Letter To The Editor
Thanksgiving Day
True thankfulness is more than being grateful for
what we possess. It is an attitude that allows a
compassionate relationship amongst civilized people.
Hunger. The homeless. Chronic diseases. Ignorance.
Unemployment. Untimely deaths (to name a few
calamities). These are words, these are things that
should have nothing to do with Thanksgiving Day,
however, despair threatens to reach out to what is
most precious to us; our children, our legacy, our
future.
The compassion equation: beliefs + action = love =
help. It’s in the heart that counts.
When you see or know of someone in need, love
demands a loving deed; don’t just say you love them
true, prove it by the deeds you do.
Thanksgiving prayers for:
Our leaders that they provide us with a good
government;
Our military around the globe serving, protecting,
and defending;
To our civil servants who provide protection, peace,
and security (police, fire, and rescue).
To employers, who provide jobs to people who need
work, to support themselves and their families;
To social and medical personnel, who provide service
to sick and homeless, for their troubled souls and
ailing bodies;
To you and me my fellow citizens, for those in the
world who are alone. Help them realize that they are
never really alone (we’re there for them.)
Happy Thanksgiving Day everyone! May God continue to
Bless America, Land of the Free and Home of the
Brave!
Dr. Leon Bly
Barnstead, NH
19th Annual Christmas in Strafford
December 6,
2008
9:00 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Blizzard Date: December 7, 2008
From all of us
participating in Christmas in Strafford, WE WISH YOU
A JOYFUL HOLIDAY SEASON.
1. At the home of Betti Williams (111 Bow Lake
Estates Road), she and Marilyn Price will have a
display of their paintings, cards and prints that
would make wonderful Christmas gifts. Betti’s works
are shown in galleries in NH, Cape Cod, and Maine.
Marilyn’s work features local scenes of past and
present.
2. At Rachel Brown’s home at 794 Province Road, you
will find fabric and leather handbags and delightful
Christmas gift bags. New this year, you will find
Old World Santas, Christmas ornaments and doggie
cookies! Jeff Traverse will be here again this year
selling his candles and jars in new and improved
scents. Dear Me Suds is back with handmade soaps,
bath salts, herbal bath tea bags and lotions. Come
and enjoy the season with them.
3. At Fred Dolan Fine Wildfowl Carving, you will
find exquisite wood sculptures by award-winning
Master Artist and League of NH Craftsmen member Fred
Dolan. Barn Door Gap Gardens will have wreaths and
holiday greens, birdhouses, fine crafts,
mouthwatering handmade gourmet treats, breads,
preserves, treats for the pets in your life, and
uniquely crafted gifts. Yummy refreshments will be
available all day!
4. Cheers to old friends and new! The Banes welcome
you into their home at 98 Wild Goose Pond Road.
Follow the grapevine Christmas trees into the house
where you will find handmade country items including
Norwegian paper stars, stuffed cats, horseshoe
hangers, and other items. Sample Nan’s hot fudge and
other tasty treats; country accents and fabulous
goodies…’tis the season.
5. This year #5 (Bev Nemetz) moves across Province
Road to 1095 Province Road with pottery by Ronnie,
Heidi’s Plant Pep; natural arrangements and
ornaments plus painted folk art and handmade purses.
6. At 495 Barn Door Gap, League of NH Craftsmen
artisan JoAnn Ernst will present traditional
bandboxes, handmade holiday breads, finely crafted
hand- knit gifts, ornaments, and this year’s
collection of “Sugar Maple Bears – from the Woods of
New Hampshire”, limited edition heirloom mohair
Teddy Bears. Also available will be roving –
perfect for felting or spinning from JoAnn’s flock
of award-winning Shetland sheep; and a special
offering of naturally processed, custom spun
Shetland knitting yarn for creating your own special
gift.
7. The Bow Lake Grange Hall will be filled with 11
talented crafters featuring handmade assorted cards,
stationery, gift tags and paper; party invitation
kits; Deidre will be taking orders for her delicious
cookie trays, pies, and holiday cakes, and she’ll’
have samples to share; wood burning plaques, therapy
bags, fabric purses & gift bags; handmade
semi-precious stone beaded jewelry, photography, tie
dyed or silk screened fabric items, quilted items,
fabric bowls, placemats, handcrafted 6" dyed felted
wool dolls. Come downstairs and enjoy some delicious
muffins, cider, chowder and chili.
