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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1974-12-19, Page 13�F 0 0 b 0 „ _.., n .•.+ .-,, .,, _._ y F'f f ?^tp'Ff"' F Rin,\\ s�:VW d, 10 f rs': "w,'� • ^ • � : i3 1 YLII''• A GINGERBREAD. HOUSE Mrs. Brend-qReid the large'dPessed=up gingerbread cookies. The Reid made this gingerbread house, complete with a Santa family, who live on Market Street, have had a "home on the roof for her,btrildren. Angela and Mark Reid made gingerbread house every year now for several are waiting for after Christmas when they can eat the years. (Staff Photo) house (there goes all mother's hard work) and also Christmas is homemade DELIGHTED WITH THEIR SLEIGH — Mark and Angie Reid admire their mother'g handiwork, a gingerbread sleigh with can4y cane runners. Behind the sleigh is a Santa Claus with a dried apple head. The sleigh sits on a patch work quilt that their mother made to mark Canada's Centennial in 1967. (Staff Photo) 1Tn a gingerDreaa nouse i A visit to Brenda Reid's house on Market Street is children (Jeff, the oldest is in school) and the lucky says. the art about a year ago and has decorated about 300 1 j 1Tn a gingerDreaa nouse A visit to Brenda Reid's house on Market Street is children (Jeff, the oldest is in school) and the lucky says. the art about a year ago and has decorated about 300 undecorated goose eggs cost $3 and ostrich eggs are a little like a visit to Santa's workshop. If Santa friends who have gotten them as gifts. The Wise Men are made by wrapping the material, since spring. She works with hen, duck and goose $15." Claus feels need of a number one helper in Brenda, who moved to Seaforth with her husband used to make plaster casts around large size pop eggs and paints ahem, trimming the outside shell Brenda's own decorated eggs sell for much less Seaforth, he coul'dn't get a better one than talented, Dave from Listowel last year, says it takes her about bottles, adding a styrofoam ball for a head and with ribbons and tiny pearls. The eggs have a hole than that. "No one who does crafts Rs in it for the energetic Brenda Reid. six or seven hours to make each house. She cuts a painting on faces and long, flowing gowns. cut in their side and some have doors attached with money," Brenda comments. "You really have to First of all it smells like Christmas, because pattern for the walls and roof from cardboard, bakes tiny hinges. Inside the eggs ate various tiny scenes. love what you are doing'becuase there is no way you Mrs.Reid has a pan of Christmas squares in the her gingerbread in that shape and then lets it sit Dolls. For Easter Brenda puts chicks inside pastel can charge for the time involved." oven. It looks like Christmas, -because there are overnight. The house is stuck together with a Brenda makes Holly Hobbie, and Raggedy Ann coloured eggs. For Christmas she has made quit" She. enjoyed teaching the craft course here, home made decorations all over the place. And you "glue" made of icing sugar and water. Then it is dolls and a couple of other stuffed. dolls of her own few dozens, especially decorated as Christnias tree Brenda says, but she would rather see a craft club in know it's Christmas when the two youngest Reid iced and decorated and is ready for "landscaping" design. One, who wears a tartan kilt and hat would ornaments. For one series she makes tiny, old operation. "Anyone who does a lot of crafts has as children, Mark 3 and Angela 2 offer to, show y ou and dis be ideal for Seaforth Centennial souvenirs. fashioned things --- a pot bellied stove and a rocking much to teach as 1 do and in a club everybody can their very own Christmas tree, set up in the family The Centennial next year, is another one of chair, for example, out of bread dough, and sets share methods and ideas". Brenda has an idea that room.g For the first time this year Brenda has also made a Brenda's concerns, She and Mrs. Elva Ellis are in them, with their appropriate trimmin s inside each a craft club could run a shop, perhaps in a historic P� P P gingerbread sleigh, which she decorated and filled charge of making some of the souvenirs for the event decorated egg. site like the Van Egmond House and sell their - Mrs. Reid makes all kinds of crafts. She has just 'teaching with hard candies. The sleigh Fomes complete with and they could use somt.help. Goose Egg homemade things there. Part of the proceeds could finished an arts and crafts course for the an apple head Santa, dolt. She has also made several It's good for people to get involved in Centennial She has one special goose egg that she is entering be donated to the house, rather than going to a Seaforth Recreation Department. Mrs. Reid, a large gingerbread men and women and has dressed planning, Brenda thinks. She offered to teach a in an egg show in Washington, which took her about commercial firm. self-taught artist, shows and sells her stuffed; dsils them in patchwork print clothes. sewing course in which women. could make their own 30 hours to decorate. This summer the Reid family Brenda and her husband really like living in and toys, corn husk and apple