Looking Back to Christmases Past
Christmas was a time for neighbours, family and friends to visit. No invitations were needed and people just arrived.
Mom would bake for weeks. Her famous Dark Christmas Cake and date squares were favourites. Pies of every flavour were lovingly baked in our wood stove. Sometimes when Mom had been extra busy baking, the 'little supper' at the end of the night would consist of homemade bread and a nappie full of maple syrup and of course brewed tea on the wood stove.
I don't remember any of the gifts I received (one or two each year) but I do remember the table heaped with homemade goodness, music (piano, guitar, mouth organ and banjo), lots of games of euchre and searching for the perfect tree in the bush (often a Charlie Brown tree).
Christmas trees were dragged home by tractors, horses, high log skidders and manpower. Many of the ornaments were old and worn, and would now be known as heirlooms. Lots were school craft projects, often large decorated bristol board cutouts which were great for covering the gaping holes in our less-than-perfect tree. Also we shared memories of absent family members.
Christmas dinner always included a home grown turkey and a fresh ham. Most of the food on our laden table came from the farm, including the meat, potatoes, root vegetables, pumpkins and many of the pie ingredients. The extravagant additions were raisins for the pies, jello salads with colourful canned fruit cocktail, and marshmallow 'salad' with cool whip, coconut and canned fruit.
Our farm house had a 'summer kitchen' which wasn't insulated or heated in the winter. It became a large refrigerator and storage area over the winter and was particularly helpful during the holiday season.
One memorable Christmas Day after our massive turkey was carved Mom set aside two platters of extra meat, one white and one dark, on a card table in the summer kitchen, and proceeded to finish the food prep and enjoyment of family and friends during our midday meal (always after morning chores and before evening chores). Our Blue Tick Hound Molly slinked into the summer kitchen, probably when my Dad came in from milking. After a fabulous meal with laughter and a lot of stories, Mom headed to put the leftovers in the 'fridge'. She was greeted by a very happy and full Molly, and two platters that had been licked clean! Bones and all were gone. We kept an eye on Molly for any negative effects but other than being a little groggy she was fine. Another story that has been shared through the generations!
Have a wonderful Christmas shared with family, friends and friends-yet-to-be. Please share the spirit, be kind and support others in need.
