This is the season when we remind ourselves of all we have to be thankful for: the natural beauty that surrounds us; the bonds of a strong community; friends and family who bring us joy. We are also fortunate to live in a community of creative makers, who provide food, gifts, and experiences that offer real meaning and lasting value. Meet them here…
— By Edie Jones, Columnist —
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As we move into the season of giving thanks, I’m reminded of words I read during the pandemic. Their meaning is as true today as it was then: “Generosity is a resistance to fear that we won’t have enough, the illusion that we can control the future, and the walls we put up that separate us. Every small act of generosity has the ability to fight back by creating a counterculture of joy, freedom, and unity.
“We all have something to give. Whether it’s a smile so big that it can be seen behind a mask or an unexpected gift to brighten someone’s day, we all can play a part by simply asking what we have to give and finding the person who needs it most.”
help as she struggled as a single parent to raise her son. This came because her son had recently thanked her for the job she had done. What an abundance of joy I felt with that surprise call. I’m sure, with a little thought, we can all come up with a long list of things we are thankful for that have come from the generosity of others.
I heard of a restaurant in another Oregon town that started a campaign to receive donations so they can generously give gift certificates to those in need. Unknown to me, this may also be happening here in Sisters. I do know of churches and individuals who cut and supply firewood to those in need and Sisters Trails Alliance works diligently to keep our beautiful forests in good repair so all can enjoy it.
Donate today and become a “Friend of the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show”
Give in honor or celebration with your donation at SOQS.org or call
Even though the Cold Weather Shelter was recently voted down by our city council, much deliberation and thought was generated by many in this decision. How grateful we can all be that a forum was provided that allowed the subject to become a focal point, assuring that it cannot go away, and solutions will continue to be searched.
Despite the hardship of the pandemic, social unrest, false narratives, politics, wars, and wildfires of the past few years, I believe those of us in Sisters have experienced an abundance of acts of kindness and generosity. As winter approaches, we hear of efforts to find shelter for those living in the cold. Banks, fire stations, and churches have become the gathering places for coats, mittens, hats, and toys. Just a weekend ago, the high school thespians treated our town to the fun and camaraderie of their play. Citizens4Community has offered many opportunities to come together to learn, ask questions, and find new ways to create our village. Paulina Springs Books is being very creative in finding ways to bring us together. The Council on Aging is unfailing in providing meals on wheels and free lunches to seniors, as well as many other services. Thanks to the generosity of many, Habitat for Humanity is a pinnacle in our community when it comes to giving and volunteering.
As wars throughout our world continue, may we all become creative in resisting the fear that accompanies news of these horrendous experiences of strife. As the words above said, “Every small act of generosity has the ability to fight back by creating a counterculture of joy, freedom, and unity.” They remind us that we all have something to give, and for that we can be unapologetically thankful. Whether it’s contributing to the Food Bank or donating to Shepherd’s House, calling a neighbor to see how they are doing, or sending an email to someone you know is alone, please, do it.
In addition to the “big” areas of generosity mentioned above, I’m sure each of you can pinpoint something that gave you great joy because of the generosity of another. On a personal note, I recently received a phone call from a student of twenty-five years ago thanking me for my
As we make plans to travel, invite others to share, or prepare a Thanksgiving feast for yourself, know that by reaching out in whatever way you can, you will be part of creating a culture of joy, freedom, and unity, breaking down the walls that separate and divide us. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.
The winter holidays and Fika Sisters Coffeehouse just seem to fit together. The spirit of Fika — gathering and taking time for coffee and a pastry with friends and family is, after all, the kind of thing the holiday season is supposed to be all about.
Fika makes the holiday season feel special; it’s decorated in the cozy winter spirit of the north. There are seasonal drinks like eggnog and maple lattes, and treats to enjoy — either on the premises or to take home with you. Gingerbread is a classic favorite. You can order up pastries for your holiday gathering.
You can get into the spirit on your own with Swedish Dala Horse cookie kits.
If you’re feeling crafty, on the evening of Friday, December 8, you can take a wreath -making class. Fresh boughs and supplies will be provided so that when you go home, you’ll have a lovely wreath to hang on your door — and you’ll know how to make more.