head dolls and Everywhere you look in the Reid's house'are long gowns and old fashioned bonnets for the camped in Maryland so that Brenda could take a • Seaforth. "it's veru much like Listowel before it got exquisite decorated eggs, at craft shows in the area. handicrafts, made by Brenda. The kids point things Centennial activities. But few people wete course at The Golden Egg, a store that sells egg so big", Brenda says. She says that it's friendly and The highlight of her Christmas preparations this out proudly saying"'niiy mommy made it!" The front interested and she ended up instead with orders decorating things exclusively. "It's hard to get just the right size. year is a gingerbread house. Iced in white and window features a patchwork wreath she designed from 36. people who want her to make them supplies in Canada and :l end up -mail ordering them Seaforth should be happy to have the Reids living decorated with tiny candies and gingerbread, and made and two brightly painted Wise Men. "1 Centennial dresses. from all ovet'iet'•piace"' Brenda says. here too. After all, it"s'about time Santa got a local cookies, the house is a favourite with her own three haven't had time to make the third yet",Brenda Another specialty is egg decorating. She learned "The cheat%st egg for sale in the.place is $90 helper! l;} 1R' M /�/' � A//y�ii �~' �i�'y?�__ �_ ^ ' _ ,/iii/ii � �� A�/��ilii �A' /Ii��i_ �\�� _ /ii/ice � �` �i/��ii�s_ _ J+�' /icy �,►: _ ./ii/�� � .,�✓` � •'y/�ii�� _�A' - iii/�� � �` � ��/.viii �!�' �^�t Remembering... _The heart goes home on Christmas Eve.' By W. G. Strong World.' Ye're in His succession. Be careful how ye of all things." Remembrances embellish life. What proud and ambitious and selfish and tend to become bear yersels." pleasant memories are evoked all through life by the generous and unselfish. Our hearts seem to fill with Christmas celebratloits are- usually highlights in Cherished sight of a gayly decorated tree, the aroma of leve and friendliness. Our thoughts of self give way the life of Christians anywhere and are looked The elderly who live with their cherished plum -pudding, the recitation of the Christmas story to concern for others. it is a time of giving, of forward to with keen anticipation by young and old memories like to teli of their own yesterdays and first learned in childhood at a mother's knee. kindness, of friendliness. It is a time when men alike. Christmas celebrates an event centuries old recall those Christmases in the days of long ago. To Heart goes home share with others their blessings and bounties. it is when a Jewis infant in a smelly, dusty stable behind them the golden past displayed the real spirit of Somehow the heart goes home on Christmas Eve, an occasion to think and to thank. This combination a second or third-rate inn in the little town of Christmas -peace, contentment, gentleness, silently across a continent or sea. The heart will of thinking and thanking is a rare attribute. The Bethlehem was born. His boyhood years were spent friendliness. neighbourliness. Back in those days leave the glitter of a city street and find a way, by former indicates that one should not be forgetful of in the plain home of a carpenter. He learned His when Christmas was so simple but so meaningful, •,.some deep and timeless urge, to a little cottage by a past favours; the latter expresses gratitude for those father's trade and, after the father's death, probably town -folk and country -folk alike were knitted more lonely country road and, even if the little cottage favours. earned just enough to feed, clothe and house His closet together into a community especially on may have long disappeared, one fondly remembers Love came down at Christmas. Love abides in the mother, brothers, and sisters. Later He left the Christmas eve when the snow was soft and sparkled the greetings of friends, the simple words of conviction that there is an absolute difference modest security of the carpenter's bench to become in the light of lamp and lantern. welcome, the strong handclasps, the smiles of between people and things and that people ought an itinerant preacher and teacher with nowhwere to The silence was broken only by the chiming of the tenderness upon the faces. Christmas meant the never 'to be treated as things. Love abides in the !ay His head, dependent on His friends for food and bells in the.yi!lage steeples and the mellow jingling hushed awe of a moonlit sky; the gentle journey attitude of respecttoward each other human being shelter whets He was on the road with His disciples. of sleigh bells as friends gathered in local churches across the snow -filled roads to grandfather's; the of whatever colour or creed. Love abides in the doing His lifestyle prepared Him for a ministry which the to celebrate the infant's birthday in a gentle way. music of sleigh bells; the friendly lights from frosted unto others as we would that they should do unto us world has never been able to forget. His training in Christmas eve services were more a part of the window -squares; the soft silhouette of chimney even more in the doing unto them even though