Dan’s Papers December 23, 2011 danshamptons.com Page 80
& The view from The garden Jeanelle Myers
Partying while the garden sleeps.
Now that we all have the garden put to sleep for the winter, the hoses drained and put away, the leaves taken care of in whatever manner we have chosen, the tools oiled, sharpened, and neatly stored (I know some of you must do this admirable work but I never seem to get to it!), it is time to turn our attention to winter. I have ambivalent feelings about winter. I, unlike many people, do not mind the cold or the snow. It is the time of year that I get to be in my studio all day if I want and I enjoy being in my house. But I greatly miss working outdoors in the gardens and when it is time to begin this work again, I am ready to go!! And then there are the holidays… Christmas was my mother’s favorite time of year.
As a girl during the Depression, on a farm in Nebraska, Christmas was a meager affair. So, as an adult, she enjoyed it maximally each year with cooking, baking and decorating. I enjoyed it with her, sharing in the traditions she established. After she was gone, though, it took many years to establish traditions that were meaningful to me and my family. Since there are only two of us, I have never felt good about using a real Christmas tree even though trees are grown for this purpose. My husband had an artificial tree literally drop in front of him off the back of a truck one day as he was driving in Brooklyn. He could not get the attention of the driver, so this tree came home with him and has become ours. In the world of artificial trees, it is one of the ugliest and most unrealistic ones I have ever seen; it looks like green bottle brushes on a pole! It works for us and saves another real one for you folks with children. One of my husband’s grandfathers made small houses to hang on the tree and place under it. We have now, for many years, made little houses with each other and with friends during the Christmas holiday. We make them out of cardboard, matches, pinecones, twigs, paint and glitter. We have so many that there are now several miniature villages
that spring up in our house at Christmas. We have added tiny snowmen, animals, greens, decorated trees, wreaths; there is even a miniature greenhouse! Thirty years ago this December, a friend and I started making cookies together; the kind that need to be rolled, cut and decorated and are a lot more fun to make with someone else. Very shortly, we were joined by other friends. This happy group will meet again this next Sunday in a kitchen in Brooklyn to make our cookies. Each person brings dough and we all roll, cut, decorate, drop and slice all of the dough which, at the end of a long day of baking, merriment and reminiscing, yields mountains of cookies to share. I especially like the lights at this time of year and have noticed that many houses keep them up long past New Year’s. It reminds me that the diminishing sun for people in the past was enormously significant and that the increasing sunlight after the winter solstice was the promise of future crops. The trees and plants hold this promise in their buds and seeds that, with the arrival of the spring sun and warmth, will be fulfilled. For gardening discussion call Jeanelle Myers at 631-434-5067.
Kid’s Calendar For more events happening this week, check out: Arts & Galleries Listings pg: 89 North Fork Calendar pg: 78
St., SGH. 631-725-4193. www.goatonaboat.org.
SATURDAY, 24
SANTA TOUCHES DOWN IN THE HAMPTONS
CHRISTMAS DAY, 25
Day by Day Calendar pg: 92
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
AMG-Amagansett; BH-Bridgehampton; EH-East Hampton; HB-Hampton Bays; MV-Manorville; MTKMontauk; Q-Quogue; RVHD-Riverhead; SGH-Sag Harbor; SGK-Sagaponack; SH-Southampton; WM-Water Mill; WH-Westhampton; WHB-West Hampton Beach WS-Wainscott
UPCOMING
SKI & SNOWBOARD TRIP TO BELLEAYRE MOUNTAIN – 1/28, 4:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. Sponsored by the Town of Southampton Youth Bureau. For youths 12 years and older, families welcome. 631-702-2425. www. southamptontownny.gov/youthbureau. $80 includes roundtrip transport, lift ticket, lunch and lesson. Additional $25 for equipment rental. STUDENT ART FESTIVAL PART 1 – 1/28 – 2/26. Grades K-8. 631-324-0806, www.guildhall.org, Free.
FRIDAY, 23
GOAT ON A BOAT TOT ART – 10:30 a.m., 4 E. Union
MONDAY, 26
KWANZAA BEGINS GOAT ON A BOAT PLAYGROUP – 9:30 a.m., 4 E. Union St., SGH. 631-725-4193. www.goatonaboat.org. HOLIDAY VACATION WORKSHOP - 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Portrait painting. Parrish Art Museum, 25 Jobs Ln., SH. 631-283-2118, www.parrishart.org. Space is limited, advanced registration and payment is required. $25 Parrish Members/ $35 Nonmembers.
