The Citizen, 2012-12-20, Page 28PAGE 28. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2012.Grey’s Diehls recount Christmas farm mishaps
Huron East Councillor Dianne
Diehl says she and her family don’t
have many Christmas traditions,
other than one they were happy to
see go along with their chicken
farm.
While Dianne and her husband
David have plenty of great
Christmas memories, two of the not-
so-great memories tend to stick out
in their minds, despite the fact that
they can now look back on them and
laugh.
One Christmas morning began
with David’s nephew suggested that
he run outside and check one of the
farm’s barns so David didn’t have to.
The young boy, however, reported
that one of the barns had
experienced a small leak overnight.
“I asked him how bad the leak
was,” David said, “and he said it
wasn’t the bad. So I go out and 110
feet of the barn had flooded.”
So David and Dianne then spent
the majority of Christmas morning
that year moving the brand new
chicks from one end of the barn to
the other in order to keep them safe.
Another year one of the farm’s
feed lines broke on Christmas
morning, meaning hours of clean-up
and plenty of hard work before any
presents could be opened or
breakfast could be cooked.
In recent years, however, the
couple has parted with the farm and
they have left those hard-working
Christmas memories behind
them.
This year’s holiday will be a little
different than Christmases of years
past, Dianne says, as the Ethel
United Church closed its doors this
year.
One of the family’s traditions had
always been to attend the church’s
barn service on Christmas Eve,
which won’t be taking place this
year due to the closure.
She and David, however, have
made it clear to their four children
that no matter where they are in the
world, they are to attend church on
the night of Christmas Eve.
“They know the rules,” Dianne
says, “they have to be on church on
Christmas Eve.”
The couple’s one son is currently
living in Alberta and Dianne says
that last year he had a friend who
“dragged” him to church on
Christmas Eve. She trusts the same
will happen again this year.
The couple has one grandchild
and they are looking forward to
spending the holidays with their
whole family, including their
grandchild.
One other thing about Christmas
at the Diehl house? Don’t come
around if it’s turkey you’re looking
for.
Dianne had worked in the catering
business for nearly two decades and
every time the Christmas season
came around, she says it was turkey
after turkey and now she can’t even
stand the smell of it.
Last year, for example, the family
enjoyed a lot of appetizers andfinger foods for Christmas dinner,before the main course of pulledbeef and pulled pork.
When Dianne was younger she
lived in Brussels and Christmas was
always a busy time for her. Dianne
came from a big family and there
was always plenty of people around
on the holidays.
Since starting her own family withDavid, however, the two have madetheir own traditions. Whiletravelling and having dozens of
people around might have worked
years ago, they like to have a quieter
holiday, giving their children, and
now grandchild, time to relax, spend
time with one another and play with
the toys they received for Christmas.
Merry Christmas
from Our Place
To Yours
How sweet it is serving
good people like you!
We appreciate your visits
this year and look forward
to seeing you again, soon!
Savour The Season!
from Jackie, Les, Anne & Rick
BAK E R Y
BLYTH O N T A R I O
Q U E ENS 430 Queen St., Blyth
226-523-9720
queensbakery@tcc.on.ca
With glad tidings to you and your kin
from all of us at this special season.
We thank you for choosing us and look forward to
serving you in the new year.
West Wawanosh
Mutual Insurance Company
• Residential • Farm • Commercial • Auto
email - wawains@wwmic.com
Dungannon 519-529-7921
www.wwmic.com
Season’s
Greetings
With greetings and gratitude from all of us to all of you at this
joyous time of year.
It’s been a pleasure serving you, and we look forward to
seeing you again soon.
Chamney Auto Repair
Sales & Service
38897 Blyth Rd., R.R. #1, Auburn
519-526-7283 or 519-440-7800
Proprietor ~ Eldon Chamney
Merry Christmas
Chamney
Auto Repair
Ready for the holidays
Huron East Councillor Dianne Diehl and her husband David take time to celebrate family and
life with their four children around the holidays. The pair has recently become grandparents,
which has elevated their family life to new heights. (Shawn Loughlin photo)
By Shawn Loughlin
The Citizen
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