* State Auto Nativity ~ An Advent/Christmas Tradition

From the time I was a wee girl, the life sized nativity scene at State Auto in Columbus has been a highlight.  Every year the insurance company adds to the collection or replaces broken pieces.  The familiar story never gets old and each year I feel like I am seeing it again anew.  Indeed, I am seeing it anew for the story of God intervening in the world is never old.  I can sing with the hymn writer, "such love, such wondrous love".

I confess I miss downtown Columbus during the holiday season.  Remember Lazarus?  The display windows around the front and side of the store were a child's delight.  I could stand there for what seemed like hours watching the little animated world within.  It was a delight to each generation.  I recall my children standing in front of the windows on the little bridge the store constructed for little ones watching the scenes.  Then, we would follow the red foot prints which led to the specially decorated elevator to the magical 6th floor.  We always ate at one of the Lazarus eateries and then walked to the Ohio Theater for a performance of Nutcracker or Christmas Carole.  Remember those days?

This evening we enjoyed vespers at Holy Cross Orthodox Church celebrating St. Nicholas Day. Then we made our annual pilgrimage to the Nativity display, which I share with you, but especially with Margaret and Helen.



THE END

* A St.Nicholas Tale for Margaret & Helen

 Celebrating St. Nicholas Day was special for me.  Teaching my children that "Santa Clause" was an exaggeration and commercialization of the true St. Nicholas, bishop of Myra.  For more information about the REAL St. Nicholas, go to the St. Nicholas Center web site. 

Be sure to put your shoes beside your bed before you retire December 5 and enjoy his gift to you on December 6.  Above all, spread his generosity in your your life to all around you.

This story is especially for Margaret and Helen, but you are welcomed to listen too.

This story is for Margaret and Helen

The Baker's Dozen

A Saint Nicholas Tale

 

* CoachYoung and the Fisher Football Team

On Saturday, October 23, Coach John Young was honored for his 15 years of football coaching at Fisher Catholic.  Before the game,  Coach was surrounded by his wife, family, football team, fellow coaches and parents, and was given a token of their appreciation.  Below are various scenes from the game.

 

Thanks, Coach Young, for your never-ending support and love of young people.  You have more influence than you can ever imagine.  God Bless You.

* 2010 Fairfield County Fair

Autumn in Fairfield county ushers in beautiful countryside.  As the trees on the rolling hills begin to change their hues, spectators from far and near travel our roads and by-ways to experience the breath-taking views.  I am among those spectators.  Each year I look at the foliage as if I had never seen it before.

However, autumn also hails an additional, equally exiting, seasonal opportunity ... the Fairfield County Fair.  The last county fair of the season, the Fairfield County Fair is extraordinary.  Set against the backdrop of Rising Park and Mount Pleasant, the fair grounds are as spacious and beautiful as any park.  The trustees of the grounds maintain pristine buildings erected over 100 years ago.

Excitement and anticipation mount a week before as I drive down Fair Avenue and watch as the fair comes together bit by bit.  A display here, a tent there, a trailer carting one of the rides arrives at various times.  Finally preview Sunday arrives and the week long fair begins.

We are greeted on the grounds by enthusiastic workers who help us park our car ... and if only they could offer the same courtesy in helping us find the vehicle later!  In a crecendo, the sights and smells of the fair in progress greet us.  In the distance I can hear the grandstand speakers ... and I feel certain it is the same man who announced second-by-second when I was a child ~ and he seemed over 100 years old then!  4-H students are all over the place grooming and shouting commands at their livestock, children squeal on the rides, adults greet each other joyously as the meet again.  The atmosphere has a peculiar mixture of aromas which include typical barn smells along with all the cotton candy, Italian sausages and elephant ears ... and a smell of old buildings ~ a sense of permanence and endurance.

