The weather outside has been frightful! Recorded temperatures in our rural area dipped down to -37 degrees Christmas Eve and again on the twenty-seventh. A power outage was quickly dealt with on the evening of the twenty-seventh. Customers north of Gadsby and Botha were without power for an hour. No known cause at the time of this writing. Three cheers for the workers braved the cold to fix the problem in these temperatures.
The roads were in great shape for travel. And there was a lot of that. Bill and Joyce Hansel headed to Cadogan, on December 23, stopping at Mary Lou and Stan Botting’s before going on to Metiskow and dinner with Sandy and Rod and her family. Joyce got to spoil her newest great granddaughter! Then on December 24 it was a visit with Grant and Judy and the kids. And finally on Christmas Day Sandy and Rod, Sue and Brad all out to the farm for dinner. Sandy and Rod stayed overnight before heading home to Gibbons, Alberta.
Dale and Corina Derr started their Christmas with a birthday celebration on December 24 for daughters Keyonna (17) and Charlee who turned 12. Special treats were fruit pizza and birthday cake. Then on Christmas Day the whole family were together, Chance being home from Turks and Caicos. This included Grandma Wilda Nichols as well.
Percy and Paulette Heer met Doug and Inez Baldwin and son Duane Skaley in Stettler on Christmas Eve for supper at A&W (not many eateries open past 5 p.m. that night). Then on to the candle light service at the St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, which was filled to capacity. Then back to the farm. They stayed over Christmas before returning to Red Deer Boxing Day. Percy and Paulette hosted Christmas dinner with son John and Jewel, Hannah and Bailey; cousin John and Lorraine Hankins, Mackenzie and Justin; close friends, Jeanne Beisel, Doug and Inez and Duane. Lots of food, games, laughter and good cheer!
Then on the twenty-seventh Percy and Paulette celebrated all over again with daughter Christy and Curtis Wideman, Matthew, Clayton and Josie; their exchange student from Hong Kong, Rocky and his sister Michelle from Calgary who all came for the day. John and Jewel and girls there as well.
Gloria and Stan Diegel had their traditional Christmas with Christmas Eve over to daughter Richelle and Greg Skocdopole’s. Then Christmas Day Stan and Gloria hosted with Richelle and Greg, Alex, Elliot, Chandler, Bridget and Jinger as well as Wade and Ybiett, Jasimin, Kassie, Elijah and Bella, making a total of 15. Arden and Dean, Sophie, Sadie, Eva and Ella joined the family on Boxing Day for leftovers and more family time.
Ray and Rene Blackmore also had their family home for Christmas as well as Rene’s mother Dorothy McLean who resides in Willow Creek Lodge in Stettler.
Over 900 vehicles passed through, viewing James and Kerri’s Christmas light up display this year.
James and Kerri Potheir had a great Christmas which included her mother, from Erskine. Kerri is slowly taking down her Christmas display, but not before thousands of viewers passed by or stopped in. Good job folks!