Gilead

We decided to go Christmas shopping this past week and so did a whole bunch of other people! The stores were full of shoppers and Christmas music was playing to get everyone in the mood to shop.

My brother, Steve McLain, was at the house this past weekend and picked up his Boy Scout popcorn that he had ordered. Brandon McLean left the order here when he dropped off mine.

Mary Tyler called with some news this past weekend. She took a trip to Sanbornton, N.H., to visit family. They met at Karen Cavney’s house and Karen’s niece, Angie, had slides to share of the recent trip her family took to Australia. This trip was granted by Make A Wish Foundation for Angie’s son, Tyler.

Mary also said that a geologist from Bates College stopped and asked if he could check out the ledge outcropping behind her house. He was doing some work for the state regarding new maps.

Hugh and I had a visit from our granddaughter, Sidney Chapman, this past weekend. She did not have any school on Friday, so she spent Friday and Saturday night with us. We had a very busy weekend. On Saturday, the three of us went to Bethel to attend the play presented by the Western Mountains Senior College Players. Sidney enjoyed the performance very much. When we returned home, we mixed up a batch of sugar cookies.  While they were chilling in the refrigerator, we ate the beef stew that we made earlier. After supper, we tackled the cookie dough. We rolled the dough out and used Christmas cookie cutters to make our cookies. After they baked, the fun really began with the decorating. There was frosting, colored sugar and M&Ms all over the table. Sid decorated three special cookies: one for Dad, Mom and her brother, Ajay.

The Senior College Players gave a performance last Saturday afternoon at the Moses Mason Exhibit Hall. The first performance “A Child’s Christmas in Wales” was great, but I really enjoyed the second one “Memories of a Wonderful Life.” I have always enjoyed Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey in the movie. All of the players did a “wonderful” job, but special mention goes out to Roberta Taylor who did a great job portraying George Bailey and to Mary Ellen Gartner who was George’s ever understanding wife. Barb Dion was great as Clarence, the Angel, and she received her instructions from above. I have always wondered what a “voice from above” would sound like and now I know (Peter Gartner).  Lorrie Hoeh narrated the performance and helped the audience participants with instruction and their lines.

Steve and Lise McLain attended the benefit breakfast for Dan Cole last Sunday. Merle Cole stopped at our house for directions on his way to the breakfast. Hugh just happened to be out packing up the car to take Sidney back home.

Area Wildlife:

Mary Tyler reported a flock of about eight Evening Grosbeaks at her house. There were a couple of males and the rest were females. So far, we have not seen any at our feeder.

The only different wildlife that we have seen is a big white cat late one night last week and then early Sunday morning there was a big black cat that was sitting under the feeder and looking up at the birds.

Got any news? Call 836-2987 or e-mail chapmal@hotmail.com