As I said, we never, NEVER miss Tuesday and the draft horse pull and the mule races, although we had to miss the mule race this year.  First the light weights, and then they heavy weights, the teams of horses and men display the working relationship between the power of horses and guidance of man.  It is beautiful to watch. We ate our rib eye sandwich from the Cattlemen Association, sat on the new stadium seats, stood for the National Anthem and watched the competition before us.

I have long admired the draft horse.  I found it difficult to choose a favorite.  All of them were my favorite and I was, then, pleased when my favorite won!  This particular team took second place.





Needing to take a walk after the horse pull, we toured the art hall.  I enjoy perusing all the entries ~ various sewing and needle work project; garden fruits, vegetables and flowers; pictures, sketches, painting; pies, cakes, candy and canning.  Cakes amaze me.  Not having the skill of cake decorating myself, I am amazed at the various cakes which exhibit such creativity with icing.  We had to locate Sarah's first cake entry ~ she did a great job.  And, the lady bug cake took my eye because I thought Margaret would enjoy it.

Following the art hall, it is down the midway to watch kids on rides, eat various "fair foods", tour well-known buildings, check out all the exhibitors and chat with friends.



This year we limited ourselves to minimal "fair food" ... I guess we all reach that age. After the rib eye sandwich from the Cattlemen Association, we split a sugar waffle and had a cider slushy from Hugus Farm.

Then, we toured the various animal barns.



This little guy reminded me of a little girl and a rabbit named Blackie.

This team did a demonstration on the track.  They were poetry in motion and brought tears to my eyes.

The day is now over and it is time to head to Latin Class.  It has been a good day at the fair.  The weather was sunny, clear and just the right temperature ~ not too hot, not too cool.  We make one last trip to the midway where we locate Jimmy Jawbreaker and eat our sadwich seated under a tree.

All I can say is ...

Wish you were here!

* Tristan, Good Bye, Again

Saying "good bye" is not easy and during the past 3 years of Tristan's enlistment with the Marine Corps we have had numerous "good byes" and the task does not seem become easier with practice.   Disappointed that a 2 1/2 week leave was replaced with a 3 day leave and the deployment date was moved a month earlier than anticipated, we grabbed time together where and when we could.  Fortunately, Bill is in a very understanding occupation and I am in the position where we can be flexible with our time.  We were able to follow Tristan back to Camp LeJuene and spend time with him whenever he had time off from duty.  And so we spent our afternoons and evenings going to Tristan's haunts in the area.  Our first evening took us to Swansboro, where Tristan usually spends his Sundays after church.  We ate at his usual eatery and walked across the street to "George's", the owner of the cigar shop.  Sitting on the veranda of George's establishment, various people stopped by during Tristan's 2 hour cigar smoke to chat and wish him well.   We also spent time in Wilmington,strolling the boardwalk, finding a great place for dinner, another place for something sweet and finally, a drink at one of Tristan's favorite water-holes.  However, as the picture indicates, Tristan spent a great deal of time texting Sarah, Tristan's girlfriend.  Last month our cell phone bill indicated nearly 1500 voice minutes and nearly as many text messages!            

Alas, time marches on and the day of deployment arrived. Rows of marines lined the lot as gear was checked and re-checked and finally loaded.  The young men gave final hugs to families and friends, lined up, boarded the bus and rode to the ship.  Tristan will be on the USS Carter-Hall, part of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

The Minstrel Boy to the war is gone

In the ranks of death you will find him;

His father's sword he hath girded on,

And his wild harp slung behind him;"

Land of Song!" said the warrior bard,

"Tho' all the world betrays thee,

One sword, at least, thy rights shall guard,

One faithful harp shall praise thee!"

The Minstrel fell! But the foeman's chain

Could not bring that proud soul under;

The harp he lov'd ne'er spoke again,

For he tore its chords asunder;

And said "No chains shall sully thee,

Thou soul of love and brav'ry!

Thy songs were made for the pure and free,

They shall never sound in slavery!"

God bless thee and keep thee

May his face shine upon thee

And until we meet again

May he keep thee in the palm of his almighty hand.

