395-2633 Fax: 519-395-4947 Box 1028 Wingham, ON NOG 2W0 Tel: 519-357-3630 Fax: 519-357-2798 Box 104 Brussels, ON NOG 1H0 _______Tel: 519-887-9491 Fax: 519-887-9148 391seivelrmafie Here's hoping lots of good times are on your holiday program. Wishing you the very best in 2017! MicroAge 'fir A$ffC$.. O/B BLUEWATER OFFICE EQUIPMENT LTD. 223 Huron Rd., Goderich 214 Josephine St., Wingham 746 Queen St., Kincardine 519-524-9863 519-357-1554 519-396-3274