— By Sue Stafford, Columnist —
In the short, dark days of winter, I need to create my own light to stave off depression and loneliness. That light has to come from inside me.
The spark that ignites that internal glow is an attitude of thankfulness and giving to others. I always feel better when I have done something to lighten someone else’s load. Being a volunteer driver for the Sisters Transportation and Ride Share program (STARS) is one way I stoke the fire. Something as simple as providing a ride to a medical appointment pays huge dividends every time. Sharing conversations, listening to another’s stories, or providing a little laughter while transporting a fellow Sisters resident is such an easy yet rewarding thing to do. Always after I return them to their home, I feel the warmth in my heart generated by that interaction.
up his car with yummy fare and drove it over to the Fire Hall, where I helped serve as we welcomed our neighbors to a warm, congenial place of good food and fellowship. I went home that night filled with enough good feelings to last for weeks.
The holidays are upon us, a time full of abundant opportunities to help others. This Thursday being Thanksgiving, a full made-from-scratch traditional dinner is being offered from noon to 4 p.m. at Sisters Community Church, 1300 McKenzie Hwy. This a wonderful opportunity to share the spirit of Thanksgiving with friends, family, and community members you may be meeting for the first time. You have the option to join with others to dine at the church, or meals can be carried out. Do you know someone who lives alone or is homebound? Invite them to join you for dinner, or pick up at the church and deliver it to their home. Better yet, share the meal with them at their home so they won’t be alone.
I am so thankful to be living in this wonderful little town where the spirit of giving and caring is alive and well year-round. Some people worry that a growing population will cause Sisters to lose its special small-town feel. I believe, however, what will change us is a miserly spirit of not sharing and caring for one another. If we welcome newcomers with an open heart and ready smile, they can be encouraged to join the ranks of volunteers who make Sisters so special. Division, we vs. them, angry namecalling, and suspicious accusations will surely put out the light that has shone from Sisters for decades.
Get involved. You’ll be glad you did. Contact Citizens4Community at 541-2030527 to explore opportunities to volunteer for or donate to a plethora of organizations who do good things in Sisters Country and beyond.
To volunteer to help at the dinner on Thanksgiving Day at Sisters Community Church, contact Deri at 541-419-1279. To donate to the community dinner, call Jennifer at 541-390-4597. Deri and Jennifer established the community dinner in 2013 as a volunteer effort.
I hope each of you gets to spend your Thanksgiving in a way that fills you with light and good feelings.
Gratitude and a generous spirit are two of the best antidotes to depression, loneliness, or lack of connection. One of my first Christmases in Sisters, I wasn’t able to be with family, so I volunteered to help serve the community dinner at the Sisters Fire Hall. Then-chief Tay Robertson met me at The Gallery restaurant, where volunteers were preparing the food. We loaded
Gratitude and a generous spirit are two ness, or lack of connection. One of my first at The Gallery restaurant, where volun-
One of Sisters’ favorite local traditions is back, in an exciting new location.
Three Sisters Lions Club’s 12th Annual Holiday Faire will be held at 291 E. Cascade Ave. (the former Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center across from First Interstate Bank) November 24 through December 17.
The expansive and welcoming space allows the Lions to host 30-plus vendors, offering a wonderful blend of the tried-andtrue and the fresh and new. Savvy shoppers in Sisters know that the Holiday Faire offers a wonderful opportunity to buy locally crafted decorations for the holidays, and handmade gifts that will mean a lot to those on your list.
You’ll find ornaments, home crafts, metal work, jams and jellies, hand-poured candles, handmade soaps, and much, much more. There will also be raffles of Hoodoo passes, golf outings, kids’ baskets, and even a cord of firewood (local delivery available).
Proceeds support Lions Club initiatives for sight and hearing, pediatric cancer, and trade school scholarships for graduating seniors.
Ask most folks about the first Thanksgiving in America, and you’re likely to hear a story about Pilgrims and Wampanoag feasting together at Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1621.
And that’s accurate enough, as far as it goes. But the first national Thanksgiving came a century and a half later, deep in the throes of the American Revolution.