8. At the home of Carrolle Popovich (Beaver Dam
Estates), you’ll find a variety of distinctive,
handcrafted Christmas ornaments; one-of-a-kind
snowmen, angels and Santas, simmering potpourris,
Biscuit and Lyla Bassett’s all-natural dog biscuits.
New this year—hand-felted wool purses, knitted
scarves, designer fiber necklaces, beaded hair ties,
semi-precious hand-beaded bracelets, necklaces;
one-of-a-kind originally designed beaded brooches
and pins. Come and select that special Christmas
ornament (they make great teacher’s gifts) or select
a special bracelet, necklace or pin for yourself or
as a gift. Everything very reasonably
priced due to the economy.
9. Elena Wikstrom, of 37 Whig Hill Road, will be
offering hand-painted fabric ornaments, gifts, toys,
greeting cards, magazine holders, table cloths, made
to order (size & color) table cloths, curtains,
small painted boxes and magazine/newspaper holders.
10. L.W. Brown Farm – “Pepper Jelly House” –
offering unique handcrafted items, Pepper Jelly,
quilts, quilted purses, many other fabric items, and
much more. All make great gifts! JoAnn Brown &
Diane Waldron – Family and Friends. We look forward
to seeing you.
11. At Diane Pomeroy-Hathorn’s (131 Drake Hill Road)
A Family Gathering – As a child I remember sitting
with my mom, sisters, and grandmother knitting,
sewing, cross stitch, quilting and learning how to
crochet. These were very happy times. As adults,
we still do these crafts, and some of our husbands
do the woodworking. This is who you’ll meet and
what you’ll find in our home – all handmade gifts.
12. Woodshop – Rick Gagne – Heirloom quality wood
boxes, wooden earrings, hair pieces and other wood
items. Rick is a juried member of The League of NH
Craftsmen. He makes really good chocolate chip
cookies, too!
13. Mountain View Antiques will be offering a
selection of country antiques, furniture, and fine
artisan jewelry made by Laura Stelting Crannel.
Jewelry features fresh water pearls, semi-precious
gemstones, and sterling silver designs. Diane and
her daughters will have an assortment of other hand
made crafts and treats.
14. At the Goodwin’s at 916 Province Road, they will
be introducing “Amelia Mae’s and Company”, masters
of homemade gourmet foods. Come sample chicken
wings with Goodie’s B-B-Q sauce. Sample our
homemade jams, jellies and sauces. Cranberry
mustard, peach chutney and pumpkin better are just a
few of our many offerings. We’ve made up gift
baskets so you can give our finest this holiday
season.
15. Kooaukee Island Crafters! This year we have
hand-painted pens, baby blankets, booties, loon
crafts, nature crafts, and birch bark frames and
mirrors. We’re also featuring Olive Dimpleton’s
one-of-a-kind personalized baby gifts. Come pamper
yourself with a hand scrub, relax with a chair
massage, and save your appetite for some homemade
pie!
16. At the home of Brenda Lauze at 215 Whig Hill
Road, you will find a great selection of
contemporary, country and Christmas color hot pads,
made from yarn. You’ll also find several styles of
wreaths for the holidays and changing seasons.
Handmade Christmas ornaments include three
dimensional snowflakes, Christmas trees, and other
festive tree decorations. A variety of cookie and
soup mixes in a jar will also be available.
17. The Baker House at 1172 Province Road feature
Swasey Creations’ handcrafted jewelry, “Slumped
Bottled Cheese Boards”, tumbled marble coasters,
fine art painted porcelain and glass, gourmet herb
blends; sausage and chili seasonings, colorful wool
and silk felt items; and, lovingly prepared, many
elegant gift “baskets” all ready for giving. As
always, there will be a sampling of our offerings,
hot or cold cider, and home baked goodies, from us
to you.
18. & 19. To All The Talented Folks in Strafford –
you could have opened up your home for Christmas in
Strafford 2008 this year!
20. At Valerie Ann’s located at 17 Drake Hill Road
(diagonally across from the Bow Lake Inn), you will
find unique, one-of-a-kind handcrafted jewelry from
antique, vintage and new buttons and beads.
21. At John Ouellette’s (917 Province Road), you
will find pottery – mugs, soup mugs, bowls, bean
pots, casseroles, cut flower vases, planters and his
special Wee Pots! John’s work has been shown at
numerous galleries, and he has taught art at the
Nottingham School for the past 25 years!