This whole farming business was new to me. We had gone together for a couple years so I knew what to expect. Dick’s parents went down to visit with her sisters and husbands on Christmas Eve. Chores had to be done early so that could happen. Sometimes my husband ended up finishing things up so his folks were not too late. They went to Diedra and Don Andersen’s for their celebration. Yes, this was the man I married more than fifty years later.

When our children were small, we traveled to Dunkirk to be with my family. My grandparents always stayed home from church to babysit. One year we had a real scare. A car nearly broadsided us on our way over. That was the end of our evening trips.

One Christmas Eve we had no electricity. The generator was in place to do the chores, but that meant things were slower. We were still living in our trailer. Now, if you ever lived in a trailer, you know that they are like cars. They get hot quickly and they get cold just as quickly. My mother-in-law called and invited us to her house. I gathered up some games and books for the children and we went next door. We all gathered in Grandma’s bathroom. The gas hot water heater was in there so it was toasty warm. There is nothing like spending Christmas Eve in a room that is about five feet square with a couple of excited children!

We went back to the trailer when the electric came on. I think maybe we had a cup of cocoa first. We still had a doll buggy to put together so Santa could arrive.

The year we moved to Hickory Heights we were working to get it ready to accommodate more furniture. Dick finished sanding the dining room floor on the 23rd and we put a coat of finish on. First, we went shopping then came home to put the tree up.

On Christmas Day there were chores to be done. We had a hard time finding time to open our gifts because we were expected to be at his parents for our family dinner. We opened our stockings early, but put off the rest of the gifts until later. The children were very patient. I remember them sitting in the kitchen with a record player listening to stories being read to them. We opened our gifts and then left them to go to dinner. I knew then that things had to change.

The next year my husband did the evening chores and then came home for supper on Christmas Eve. We ate our dinner by the light of an oil lamp. It was fun and a little romantic. By then we had our Franklin fireplace in the kitchen. Dick read “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” and I put out the gifts. Santa came early to Hickory Heights.

That worked much better for us. The children had their toys to play with the next day so they were happy. That continued until the children no longer believed in Santa. Then, we just ate and opened our gifts. At that time, we left our stockings to be opened in the morning. The stockings were filled with fruit, candy, and other useful things such as special toothpaste and a new toothbrush.

Once the children were old enough to go help with chores, they enjoyed the carols on the radio in the barn. One year they gave their dad a new boom box to listen to it on. The boom box now sits in my kitchen so I can listen to carols here.

We had another Christmas Eve without electricity. By then the children were married and not living at home. I had to make potato salad for our supper.

Without electricity I could not cook. I had no water either so I packed up my things and went to my son’s house. He had a generator so he had some power. I cooked the eggs and potatoes there and put my salad together. I was prepared to cook the korv and ham there, too, but the electric came on and I could bring my food home. Hickory Heights hosted another Christmas Eve celebration.

With the grandchildren off to college, things are still different. Last year I decided to simplify our celebration. No one seemed to mind so I guess it will be that way again. Dessert is always Christmas cookies and peppermint stick ice cream. Last year I made the ice cream since I could not find any. It was a hit.

Merry Christmas to all my readers and their families. May you have a blessed and peaceful year.

Ann Swanson writes from her home in Russell, PA. Contact at hickoryheights1@verizon.net.