Crab feed Saturday; movie night Jan. 9

STILL COLD--As this last week in 2009 begins, I am sitting out here in West Valley with temperatures in the 20s in the early morning hours, so while we enjoyed some clear, blue skies over Christmas, we had to unthaw ourselves first. I was hoping we’d get some of the clear days with no freezing temperatures prior to the sun, but that didn’t happen; it was slick and treacherous out there and our cars were coated with thick, white frost every morning. However, that was better than all that snow we had last year, so while it was not warm by any means, I didn’t have to shovel it anyway! I know road crews were probably much happier this Christmas than last! Still, with frozen and broken pipes to repair and pumps to replace, and folks having to deal with no water in many instances, it’s not been a piece of cake this December and of course, winter has just begun. Supposedly we are going to warm up some so we’ll see what we get as 2009 comes to an end and 2010 begins.

SPECIAL DAYS--Those celebrating birthdays from December 31 to January 6 are Duncan Cruikshank, John Hoven, Greg Bain, Tim McNally, Robbie Kerstetter, Brooke Luthi, Aaron Brown, Trynity Mendez, Erin Wilson, Scott McClain, Becky Elliott and Jim Blain.

Happy Anniversary wishes go to Bob and Linda Roseberry, the Richard Biglers and Milli and Jon Elven. Here’s to wonderful birthday and anniversary celebrations to one and all this coming week. If you want to get your name on the birthday or anniversary list, please be sure to give me a call.

CRAB FEED--This coming Saturday, you can get a freshly cooked crab and a full salad bar at the Duck Inn for one low price, so we hope you’ll take advantage of this opportunity and head to Skamokawa. There are a limited number of crab available so we hope you’ll be there early enough to get one of them or call and reserve yours today, 795-3655.

FREE MOVIE NIGHT--January 9, the Skamokawa Grange #425 will be having a free movie night at the Skamokawa Grange Hall at 7 p.m. There will be popcorn and goodies available with a donation. Mike Rees will be spearheading this venture that we hope brings out families for an inexpensive evening of entertainment with the showing of “Winged Migration," a wonderful movie. This movie took four years to make and features 40 different countries, and it took a crew of 450 to do it--amazing. There will also be a short 10 minute movie that was made as a Wahkiakum 4-H project. As I said, we are hoping to make this a family night out, so come and join us at the grange hall. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

BUSY TIME--I think I heard more people say that they were not quite ready for Christmas this year than ever before. People were mailing packages they knew were going to be late and sending cards that might just make it on time, but probably not, and others just gave up doing either, as it seemed they were overwhelmed with holiday chores and had to give up something. I know I usually had a lot more done by the first of December but with the weather problems taking up most of my good sleeping hours, I felt too drained to do a whole lot, so my card list shrunk considerably this year. I feel bad about that but I know I wasn’t alone and I’m vowing to start earlier next year!

FULL HOUSE--For years our family has held a Christmas gathering the week before Christmas and then things are pretty quiet around here on Christmas Day. Well, not this year! The kids opted to come to Mom's and so all six grandkids were here to help celebrate Christmas, which meant feeding several six footers this year and they made pretty quick work of that turkey and the buffet table. Pete, Katie, Kyle, Blake, Tessa and Luke Sechler all showed up from Seattle and spent the night with Susan Schillios, which made her house overflow with family members as well. The Good boys were here and spent the night, so Brian, Austin and Bryce had a great time visiting with the Sechler gang once again. Brandon and Debbie Chamberlain were over Christmas Eve and Brandon came back on Christmas Day to visit with everybody as well. There seemed to be somebody playing one game or another and if aliens were watching the group play on the Wii, they would be wondering what in the world was going on. Pretty fun to watch people shoot hoops, play golf, etc., “Wii style”! As Grandma Elsie would say, “A good time was had by all.”

CHRISTMAS DOINGS--It seems everyone was coming and going this holiday season. Joan Evenson spent a few days with her mother Wanda and her sisters down on the Oregon coast; Jeff Lundborg traveled to California to visit his daughter and grandchildren there; the John Buennagels had a small family group at their house on Christmas day, but traveled to Tacoma to join in with the larger Buennagel family for an after Christmas gathering; Dave and Connie Shrum traveled to Seattle to join family there, along with some that flew in from Idaho; Kelly Hammond traveled back east to Virginia where she got to spend Christmas with her daughter Vanessa and share in her grandson’s first Christmas back there, and the Charles Parkers joined family in California over the holidays. Gary and Sandie York had a big family gathering at their place, which included Gary’s mom Anna York and I got to stop by for a few minutes and share my holiday wishes with her. That was nice since she’s no longer in the area, like she was when the Hotel Cathlamet was open, so it was great to give her a big holiday hug! Tim and Susan Pedersen came to Cathlamet from Vancouver where they fixed a prime rib dinner for the Ralph Pedersens; a nice day for them. No traveling and no fuss and muss fixing dinner! The Frank Pedersens were at the Ken Madsen home for Christmas, so Carolyn was enjoying a quieter Christmas after having a huge Thanksgiving gathering of about 50. Gene and Karen Healy had been to Spokane for the holidays to see their daughter there and then stopped by to visit Gene’s mom Marian and Art Vik on their return home. Judy Smith headed to Portland to spend Christmas with her mother Dorothia as well as other family members. I’m sure I’ll catch up on more holiday

gatherings this week as everyone unwinds from the busy holiday.

BE SAFE--Happy New Year wishes everybody. Have a safe and sane celebration wherever you go. Here’s to a better year ahead; welcome to 2010 on Friday, a new decade!

OUT OF THE PAST--On the last day of 1944, it was a Sunday and it had warmed up and rained after some prior cold, clear days. The Ralph Everests were celebrating 31 years of marriage. The Krist Pedersens stopped by to give them a gift and wish them well before heading to the Hanigans’ for a snack before going to the big dance. Bernett Johnson McNally had a baby girl this day.

In 1949, the last day was a Saturday and Ralph Everest surprised wife Elsie with a dozen red roses for their 36th anniversary. They went to Jim’s Café where they had a smelt dinner. Mrs. Gill came by and helped G’ma clean house as her gift to them.

In 1954, the last day of the year was a Friday and Ralph Everest was quite ill and spent most of the rainy day in bed. Grandma spent her anniversary having cocoa at Millie’s and doing some grocery shopping.

In 1964, the last day of the year brought snow and flooding to thousands on this Thursday and it was quite miserable. However, it was a beautiful white world in Cathlamet from all the snowfall the previous day, 29 degrees. The Everests celebrated 51 years together by enjoying a home cooked pot roast dinner and baking a multitude of things to take to a big family party the following day at the Krist Pedersens on Puget Island.

All this according to Grandma Elsie Everest's diaries.