The Citizen, 2015-12-24, Page 16PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2015.
Watsons mark Boxing Day on holiday calendar
For Ralph Watson and Betty
Graber-Watson, 15 years of
Christmas tradition have travelled
across Turnberry Street with them
from their old home on the west side
of the street to their new location on
the east.
While the setting will be different,
the activities should remain the
same, Betty says, with most of their
family returning home to Brussels
for a special Christmas dinner,
always hosted by the Watsons on
Boxing Day.
The Watsons’ new home, which is
just south of the Brussels on Graham
Road, will house 20 people this year
on Dec. 26 for plenty of food,
fellowship and a tradition of gift-
giving unlike any other.
Ralph and Betty have four
children among them – one from
Ralph’s previous marriage and three
from Betty’s – and in most years
they all find their way back to Huron
County to celebrate the holidays
with their family, bringing along
Ralph and Betty’s nine
grandchildren along for the ride.
In this, their first Christmas in the
new house, Betty says it will be
interesting to see how the home
handles a group of 20 people, nearly
half of them children, but she’s
confident that the Royal Homes
structure is up to the challenge.
This year, the Watsons will serve
Christmas dinner to their family, as
they have for the last number of
years, but it wasn’t always that way.
About five years ago, Betty says, the
pair made the shift to dinner after
what had traditionally been a
Christmas brunch. The reasoning
behind the early-day hybrid meal
was that by the time the families
made their way to Brussels on
Boxing Day, they were all sick of
Christmas dinner and the traditional
meals that come along with it.
Tastes around the table have
evolved over the years, however, and
Betty has found that on Boxing Day,
family members are in the mood not
for Christmas dinner, but for
leftovers of Christmas dinner. So in
a true example of listening to her
“customer” Betty cooks a full
Christmas dinner on Christmas Day
so her house is stocked and ready to
accommodate a large group of
hungry diners eager to dig into an
authentic plate of leftovers.
In addition to the traditional
Christmas fare of turkey, stuffing
and potatoes, she also makes
lasagna, shrimp and other dishes to
accommodate those who are done
with “Christmas dinner” for the
year – usually the younger faces in
the crowd, she says.
When it comes time for Betty and
Ralph to give their children and
grandchildren their Christmas gifts,
things around the house (literally)
are a little different, as Betty has
hand-crafted fabric gift bags, tied
together (again, literally) with thrift
store ties in Christmas colours she
has collected over the years that are
now adorned with each family
member’s name. While completely
wearable, the ties aren’t often
actually tied and worn (except in this
year’s picture, as Ralph was good
enough to tie his for The Citizen).
Another constant, yet changing
The Municipality of Central Huron Council and
Municipal Staff join together to wish you
peace and serenity this holiday season.
THE MUNICIPALITY
OF CENTRAL HURON
PLEASE NOTE:
THE MUNICIPAL OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2015 AT NOON
AND REMAIN CLOSED UNTIL
MONDAY, JANUARY 4, 2016 at 8:30 AM
www.centralhuron.com
1 mile west of Blyth
on Blyth Rd.
519-523-9771
Services & Machining
~ Don & Julie ~
Greetings
At this special time of
year, we’d like to share
our thanks and best
wishes with our valued
customers and friends.
Christopher M. Smith, Michael S. Falconer,
Mark R. Rushton, Amanda Rich
Zoellyn Onn & Staff
Funeral Homes
Blyth Chapel
Clinton Chapel 519-482-9521
As we celebrate the gladness and the glory
of this holy season, we’d like to express our
deepest feelings of friendship and goodwill to all of you.
GREETINGS OF THE SEASON
Plenty of history
Betty Graber-Watson and Ralph Watson have certain traditions when the holidays roll around.
and whether it’s Betty’s doll, gift bags or personalized ties, everything makes an appearance
with Christmas on the horizon. (Shawn Loughlin photo)
By Shawn Loughlin
The Citizen
Continued on page 19