they the school of hard knocks made Him sensitive to the celebration then than they are today. As we reflect smoke; the tantalizing aroma of freshly popped corn; do not unto us. Love has truly come to abide when needs and sufferings of His fellowmen. upon the true meaning of Christmas with its warm, the heaping bowls of nuts, peppermint sticks, we love those who may not love us in return. The poor, the lonely, •the unloved, the unwanted, nostalgic feeling, we sometimes long for those dear twisted candy -bits, home-made, big round oranges A story is told about a man who felt that the alienated - all found in Him a Friend who would days of yesteryears, and shiny red apples from the cool cellar bins. Christmas was merely an occasion for feasting and listen to their lot and do all He could for them. He It must have been grand way back when grandpa in the front parlor stood the festive Christmas tree spending ton much on presents. he had grown away never lost the common touch and,His ear was always was a boy for he delights to reminisce and have us glittering with silver tinsel in gay festoons; the from the feeling of Christmas and had forgotten that ready to listen. His hands to heal and to soothe. He stroll down Memory's Lane with him. He recalls the ruby red cranberry chains mid the cedar boughs; the Christmas is the time when love has more meaning once said, "1 came not to be ministered unto but to log cabins and the old-fashioned frame houses once red paper bell hanging from the chandelier. After than at any other season of the year - love for our minister," The gospels are the witness to His occupied by his boyhood chums and their steady, the stockings had been hung by the chimney with neighbours, love for our fellowmen, love for our sacrificing dedication to the needy of His day and God-fearing parents. They were pioneers, a happ}' care, it was off upstairs to the chilly bedroom with its friends and for the strangers whom we meet. This many have been touched by the challenge of His life and devoted people whose joy was found in family warmed feather bed, After a feigned sleep it was fact was brought home to him suddenly when he from the crude manger in David's,city to the cruel circles and community groups. Surrounded by downstairs at an early hour to retrieve the bulging ,passed the fence surrounding a Children's Home cross on lonely Golgatha's hill, farms, the village had grown from a wilderness to a foot -wear hiding mysterious gifts. After a country on his homeward way on Christmas Eve. A pale face Each has enriched the world by his or her style of friendly meeting -place where the men took time to breakfast, it seemed ages before the Christmas peered through the railings, then a hand appeared servanthood. At Christmas the world needs those visit at the general store to discuss farming, the dinner was served; turkey with chestnut stuffing, and a piece of crumpled paper fluttered to the who will help spread their gifts for the needy of the .•• state of the weather, local politics or exchange bits cranberry sauce,, steaming bowls of fragrant, ground. By the time the man had reached the spot, human family Sir Harry Lauder preached this brand of idle gossip while the womenfolk shopped for the garden -grown vegetables. homemade pickles, the child was gone but he picked it up and•fttund it ' of caring for others and gave us this typical example; meagre necessities, relishes, grandma's fruit cake, assorted tarts and was a love letter. Carefully printed with coloured p Rural life had a charm about it that moved' along cookies. mincemeat pie and apple cider. All this and pencils, red and green, were the words, "Whoever "I was sittin' in the gioarnin' and a man passed the P g , window, He was the lamplighter., he pushed his with the slow pace of the season, People lived much more \\ asw•hat Christmas meant long ago. find this -1 love you." Christmas is God's love -letter pole into the lamp, lighted it and passed on to through the springtime of youth, the summer of Those senior citizens who live with cheished to the world. another, Now t could na see him but I knew where adulthood, the autumn of middle -age to the memories realize that Christmas is truly a he was by the lights as they broke down the street wintertide of life. The tranquility of country life remembering time. a time to reflect on the true "The earth has grown old with its burden of care until he had left a beautiful avenue of lights. Ye're a shaped and moulded the staunch character of those meaning of the occasion. But at Christmas it is always young; lamplighter, They'll know where yc°'ve been hN the folk. Thew belted each other in timet of joy and Unique The heart of the jewel burns lustrous and fair light ye leave. The first burst of light in this dark when sorrow struck because they could do no less. Surely our lives are better because of Christmas. And its soul, full of music, breaks forth on the air world was lit by Him who said, 'i am the light of the Cicero \\-role. "Mernore is a treasury and euardian it is an unique season when we forget about being When the song of the angels is sung."