This & That, Christmas 2021

It’s hard to believe we are so close to starting on a New Year. It will be here before our next issue. Remember the Reason for the Season.

The rainfall in our yard was just over 3 and a half inches. If there was any storm or lightning, I slept right through it.

I was looking at the alumnae on my calendar and noticed that from Dec. 16 to Dec. 26 are the shortest days of the year, 9 hours and 49 minutes long.

There was a good turnout for the Magazine Christmas Parade. There were a few hitches, but it finally got underway. It was a nice parade and of course, there was candy for the kids and anyone else that was able to get down and get it. Lots of fun in your hometown.

The question came up about, how the tradition of Black-eyed Peas and Hog Jowl eaten on New Year’s Day began during the Civil War.

One legend says that when the Union soldiers raided the Confederate food supplies, they took everything except the peas and salted pork. The Confederates considered themselves lucky to have these meager supplies and survived the winter. Peas became a symbol of luck. Traditions date back as far as ancient Egypt. New Year traditions of the South include collard greens, with each bite considered to bring the eater luck. If you eat the peas, greens, and hog jowl, you will have luck all year. It may be like chasing the rainbow, but it won’t hurt to give it a shot. Eat Up! Happy Anniversary Mike and Rose Ann Erb on December 29th. It is number 60 for them and their only great-grandchild so far, Harper Kay will be one year old. Congratulations! Happy Anniversary to Larry and Debbie Mitchell on January 2nd, also to Cay and Brenda Evans on Jan. 3rd number 61 this year. Congratulations to all and wish you many more happy years together.

Happy Birthday to Faith Ashley and Landon Richardson on December 21st, to Mary Reese and Alley Vaught Marker on Dec. 22nd, to Noah Davis on the 23rd, to Zoie Jones on the 26th, Mike Longley on the 27th, to Harper Kay Erb, Brenda Lawrence Dec. 29th, to don Cagle on Dec. 30, to Caroline Gray and Marlene Brown both on January 1st and to Mayleigh Simpson on Jan. 2nd. Wish you all many many more!

Winter begins today, December 21st, and it kind of feels like it today.

If your kids ask Santa for a sled they may be disappointed on Christmas morning as it should be too warm for Snow, but this is Arkansas and maybe they will see snow before winter is over. HAPPY NEW YEAR!! Drive sober, don’t get pulled over!