Out Our Way with Colleen Slater: Here’s your Key Peninsula holiday itinerary
We enjoy Turkey Day and the lovely leftovers for a day or two, then suddenly it’s December!
The annual Holiday Celebration Dinner and Tree Auction at McColley Hall, Key Peninsula Lutheran Church is this Saturday, November 30, from 5 – 8 p.m.
Many Christmas trees of different sizes and their own unique decorations tempt the visitors.
A flank steak dinner is served for $10, beginning at 5 p.m. Key Singers will entertain at 6.
December 1, come join the carolers and Dr. Roes’ Down Home Band at the Key Corral in Key Center to sing and wait for the tree to light up and Santa to arrive. He comes in a sleigh with treats for the kids. Festivities begin at 4 p.m.
A Christmas Revelry by the Bluegrass Minstrels presents a varied collection of Christmas music at Lakebay Community Church, Dec 7 at 7 p.m. Free admission, but $10 donations are asked for Hope Recovery Center.
The Key Singers’ annual Christmas Concert, “We’re Gonna Decorate the Christmas Tree,” presents a variety of holiday music, with the KP Middle School Choir as guest singers.
Holiday baskets and light refreshments. This is a Christmas gift and thank-you to the community.
Then move on down to Longbranch Community Church at 6 p.m. for a special Christmas Bluegrass jam session. Come with an instrument, including your singing voice, or just to enjoy the time. Potluck snacks at break-time, then music continue until 8:30.
Blue jay in the bath
Recently, a blue jay sat on the edge of an old cooking kettle on the edge of the deck rail. I thought it was getting a drink, but suddenly it popped clear in, splashed, hopped out and shook feathers. We were so surprised, as we’d never seen anything like it before.
Of course the camera was upstairs and we were down. The bird took three plunges in the “bath” while we watched. We’ve seen little birds sometimes hopping into a birdbath, but not splashing like this one or doing it repeatedly. Quite a nature show!
When my hubby and son recently hoisted the laminated beams up on the building project, using a come-along, an impressive endeavor. Another son, viewing the project in photos, added a new title for his dad. He said, “I tell my friends that my Dad is an Egyptian mathematician. If there is a way to move something waaaayy too heavy from point A to point B, it’s a simple matter of math, fulcrums, levers, and inclined planes to make it so!”
I’ve seen it happen enough times to not be surprised, but it was a new experience for our son’s friends.
JPEGs replace jots
At times I wish we didn’t have so much “progress” in our lives, but since the first photo I received on my computer over 20 years ago, I’ve been delighted with that addition. There’s too much junk out there, but the almost instant exchange of information is great.
I used to hand-write many cards and letters, but as older family and friends passed on, it’s a rare process anymore.
A grandson just moved to Spokane, and I send his two kids picture postcards. My September column, including my photo, was printed on a color page. I sent copies to my kids and of course had to fill the white space with notes!
They responded with thank-yous for the hand-written notes! So perhaps I need to do a bit more of that.
Technology? Yes, some is very good, but we need to remember that face-to-face contact with people is also important. I recently read that good face-to-face socialization improves brain cells, countering dementia and often, adding good life years.