The Continental Congress declared Thursday, December 18 “a day of Thanksgiving” to God, where “with one heart and one voice the good people may express the grateful feelings of their hearts, and consecrate themselves to the service of their divine benefactor.”
The occasion for this outpouring of thanks was a major military victory that had occurred a couple of months earlier, when a Continental Army and militia force under General Horatio Gates (with standout combat leadership from General Benedict Arnold) decisively defeated a British force under General John Burgoyne in October 1777, near Saratoga, New York.
You’d be hard-pressed to name a battle in history that had more consequential strategic implications than the Battle of Saratoga. The bloodying of General Burgoyne at the Battle of Freeman’s Farm in September, and the decisive American victory at Bemis Heights in October forced the first surrender of a British Army in history. The victory prevented the British from controlling the Hudson River
— By Jim Cornelius
and dividing the colonies and isolating New England, “cutting the head off this disloyal snake,” as the British command conceived it.
More importantly, it gave Benjamin Franklin, operating in Paris, the diplomatic throw-weight he needed to persuade France to formally ally itself with the United States. That alliance was the key to American victory in the war, though it took four more years to fully manifest.
Everybody in America understood that this victory was a very big deal, and it gave them much to be thankful for.
Maddie Fischer and Suzanne Carvlin of Cascade Hasson Sotheby’s International Realty are encouraging the Sisters community to go allout on their holiday lighting this year.
They’re sponsoring a holiday lighting contest. Nominate your favorite holiday lights at a Sisters business, house, or community/street/HOA. Winners with the most votes from a neutral committee will receive a pizza party and ice cream social courtesy of Maddie Fischer and Suzanne Carvlin. Winners will be announced in The Nugget. Send nominations, including a photo, to Team@HomeinSisters.com by December 10.
The contest is a good-natured way to boost the holiday spirit across Sister Country — it comes from Maddie and Suzanne’s love of the season.
“I have a huge passion for holiday lights,” Carvlin said. “It brings such cheer, especially in the dark, dead winter.”
So get that electric creative current going and get to work — and tip your hat to the neighbors and businesses that really make Sisters shine.
Entries will be added to this website: www.HolidayLightsSisters.com.
Giving a gift of chocolate and helping our community at the same time is a delicious opportunity!
Help Sisters Kiwanis help Sisters youth by visiting the See’s Candies RV trailer in the Ray’s Food Place parking lot (635 N Arrowleaf Trail). This fundraiser, which has become a Sisters holiday tradition in its own right, supports Kiwanis programs that support the community.
Everyone has a favorite, but there are so many choices including assorted milk chocolate and dark chocolate boxes, truffles, toffee, peanut brittle, peppermints, and more in larger and smaller sizes, sets, and stocking stuffers.
The trailer is open Monday through Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. through December 31 (or while supplies last). Orders are taken and fulfilled at the window.
Candy sales go to support Sisters scholarships, youth organizations, and activities. All money raised goes into these programs. Sisters Kiwanis thanks the community for their year-round support!
Cornelius —
General George Washington’s orders to the Continental Army set the day aside for observances:
“Being the day set apart by the Honorable Congress for public Thanksgiving and Praise; and duty calling us devoutly to express our grateful acknowledgements to God for the manifold blessings he has granted us, the General directs that the army remain in its present quarters, and that the Chaplains perform divine service with their several Corps and brigades. And earnestly exhorts, all officers and soldiers, whose absence is not
indispensably necessary, to attend with reverence the solemnities of the day.”
There would, however, be no Thanksgiving feast for the soldiers of the Continental Army, who were already on short rations, and would spend an absolutely miserable winter nearly starving at Valley Forge. (In a historical echo, Oneida Indians offered food assistance, bringing 600 baskets of corn to the army).
Private Joseph Plum Martin, who authored a must-read memoir of his service in the Revolutionary War, served up some pointed soldier’s sarcasm in regards to the fare on offer in that first Thanksgiving:
“Well to add something extraordinary to our present stock of provisions – our country, ever mindful of its suffering army, opened her sympathizing heart so wide, upon this occasion as to give us something to make the world stare… a half gill of rice and a table spoon full of vinegar!”
