Old Oder Mennonite Memoirs

"At Christmas I no more desire a rose,

Than wish a snow in May's newfangled shows,

But like of each thing that in season grows," wrote William Shakespeare long ago.

I "like of each thing that in season grows," too, although I'm not sure what is growing in season right now. Our outside world is gray and brown since all our leaves have died. The flowerbeds look like a dark-scabbed wound in our yard without flowers but beside my garden nook, three perennial ferns still wave their green fronds. Like the conifers beside the lane and the freshly-watered grassy lawns, their green colors draw my eyes like a magnet.

Besides watering our lawns, the rain soaked into our dormant fields and woods and puddled in low spots. It dropped on us as my husband and I traveled to Woodbury with a friend to attend the viewing of Dan Replogle. His sisters, Sharon and Beverly, used to sit with me on the school bus and I was pleased to meet them, my former neighbors, on that rainy evening.

The next day the rain drip-dropped on the workers along Lock Mountain Road who went to help clean up after the fire at Galen Weaver's place last week.

Mid-week, however, the sunshine brightened our world. It was a good time to play with soil and plants in my little greenhouse where there was no hint of the frigid winds outside.

The next day my friends came to help me knot comforters for Christian Aid Ministries. We had a good time and a good meal besides all the knots, although some of my friends were missing. Two were invited to a school's Christmas program and one was getting ready for her family's early Christmas dinner. The little gifts I got ready for them are still here. A tiny jar of crab apple-raspberry jelly in a little gift bag with tissue paper and if they wanted, there was a little spider plant, grown in my greenhouse.

An extra bonus to the day was an unplanned visit from Granddaughter Bella while her mama was gone for a little time. She came striding confidently in the laundry door. The look on her face said, "I know this place and the grandmother that lives here." But she stopped mid-stride when she met up with all the chatting ladies at the comforter and the happy look on her face changed into consternation. She was a good girl though and she was pleased with her mama's little doll stroller which I brought down from the attic. She "helped" me finish my dish for lunch which was to place cooked, sliced sweet potatoes in a layer in a 9" x 12" pan with fresh peeled, cored apple rings and a bit of orange juice. On the top we sprinkled a little brown sugar mixed with cinnamon and ginger, before we baked them.

The next evening she was at our house even longer and we were so charmed by her little baby ways. When her parents returned, however, she lost no time to wiggle off my lap and run right into her daddy's arms. Then she turned to look at us and waved her little hand.

I anticipated sharing our Sunday noon meal with her like usual but her new teeth were hurting her, taking her appetite and making her feverish, so her parents stayed at home to give her tender loving care.

At Piney Creek church we were blessed with visitors on the cloudy day. An invitation from a daughter, a sister, to share an early Christmas feast. Our guest ministers also were invited with others to share a good dinner in Twin Farm Lane after services. At my brother's house along Hickory Bottom, his family was preparing a meal also, to share in the evening with the single youth. Included in the menu were hoagies with ham and bean soup. Christmas cookies complimented the coffee. The invitation for all the youth, the night before for a singing was along Kelly Road.