Little by little I’ve carried my Christmas tree and decorations up from their storage in the basement – I’ve had to alternate some of my houses and village scenes each year since I moved up here in 2010. My folk’s house doesn’t have the counter/shelf space that my home in Readfield had when I bought the pieces. Although this year I may put up some shelving on the walls to display them.
The Creche is up at the Church which was made many years ago by congregants including my mother, when she was half the age I am now, in the 1950’s I believe. They have all been rejuvenated with a fresh coat of paint on the facial features and clothing, by Sonya Conant last year, as they were fading away, and now they standout to remind us of that first Christmas long ago.
This is a gentle reminder of what Christmas is really all about – I think there should be another day set aside for children’s gift giving/receiving. But with the slow decline of “belief” in CHRISTmas and so many churches closing due to lack of worshipers, and Clergy, as Weld has found during their search for someone to take over in the spring when Pastor Susan leaves us.
Maybe people are going “on-line” for their religious needs, where they can stay in the comfort of their homes and “attend” when it is convenient for them – say just before they go to bed – kind of a quiet time with God.
The world is changing and I’m too old and slow to follow I guess.. I’m too much of the “old school” of physically seeing and talking to people, or maybe, I just need that human contact since I retired, became the only one in the house AND these long dark winter nights are the pits, when you don’t go to bed until 11:30 to sleep for 5 or 6 hours and get up and start another day.
Although now I am getting into my annual Christmas Candy making mode – I make around 20 kinds of candy for the family and friends for the holidays – four brittle – butter crunch – four kinds of fudge – four different barks-Reese’s squares and nut clusters. This year, however, I may have to cut back due to the lack of ingredients in the stores – or the cost.
At least, thank heaven, most of my family is close with only my youngest son and wife away in Florida. My other son and family and my daughter and family are here in Maine – North Yarmouth and Readfield – and will be coming here for the holidays.
A reminder for those of you traveling to Weld, the Skoolhouse Variety, and the only store in town now, was closed around a week ago due to COVID and they had stopped having people in their dining room prior to that. As of Saturday, December 4, they weren’t sure when they would reopen as both Holly and Kevin are very sick with the virus.
I submit this article a week before your delivery, so, I’m not sure if they will be open when you read this. The store, and they themselves, were kind of the pulse of the town – you could almost always count on them to know what was going on, when and where in town. Thankfully, firearm hunting season had JUST finished the Saturday before they closed.
The season for those hunting with muzzle load rifles won’t end until November 11, I believe, but until the Skoolhouse reopens you’ll have to tag your prize at Ellis’s in Dixfield or out Wilton way. We all wish a speedy recovery for Kevin and Holly as they struggle to beat this virus.
I think we all should be more vigilant with wearing our masks when out Christmas shopping with the new strains of this deadly virus appearing. I’m scheduled to have my next booster this week, December 15, but it won’t stop me from wearing my mask. Oh, and be sure you wash your hands when leaving the store and don’t you, or especially your little ones, eat anything with those hands while in the store.
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