As president, Washington would issue a proclamation on October 3, 1789, designating Thursday, November 26 as a national day of thanks, but it was left up to the states whether to observe it. Thanksgiving in November did not become a regularly observed thing in the United States until the Civil War in the 1860s, and it wasn’t until 1941 that the fourth Friday of November was officially nailed down as Thanksgiving Day.
Alpaca Country Estates is a working alpaca ranch.
The herd is now over 1,000 strong. The ranch offers breathtaking views of the Cascade mountains and includes a boutique ranch store open for one-stop holiday shopping. Many items are made in the U.S. with Alpaca Country Estates’ fiber. The boutique is overflowing with beautiful capes, sweaters, ponchos, socks, hats, mittens, scarves, purses, toys, yarn, blankets, rugs and so much more, all made with alpaca fiber.
Nancy and Art would love for you to visit their picturesque ranch in Terrebonne, where you can take a tour by appointment and let the kiddos get alpaca kisses.
The ranch produces their own hay, strives for a green planet, designs alpaca clothing/ quilts, and has top-line alpacas of every color for you to choose from if you want to start a ranch of your own!
Nobody does Christmas with deeper tradition than the Germans, and Beacham’s Clock Co. is bringing that deep tradition to Sisters this year.
The beloved clock company is now under the ownership of the Recksiek family, a long-standing clock-making family of German descent. Beacham’s is now offering traditional nutcrackers and smokers (figurines that serve as incense burners), light arches, and German Christmas pyramids, where the heat from candles spin turn fans, spreading light and warmth throughout a room.
These traditional pieces of German folk art are a delightful addition to holiday home décor.
While you’re out and about on your holiday rounds, stop in the shop. Visiting Beacham’s is a feast for the senses. Every hour and half-hour there are chimes, bongs, bells, and tweets as the clocks do their job of announcing the passage of time. On some of the clocks it is possible to watch the pendulums swing, the gears move, and figurines go in and out.
— By Jim Cornelius —
Volunteers in Sisters Country are once again celebrating the holiday season with the annual Spirit of Christmas gift drive and the community Christmas dinner.
The Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire & Ambulance Association is sponsoring the annual “Spirit of Christmas Giving Tree” to provide Christmas gifts to families in need in Sisters Country this holiday season. The Association expects to serve close to 200 children this year.
the families, rather than just donating a non-specific gift.”
The deadline to return your gift donation to the Fire Station is Saturday, December 9 at noon. The gift requests that are not filled by the community will be filled by Fire District volunteer shoppers using donated funds, which means that no qualifying child will be left without a gift.
For those folks that would like to participate in the program but are unable to purchase a specific gift, the Association will also accept cash donations. Cash donations are tax deductible and will go toward gift buying. Cash donations can be made at the main fire station at 301 South Elm St. in Sisters, by mail at P.O. Box 1509, Sisters, OR, 97759, or online at www.sistersfire.com.
Gifts are available to children age newborn to seniors in high school of low-income families who live within the Sisters or Black Butte School Districts. Applications for the program are available to be picked up now at the following locations: Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District, Sisters Kiwanis Food Bank, Furry Friends and the FAN office in Sisters. Applications are due by Friday, December 1, at 5 p.m. in order to receive a gift. Get your applications in early, so your request can be filled.
Families will receive their donated gifts via a drive-through pickup event on Saturday, December 16, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
On Christmas Day, the Sisters-Camp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District and the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire & Ambulance Association will once again prepare a traditional Christmas dinner which will be served from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Community Hall at the SistersCamp Sherman Fire District Station 701, 301 S. Elm St. in downtown Sisters. To request a meal, please call 541-549-0771.
To donate to the Spirit of Christmas program, please collect a tag with items requested by the families at one of the “Spirit of Christmas Giving Trees,” purchase a new gift listed on the tag, deliver the unwrapped gift with the tag to the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District as soon as possible, and by no later than December 9. Spirit of Christmas trees are located at Sisters Ray’s Food Place, Sisters Bi-Mart, Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire Station, Black Butte Ranch Post Office, and Black Butte Ranch Police Department. Tags will be available to collect from all locations beginning Wednesday, November 22.
