Dear friends from near and far,

Snow! We got some snow on Friday then more on Saturday night and Sunday forenoon. It really looks like and feels like winter. I’m glad winter is here. We have had a very nice, long & warm Fall season.

Winter is also butchering time for some folks in the area. We butchered beef last week and it is nice to have the freezer stocked full!

A lot of family Christmas gatherings are being planned, which always makes for an exciting and memorable time together. Also, a lot of cards get exchanged or sent in the mail. Schools have Christmas programs that the students study for and then their families are invited to come and see it. Young folks and others will be out carolling. Many churches and youth groups sing Christmas carols for widows, shut-ins, families in the ministry, etc. Curt is planning to treat the employees to a Christmas supper on Thursday evening, Dec 15th. We look forward to that. This is a joyful time of year and we want to thank God for the wonderful gift of His Son Jesus that He gave to us.

Two different rare birds for this area were reported and it is always fun to see if we can find them. This morning I went with friends to look for them and sure enough we saw both! A Western Tanager was near Alpine coming regularly to someone’s feeder and we just sat in the vehicle in their driveway and watched the birds at the feeders until it came, fed a little while, then flew back into the woods. A Summer Tanager was near Trail, also coming to someone’s feeder. When we arrived there the folks invited us into their house where we waited until it came and perched in a rhododendron bush right outside the kitchen window.

Here is a recipe that I found in Healthy Choices cookbook that I like to use for garlic bread served with soup, etc.:

Herb Butter

1 cup butter softened

1 tsp lemon juice

2 tsp dried basil

2 tsp dried oregano

1 tsp garlic powder

Mix it all together and serve spreadable.

“Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy; which shall be to all people. For unto you is born…a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” -Luke 2:10-11

Wishing you all a joyous Christmas and blessed New Year, Sovilla