Growing up in NewBrunswick during the 50’s and 60’s meant winter fields of blustery fields,chocolate ice marshes, and long days of wistful grey hazel afternoons.We could tell by the haze on an afternoon that a storm was on the way that night.Some mornings we’d awaken to six Senegal feet of snow; dry under foot,aired,with lots of fresh seasoned air going into,our little bodies,as we played by the hours outdoors.
Christmas was a magical time of baking,buying,making,singing,playing,stories, stuck on the hill,and much laughter by family and friends.Muchmof the year since the harvest had been spent in food preparation for Christmas and winter.Fruit cakes, maple syrup,candy on the snow,pickled beans dried beans,breads,and fudge along with home made ice cream.
As a small child I went with my dad to cut the tree and bring it home for trimmings.This process could go late into the night of Christmas Eve, a very magical time, when Christ was being born in a manger with great angels out over the blanket of our small minds, Santa was on his sleigh and on his way tomAlbert Co. and coming to our house with lots of toys and gifts.Our house was a typical small cottage style house on top of Levingstones hill surrounded by trees and orchards.never questioned where Santa would land his sleigh it all seemed so fulfilling.
lots of presents started to appear here and there, drawing names at school was usually the first sign of gifts.Then drawing names at Sunday school was the next. One year my teacher Roada got my name and My eyes fixated on the most beautiful miscalculated jewelry box! WOW I can still se it as clear as anything black with oriental designs on the outside and a ballerina going round and round when I opened it up.I would sit for a long time and just play the tune over and over imagining all sorts of magical outcomes into the universe.
After our gifts were open we would tidy up and mom and dad would make a wonderful breakfast feast. My dad loved to cook with my mom and they both loved to eat, we had pancakes,eggs and bacon orange juice maple syrup and all the fixings This is one of the first times Imdrank tea, Christmas morning, with lots of sugar.
After it was all cleaned up we’d dawn our new outfits and snow pants and pile into the car heading for Aunt Arlettas my moms sister and to play with our cousins.This was my favorite part.It never was a difficult time we all had different toys and things to share, as we had been taught to live like one big family. I got hand me downs and so did they.Later on my cousin Neenie went to live in New York, and sent home lots of really great clothes for us all.
This first visit was usually play time while the adults would sit I. The living room we would go off to the bedrooms or outdoors to play in the snow with a new toboggan or skate on the ditch water in new skates.We would munch on cookies and fudge Auntie made my favorite divinity fudge or frogs a chocolate oeatmeal cookie.Around lunch time we would have a turkey dinner with all the trimmings,and the best gravy in the world.We sat around in front of the tv usually then to tired from food to do much we would watch Daffy Duck or another cartoon for a bit.Then the calls to get ready to go to,supper to Grammys and Grammies in Curryville would come.
After a short 10 minute drive we pulled into a long lane and up to an old farmhouse in perfect condition, Grampienwas an on the ball kind of man and loved to putter around on the property maybe to get away from the women in the house.Not sure sometimes when we went into the kitchen himand the women were quilting or sewing.They always kept busy in the winter with chores.
All afternoon people would be arriving for the great turkey meal, with gratitude beaming on their faces. We would go,to,church for an our in the afternoon early evening then home to a lovely country meal.Grampie usually raised the birds himself.Most of the vegetables came from his garden and were so delicious I can remember them even now.
Christmas was a magical time of baking,buying,making,singing,playing,stories, stuck on the hill,and much laughter by family and friends.Muchmof the year since the harvest had been spent in food preparation for Christmas and winter.Fruit cakes, maple syrup,candy on the snow,pickled beans dried beans,breads,and fudge along with home made ice cream.
As a small child I went with my dad to cut the tree and bring it home for trimmings.This process could go late into the night of Christmas Eve, a very magical time, when Christ was being born in a manger with great angels out over the blanket of our small minds, Santa was on his sleigh and on his way tomAlbert Co. and coming to our house with lots of toys and gifts.Our house was a typical small cottage style house on top of Levingstones hill surrounded by trees and orchards.never questioned where Santa would land his sleigh it all seemed so fulfilling.
lots of presents started to appear here and there, drawing names at school was usually the first sign of gifts.Then drawing names at Sunday school was the next. One year my teacher Roada got my name and My eyes fixated on the most beautiful miscalculated jewelry box! WOW I can still se it as clear as anything black with oriental designs on the outside and a ballerina going round and round when I opened it up.I would sit for a long time and just play the tune over and over imagining all sorts of magical outcomes into the universe.
After our gifts were open we would tidy up and mom and dad would make a wonderful breakfast feast. My dad loved to cook with my mom and they both loved to eat, we had pancakes,eggs and bacon orange juice maple syrup and all the fixings This is one of the first times Imdrank tea, Christmas morning, with lots of sugar.
After it was all cleaned up we’d dawn our new outfits and snow pants and pile into the car heading for Aunt Arlettas my moms sister and to play with our cousins.This was my favorite part.It never was a difficult time we all had different toys and things to share, as we had been taught to live like one big family. I got hand me downs and so did they.Later on my cousin Neenie went to live in New York, and sent home lots of really great clothes for us all.
This first visit was usually play time while the adults would sit I. The living room we would go off to the bedrooms or outdoors to play in the snow with a new toboggan or skate on the ditch water in new skates.We would munch on cookies and fudge Auntie made my favorite divinity fudge or frogs a chocolate oeatmeal cookie.Around lunch time we would have a turkey dinner with all the trimmings,and the best gravy in the world.We sat around in front of the tv usually then to tired from food to do much we would watch Daffy Duck or another cartoon for a bit.Then the calls to get ready to go to,supper to Grammys and Grammies in Curryville would come.
After a short 10 minute drive we pulled into a long lane and up to an old farmhouse in perfect condition, Grampienwas an on the ball kind of man and loved to putter around on the property maybe to get away from the women in the house.Not sure sometimes when we went into the kitchen himand the women were quilting or sewing.They always kept busy in the winter with chores.
All afternoon people would be arriving for the great turkey meal, with gratitude beaming on their faces. We would go,to,church for an our in the afternoon early evening then home to a lovely country meal.Grampie usually raised the birds himself.Most of the vegetables came from his garden and were so delicious I can remember them even now.
