HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1994-12-21, Page 26PAGE 26. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21,1994.
Recalling Christmas past
By Doreen Taylor
RR 1, Belgrave
It was the Christmas our baby
brother Ronald was bom, Dec. 22.
Our mother was in the Wingham
hospital. Our dad had the chores to
do and while he was in the bam my
sister Ruth and I took care of our
younger sister, Dorothy, and
brothers, Ivan and Douglas.
Out on the open veranda sat a tall
metal shortening pail containing
1
Memories of childhood holiday
By Janice Becker
As with most seven-year-olds,
Christmas morning was a very
exciting time for a certain little girl.
Anticipation filled the air as each
of the five children were coerced
into bed on the evening of Dec. 24,
many years ago. Each one knew
there were strict guidelines for
behaviour in the morning, but that
did not slow the pounding heart
beats as they fought sleep with the
last bit of adrenaline.
Christmas Day started promptly
at 7 a.m., the earliest Mom would
let the day begin. All of the chil
dren, ranging in age from 11 to two
had to be assembled at the top of
the stairs before anyone could
descend to view the hoped-for
abundance of gifts which were
waiting under the tree.
With giggles of excitement, 10
liny feet raced down those 15 steps
to the family room, astonished to
see a six-foot tree half buried by
presents both large and small. (That
was 25 years ago when single
income parents could still afford to
shower five children with toys.)
Knowing the drill well, the chil
dren carefully walked past the pile
of boxes to the dining room where
each would find a stocking over
flowing with candy, nuts, a small
baked mincemeat pies. Il was my
job to watch the top stable door al
the bam. When it stayed open that
was my signal to pop one of those
most delicious pies into the old
cookstove oven.
This was the Christmas I had
doubts about that jolly man in the
red suit, but under the tree
Christmas morning there were four
hand sleighs, all painted bright red
and green, and a big cardboard box
gift and the obligatory apple or
orange. Only the stockings could be
emptied before a good, solid break
fast had been eaten. "There will be
enough candy later in the day so eat
a decent meal now," Mom would
.always says.
With a quick bowl of cold cereal
devoured, the large family moved
into the adjoining room for the two
hour process of unwrapping gifts.
Each child was given full atten
tion by all others, as presents were
opened by one person at a time,
usually beginning with the
youngest (they had the least
patience).
Being the third in line, the little
seven-year-old anxiously waited
her turn. One large box had held
her interest for some time now as
she hoped it contained that most
important item on her list to Santa
Claus.
Finally, with paper thrown across
the room, the small pink baby doll
stroller was extracted from the box.
The little face lit up with a smile.
One might expect the joyful find
to be the climax of a happy day, but
the excited was only about to
begin.
After spending more than two
hours in the family room, enjoying
the children with their new toys,
filled with goodies.
There must be a Santa!
As the years went by I found out
my precious dad had made our
hand sleighs and the big box had
been sent by my mother's brother.
No wonder he is a favourite uncle.
My little hand sleigh is a real
treasure and will never see a garage
sale.
That was a Christmas filled with
Love. Thank you Mom and Dad.
Mom returned to the kitchen to
tend to the slowly cooking turkey
and stoke the old woodburning
cook stove which was used for
heating the home.
Mom's anxious voice called for
Dad's assistance. The children were
told to get out of the house as
quickly as possible, to exit through
the front door off the family room.
There was a chimney fire and the
pipes travelling up through two
floors and the roof were literally
red hot.
The children raced onto the front
porch, leaving behind coats and
shoes as well as a room full of toys.
All except the little girl with the
doll stroller. To her, that small,
inexpensive gift was more impor
tant than anything. She was deter
mined to save it from the fire.
Fortunately for the family, the
fire was quickly extinguished, with
no damage to the home, and the
Christmas celebration soon re
sumed, after coaxing the young girl
that it really was safe to return the
stroller to the house.
For all of us, maybe one of the
most valuable things to remember
during the holiday season and
throughout the year is the impor
tance to a child of a gift or just a
word of reminder that they are
loved.
Lucky draw
Doreen Taylor, RR1, Belgrave, receives a gift basket from
Citizen publisher Keith Roulston. Mrs.Taylor's name was
drawn from those of the other participants in the
newspaper's Christmas essay contest.
@£rist/nxLs
Qre.e,tcng.s
Our special thanks go to all our special friends.
May you holidays be a time of wonder and joy.
PENNINGTON BURNER SERVICE
! I
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John & Bonnie
Pennington J
& Family m
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Ah f/* Vi
Of 1
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Living trees, living memories
By Christoph Kessel
Nursery & Landscape Advisor
Christmas will soon be here.
Christmas tree sellers can be found
at your local garden centre, street
corners and in shopping mall
parking lots. Those who are a little
nostalgic or want a family
adventure, car. look for places to
cut their own Christmas tree.
But for others, looking for
something different, perhaps a
living Christmas tree is what they
want. A living Christmas tree can
be planted in your yard as living
memory of Christmas past.
Just like the fresh cut Christmas
tree you purchase or cut yourself, a
living Christmas tree in a pot needs
special care.
You should remember four
imporlant points about a living
Christmas tree:
1. This is a living plant.
2. A living Christmas tree has
leaves (needles). The needles
exchange air and allow waler to
move through lhe plant.
3. A living Christmas tree still has
roots. The roots, even though you
can't sec them, arc very much
alive.
4. At this lime of year the tree is
dormant. This means that lhe tree
is not actively growing for the
moment. It has prepared itself for
the cold winter months ahead by
becoming "winter hardy". By
leaving lhe tree in a warm house
for too long, it will start to lose its
winter hardiness. Il will not be
able to survive the cold winter
once it is pul back outside after
Christmas.
So to give your living Christmas
tree the best chance to stay alive
before, during and after Christmas,
keep the following points in mind:
1. Keep the tree in a cool
sheltered spot before bringing it
inside.
2. Keep the tree inside for only
seven to 10 days.
3. While inside, keep the soil
around the roots (the root ball)
moist. In lhe house, the dry air
and warmer temperatures will
make the tree lose water quickly.
4. If you plan ahead, dig a hole in
the yard in the fall. Fill the hole
with leaves. Keep the soil
somewhere where it won't freeze.
After Christmas, remove leaves
from the hole. Water the root ball
thoroughly. Plant the tree using
the soil you stored. Protect the
tree with a burlap tent.
• If you didn't plan ahead, place
the tree in a cool (0°C - 4°C) and
sheltered place (a garage or cold
basement) after Christmas. Water
the root ball well. Check the root
ball regularly to make sure it stays
moist but don't over water.
6. The roots are alive and can be
damaged by extremely low
temperatures (less than -10°C) or
drastic temperature changes. The
tree should be kept somewhere
Continued on page 27
Merry Motoring!
Hope you have
the best Christmas
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HAPPY NEW YEAR!
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Have a TMmderful
Christinas
It’s our pleasure to say "thanks" and to wish you
all the best!
rtfs Joe, Debbie & Family
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