My
mom made every holiday special. She would make green Jell-O on St. Patrick's
Day, red Jell-O on Valentine's Day and so on. Jell-O was a big deal in the '50's.
She always made a homemade
chocolate cake that she would take right out of the oven and we'd cut big
chunks of it and slather it with (real) butter while it was still hot. That and
Jell-O made a fine holiday treat.
Easter was always our first picnic of the year. We'd go to church in the morning and then take off for the woods or to the lake for a picnic. We'd roast hot dogs and marshmallows over an open fire. Many times Daddy's brother, Uncle Kermit and his family would join us.
Every 4th of July, we'd go to Old Kettle and watch the Fireworks. There was always a community gathering at the park near the swimming beach at Old Kettle - with booths and activities. In the evening the Lion's Club would set off fireworks out on the old town site of Kettle Falls. On Halloween, when we were little and lived in Colville, we'd dress up and take out big bags to fill up with candy and then bring it back to our dad- who was pretty much a big kid himself. He would send us out at least 3 times to fill up those bags. I think he ate most of the candy himself.
Thanksgiving meant a trip to Dad's sister Aunt Joann Kruger in Davenport. We'd drive through blizzards and drifting snow to get there. Never stayed overnight- but had a wonderful time with our extended family.
Mama didn't have birthday parties when she was growing up- so it was important to her that we did. Donna's b'day was during Christmas break and mine was the beginning of December so we'd always celebrate together. When we got older, mama would take us and our friends out to dinner and then to a movie or bowling in Colville.
Christmas Day was spent at Grandma Gilmore's. We'd have a big dinner and then would have to wait til after the dishes were done to open Christmas presents.
Until we got old enough to babysit, we usually stayed with Grandma Gilmore on New Year's Eve. At midnight we'd blow on noisemakers and go outside and yell "Happy New Year" to the world- or at least to the sleepy little town of Kettle Falls.
