Ashland Speaks

By Lula Anderson

Tis the week before Christmas and all through the house chaos reigns. Cookies to bake, tree to decorate, forget outside this year, the wind has been blowing so hard that I'm afraid to put out my figurines. Went up the hill the other evening and I think they were holding auditions for Santa's sleigh. In the field past Kern's there were 8 doe and then on top of the "S" there were 14 more. Our wish for you all is a very Blessed, Peaceful Christmas and the Happiest of Holidays. It's the season of light, so put on and out all of your sparkles and shine.

What a wonderful week I had partying. On Tuesday I went to the lunch held for the Greene County Department of Aging in Catskill. Good food and great company. Thank you Ruth Pforte for arranging everything. I could have gone to Cairo luncheon on Wednesday, but I decided to save my appetite for WAJPL luncheon at the Prominence. Such good food and great service. We had almost 100 members attending and I heard no complaints. We had over 25 baskets to raffle and so many went home very happy. Don't forget that we are now on our winter schedule of meetings with only one meeting per month . The next meeting will be on January 13. It's time to pay your dues. Remember, only $5 will give you a year of excitement. We are starting to plan our summer trips, so it's quite necessary to attend at least one winter meeting so you won't be left out..

The Mountain Top United Methodist Church has announced its Christmas Eve schedule of services: Tannersville will be at 4 PM, Ashland 7 PM, Windham 9 PM.

So many of my friends are ailing and I don't know where to start, so I just ask that you remember all those we have on prayer lists, and for all of your friends and relatives.

AS I REMEMBER IT

It's Christmas time again so I go back in time to growing up in the country. I think the boys made out better than the girls, at least in my family. The boys got to have store bought gifts, since it was hard to make things for them. The little ones were always happy with a farm kit: barn, fencing, cows, horses, cats, dogs, chickens, pigs, sheep, etc. Hours were spent on the floor setting up the farmyard and pretending to do the chores. As they got older, they wanted to be real cowboys. Being there were no stores in the area, out came the Sears and Monkey (Montgomery) Wards catalogue and outfits were ordered. Oh, they were wonderful and included 2 six shooters, and holsters with a belt, a "leather" vest with two silver buttons and strings for decoration. A sheriff's badge was put on and a neckerchief or the neck which could be put over the face when riding in the dust or robbing a bank. No cowboy outfit is complete without a hat, and the new flannel shirt that mother made. Oh, my brothers would gallop around the house, and barnyard on imaginary horses by the hour.

Me and my sisters would occasionally get a new doll, and all of the clothes were made by my mother from material left over from making our clothes. Our babies and us had matching pjs, pinafores, dresses, and skirts. One year, I got the BEST gift ever, a porcelain tea set for dolls. How many hours did me and my sisters sit and have tea parties. Oh, it was such a magical time!

I don't remember what the adults got. What do you get a mother - in -law? or a Grandmother? Each did get a present to open, but from a child's perspective it had to be a very boring, commonplace gift. I'm sure someone got a fruitcake!

I hope this brings back many happy memories, and may you all have a very Happy Holiday!