It’s officially December and there’s no snow on the ground.
Last year was my first winter in Grand Forks and I certainly recall there being at least a metre of snow on the ground and white fluff blowing around every other day.
The snow shovels were out, as were the plows and trucks covering the roads with sand.
This was also around the time I got my first chip on the windshield of my car – after driving across the country without so much as a scratch, a small pebble in Grand Forks decided to leave its mark. Something that I still have to get around to fixing.
However, last week was focused on local events and shopping within the city, especially during community hosted fundraisers and shindigs.
This month has a lot more events lined up, from Christmas concerts, and more bake sales (yummy, yummy, in my tummy). If you hadn’t already guessed it from my previous columns, I love community gatherings, bake sales and homemade items.
I had a mild panic attack when I realized December was here and I was still slowly making my way through all my crafts. It also had me double-checking my lists and somehow adding more and more people onto said lists.
I spent much of this past weekend putting together small items for my friends and family, and discovered my embroidering skills have diminished greatly since the last time I evoked those fine skills. My fingertips were pricked one too many times for my liking, but at least I can say it was made with all my love, blood, sweat and tears.
OK, maybe not sweat, nor tears – and OK, maybe I was exaggerating with the blood (though there were a few drops), but there is certainly a lot of love involved in the process. Oh, and the possibility of mild profanities colouring my sentences.
After all, ‘tis the season to be merry, and jolly, and happy, so keep that beautiful smile on your face because the month has just started. Even if your finger is jabbed once too many by a needle or your Christmas lights are all tangled and knotted.
– Cassandra Chin is reporter for the Grand Forks Gazette
