The holiday shopping race is on. I am done, except for my

mother-in-law. I require the Mountain Man to at least be present when I buy her gift.

I love my husband’s mother dearly; she has been a second mom to me,

especially since my own mother has been so ill. But she is

his mother. There are other wives out there who know

what I am talking about.

PPP

I made another major holiday decision this week. No Christmas

cards. I have friends that this is the only time of year we really keep in touch, and

I am going to write them letters. I bought one for the Mountain

Man, since we decided we had bought each other a house for Christmas, one

for my parents and one for his mom. That’s it. Think of the trees I am

saving. I hope no one is offended, and I truly wish all my readers a

Merry Christmas.

PPP

We spent another three-day weekend at the house in Chinook. We

were painting. Who comes up with the names of paint colors? Is this

where creative writing teachers go to die? If I told you that we painted the

bedroom Ethereal, the bathroom Spring Lily, and the exposed beams (now a

nauseous pinky-tan color) Autumn Leaf, would you know that they are,

respectively, blue, yellow-green, and brown? And we bought Salt Water Taffy

for the office walls. This is, more or less, beige. While choosing these colors,

we also considered Aqua Fresca, Yogurt Cream, Pumpkin Chiffon,

Faded Memories, Jazz Lights, Low Tide, L’amour, Burlesque, Diana

and Evening Vapor. I’ll let you guess which colors those names

represent. Around our house, low tide is mud- gray. But not to the paint companies.

PPP

There is going to be an old-fashioned Victorian Christmas at the

North Bend Library on Sunday, Dec.19, at 2 p.m.

First will be a puppet show, Queen Victoria’s Christmas, by the

Clay Martin Puppet Theatre. At 3 p.m., Mount Si High’s Flute Ensemble

will play music in the Victorian style. We will be recognizing our

wonderful volunteers and Bill Walker will perform readings from the Era. There

will be caroling and appropriate refreshments, too. Ken and Linda Green

will be playing for the caroling.

We will also have a handmade ornament exchange. If you would

care to bring an ornament to exchange, you can take home a new holiday

decoration.

Most importantly, I think, the Mount Si students will be bringing

a box for donations to FoodBall 1999. So bring along some

non-perishable food items, so someone else can enjoy the holidays too. Let’s help

Mount Si, and all the people they help, win the FoodBall this year.

PPP

Another holiday item I would like to mention is the Giving Trees.

These are the trees up in the local grocery stores. The ornaments are gift

wishes for people who won’t have much Christmas. If you can, take an

ornament and buy a gift for some one less fortunate. Put your change in the

Salvation Army buckets. And fill up the Toys for Tots boxes. There is one

at the library. And if you have a pet who is an important member of your

family, buy a couple of extra cans of pet food for the Humane Society’s

Senior Program. Pets are important, too. Their companionship can’t be replaced.

If you haven’t given blood lately, call the blood bank and set up an

appointment. They need donors this time of year. I support my favorite charities all

year long, but I try to do a bit more at Christmas. I have been very

fortunate in my life, and I like to give something back.

PPP

Thought for the Week: I will honor Christmas in my heart, and

try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present and the Future.

The Spirits of all three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons

that they teach. – Ebenezer Scrooge.

Please submit items for

North Bend Nuggets to

Pat Simpson at P.O. Box 857,

North Bend, WA 98045,

or by e-mail to patsimps@hotmail.com,

or drop them by the library.