TUESDAY, 27
HOLIDAY VACATION WORKSHOP - 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Sculpture. Parrish Art Museum, 25 Jobs Ln., SH. 631283-2118, www.parrishart.org. Space is limited, advanced registration and payment is required. $25 Parrish Members/ $35 Nonmembers.
WEDNESDAY, 28
HOLIDAY VACATION WORKSHOP - 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Collage with mixed media. Parrish Art Museum, 25 Jobs Ln., SH. 631-283-2118, www.parrishart.org. Space is limited, advanced registration and payment is required. $25 Parrish Members/ $35 Nonmembers.
THURSDAY, 29
DR. NANCY COSENZA DENTISTRY
FOR CHILDREN TEENS & HANDICAPPED
631-287-TOTS Hampton Pediatric Dental Associates specializes in general dental care for young people. We believe that good dental habits started at a young age will last a lifetime. Our office is designed to make children (& their parents) feel comfortable in a situation that many adults choose to avoid! Our hours will accommodate even the most hectic schedule. 1045403 9929
Winter Nature Hike – 12/29, 10 a.m. Guided hike up to North Pond, through Pine Barrens. 3 Old Country Rd., Quogue. A free program for adults and families. Reservations required 631-653-4771. MUSIC TOGETHER BY THE DUNES - The Joy of Family Music. Join us in this popular Early Childhood Music and Movement program for children, newborn through age 5 and their parents or caregivers. Singing, dancing, rhythmic chants, instrument play and movement are explored in a fun, educational environment. Songbook, CD’s, newsletters and parent guide w/D.V.D. are included with tuition. Monday and Tuesday mornings at the Dance Center of the Hamptons in Westhampton Beach, Monday afternoon at Kidnastics in Center Moriches, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings at the East Hampton First United Methodist Church, Thursday mornings at the Southampton Cultural Center, Friday mornings at SYS Recreation Center on Majors Path in Southampton and the
Children’s Museum in Bridgehampton, Sunday morning. Ask about a free demonstration class. 631-764-4180, www. mtbythedunes.com.
FRIDAY, 30
SHARK DIVE - 11 a.m., ages 12 and up (12-17 must be accompanied by a parent). Long Island Aquarium and Exhibition Center, 431 East Main St., RVHD. The Aquarium puts you into a cage in the middle of more than 10 circling sharks! No diving certification necessary. 631-2089200, www.longislandaquarium.com. $155/nonmembers, $140/members (includes aquarium admission). Daily.
SATURDAY, 31
FISHES AND WISHES NEW YEAR’S CELEBRATION –6:30 p.m. – 11 p.m. Long Island Aquarium, 401 East Main Street, Riverhead. Family-style New Year’s celebration including a dinner buffet and a mock midnight toast. www. longislandaquarium.com, 631-203-9200 ext. H2O (426) for reservations. $85 adults, $49 ages 3-12 & seniors, under 2 free
NEW YEAR’S DAY, 1
HAPPY NEW YEAR! POLAR BEAR PLUNGE – 1 p.m., 104 Ocean Avenue, EH. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m. $25 donation to benefit the East Hampton Town food pantry.
MONDAY, 2
GOAT ON A BOAT PLAYGROUP – 9:30 a.m., 4 E. Union St., SGH. 631-725-4193. www.goatonaboat.org.
THURSDAY, 5
GOAT ON A BOAT PLAYGROUP – 9:30 a.m., 4 E. Union St., SGH. 631-725-4193. www.goatonaboat.org. Also Friday.
FRIDAY, 6
GOAT ON A BOAT TOT ART – 10:30 a.m., 4 E. Union St., SGH. 631-725-4193. www.goatonaboat.org. HAMPTON IDOL -- 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. The Town of Southampton Youth Bureau is holding open auditions for the fifth annual singing competition for grades 7-12. Bring own music without vocals. Hampton Bays Community Center, 25 Ponquogue Ave., HB, 631-702-2425. www.town. southampton.ny.us. E-mail Kid’s Calendar listings to kelly@danspapers.com before noon on Friday. Check out www.danshamptons.com for more listings and events.