Program leader for the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District, Angela Linker, said, “While monetary donations are appreciated, the best way to help is to pick a gift tag for a child from one of the trees and purchase specific gifts requested by
We would like to sincerely thank our partnering agencies and community organizations for their support and assistance with making this holiday season special for our Sisters Country families: Sisters Kiwanis, Furry Friends Foundation, Black Butte Ranch Police, Toys for Tots, Ray’s Food Place, and Sisters Bi-Mart.
For more information, contact the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District at 541-549-0771.
Spoons Restaurant is quickly become one of Sisters’ favorite gathering places, with great food and a convivial atmosphere.
You can bring home some of that goodness by ordering up an eightpiece Broasted Chicken with a free two-liter Coke (as long as supplies last). You can order the broasted chicken up to 5 p.m. It’s a great meal for those chilly late fall evenings — and a perfect way to have a nice dinner without any work during the busy holiday season.
Speaking of the holiday season… Santa Claus himself will be coming to Spoons Restaurant on Saturday, December 9, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
If you’re looking for a place for a holiday gathering or an office party, Spoons has the perfect spot for you — a large, semi-private space that can accommodate up to 20 people. Give them a call to reserve the space, 541-719-0572.
The holidays demand delicious baked goods, and Madi’s Cake & Bake Shop located inside Spoons is taking orders now for Christmas. Ask about gluten-free options, 541-848-2589.
As proofreader at The Nugget , Kit Tosello makes sure that all the commas are in the right place and that our stories are grammatically correct — and helps keep the editor on track. In another of her many roles, she is the creator of a magnificent Christmas dish.
SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE
4 cups baked yams (the dark red kind; or sub canned)
1/2 c. sugar (or sub maple syrup)
1/4 c. butter
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. cinnamon (and/or cardamom)
Blend everything well and place in oiled 8x8 casserole dish.
TOP WITH:
1 c. brown sugar
1/4 c. butter
1/2 c. chopped pecans
1 c. flour (substitute GF flour if desired)
Bake 20 to 30 minutes at 375 degrees.
*To fill a lasagna pan, double the recipe. You won’t need to double the topping but may want to round up a bit.
It’s time to go out and get your Christmas tree. Christmas tree permits for the 2023 season are available online at Recreation. gov. They are $5 per permit with an additional $2.50 reservation fee. Christmas tree permits purchased online must be printed to be valid. Traditional, in-person Christmas tree permits will be available at the Sisters Ranger District office. The office will be open on Saturdays from now until Christmas to sell Christmas tree permits to folks who’d like them. Hours of operations will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on November 18 and 25 and December 2, 9, and 16.
You can also get a permit at Bi-Mart; Camp Sherman Store; Ace Hardware; Sisters Rental; Oliver Lemon’s; and Luckeys Woodsman.
Fourth graders are eligible for a free Christmas tree permit as a part of the Every Kid Outdoors initiative, which is a national program to encourage children to visit national parks, forests, and public lands. To be eligible for the free tree permit, the student must have an Every Kid Outdoors pass. Information about getting the Every Kid Outdoors pass can be found at https://everykidoutdoors.go/index.htm.
Walking into Rescued Living at 161 E. Cascade Ave., Suite A is like walking into a distilled and curated experience of the Pacific Northwest way of life.
Owner Casey Boyd, a native Oregonian, grew up in Central Oregon and is deeply immersed in an aesthetic that pulls from the outdoor lifestyle that means so much to those of us who live and visit here.
The store is fully loaded for the season with holiday décor — trees, ornaments, stockings, and advent calendars. And anyone who loves the Oregon way of life would love to receive a gift selected from walls full of beautiful art, home décor items, kitchen tools, cocktail items, and hand-poured candles that smell like Oregon.
There are stocking stuffers here for everyone, along with custom gift baskets and great books. And if you can’t decide what to give, a gift certificate may be the perfect choice, because it lets that special person on the list come in and explore all that Rescued Living has to offer.