* Back to School

August brings with it so many wonderful things.  Peaches ripen along with pears, plums, and apples.  For teachers, thoughts divert from the liesure of summer and begin earnestly toward the time known as "back to school".  Most teachers begin working in their classrooms August 1. Most mornings will find them arranging bulletin boards, removing loved books from storage, hanging the ever-present classroom rules along with the Pledge of Allegience. Teachers meet with each other in rooms and in the hallway to discuss the school year in as much anticipation as the students and nervous parents.

Over the summer custodians have been busy, working in the heat and humidity.  Buildings have been mended, walls have been painted and the floors have been waxed to a high gloss that will not be seen again until the beginning of the next school year.

But, there is absolutely nothing like the very first day of school.  Returning students, who know the rules and procedures, help direct the younger students who are frightened by the seeming confusion.  All students have brand new school supplies, brand new shoes and, most importantly, brand new crayons.  When the bell rings, students walk into the newly  waxed hallways and their new shoes squeak on the floor inspite of teacher warnings.  Sitting in their new classroom with their new teacher, they carefully remove all the newly purchased school supplies.  Crayons still have points, markers still have ink, pencils still have erasers and desks will never be as organized as they are the first day of school.

Of course, the school calendar is determined by departments and politicians who seem to forget child development.  In the heat of August, everyone is completely wilted by noon and all the students who looked so fresh 3 hours ago are now sweaty and tired.  And so, at the teachers' expence, popcicles will be part of the afternoon's activities.  Lights will be out for a while as children rest a bit and cool their bodies.  During that time the teacher will read a book which will become a favorite.  Most of my favorites were heard during "popcicle time" ~ Little House on the Prairie, Ramona the Pest, Sarah Plain and Tall, Wind in the Willows, Anne of Green Gables ...

I dearly miss the excitement and challenges of teaching.  I miss conversing with other teachers.  I miss the joys and hurts of children.  However, as you begin a new year full of promise and hope I will be thinking of you and watching from a distance.  God bless you all.

 

* I Saved The Last of the Raspberries for Margaret

As August approaches and peaches come to harvest, raspberry season wanes.  Each day brings less and less.  I cannot pass our patch without thinking of Margaret.  Last summer she enjoyed taking a walk to the briars, picking the fruits and eating them ... one after another.  This morning, I returned from church and noticed several ripe berries.  However, I also noticed most of the plants were bare.  Remembering how wee Margaret enjoyed the berries, I decided to save these last delicious fruits for her. I anticipate the time her sister, Helen will join us for berry picking walks.

The garden is producing vegetables at nearly break-neck speed now.  Beets, onions, potatoes, peas and green beans are harvested and preserved.  August is time for tomatoes and peaches.  A batch of salsa has already been made, with at least one more to made tomorrow.  There will also be jars of tomato sauce, tomato juice and canned tomatoes.  But peaches, ah, peaches ~ are my favorite.  Canned peaches, peach jams, peach jellies, peach pie ... and, of course, peaches for just plain eating!

Pears are on the horizon.  Next to peaches, I like pears best.  Tristan always liked pears and when I can pears, it is always with Tristan in mind.  This year, I am going to experiment with pear pie.

I confess when I am in my summer kitchen canning whatever produce there is, I am thinking to the future.  The spices and herbs I use are chosen with specific people and events in mind.  While I am cleaning jars and cleaning the produce, I am imagining various holidays, special occasions, everyday meals.  I am thinking about the people who will be eating my carefully preserved foods and their particular tastes.  I will make a batch of salsa very hot and chunky because Tristan likes it that way.  I will take care to use organic, non GMO ingredients for foods Ashley's family will eat because Ashley is conscientious about the quality of the foods her family consumes.  I will think about what spices and herbs compliment various holidays. 

Sometimes I sit in my root cellar and just look at the rows and rows of preserved foods on the shelves.  Let winter come ... my family is secured for the winter. It is so satisfying.  And Margaret & Helen, I have saved some special treats just for you.