Holidays in Maine

Advertising Supplement to the Sun Journal, Friday, December 5, 2014

2

Holiday

Advertising Supplement to the Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Friday, December 5, 2014

Toys then and now, fondly remembered

L e t ’s t a k e a l o o k a t Christmas time in the Twin Cities over several decades.

Remember

Submitted photos

page 3 ‰ Opening gifts on Christmas morning, a long time ago.

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As we enjoy the Holiday Celebrations..

Do you remember some

RA y

These days, scooters have electric motor propulsion, a nd t here a re ma ny

Toyland at Peck’s was tops for Christmas shopping for more than a century. Not far behind is a list of Lisbon Street department stores.

Woolworth’s, J.J. Newberry, Kresge’s and W.T. Grant ... all were well-remembered

In Auburn, Wilson’s Dollar Store, Pontbr ia nd’s a nd S n o w ’s w e r e p o p u l a r businesses.

-G

It’s st ra nge to f ind t hat trips down memor y lane may sometimes bring you f u l l ci rcle. Pa rent s a nd grandparents like to pass along the modern versions of t heir favorite toys. It shou ld n’t be su r pr isi ng that almost every popular toy has evolved in the years since its introduction.

stores now gone. Sea rsRoebuck and J.C. Penney were once nex t door to Peck’s, but they eventually followed the move to malls.

Zayre’s, King’s, Fantastic Fair and Mammoth Mart came and went.

WS

For generations, just about every young boy, and quite a few girls, had scooters.

A child’s first scooter was often a homemade box-onrol ler-skate wheels, a nd many Christmas mornings are remembered for that first store-bought scooter discovered under the tree.

Names of the stores and t he nat u re of shoppi ng changed from downtown to mall, and lately to online purchasing. Nevertheless, t h e r e ’s s o m e k i n d o f timeless fascination with certain toys. A look at old newspaper advertisements is a good way to relive our communities’ past.

ME AD O

They just don’t make them like they used to.

different types of batterypowered vehicles. Do you remember the old meta l pedal cars and tractors?

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Advertising Supplement to the Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Friday, December 5, 2014

3

Submitted photos

Christmas morning in the 1960s.

Remember from page 2

of the top-selling toys of the past? The Sit ‘n Spin wa s a del ig ht for ever y pre-schooler. A nd, yes, Playskool still makes and sells them.

Countless sets of Lincoln Logs were sold. And, yes, t hey a re st i l l ava i lable, and a Maine company is s uppl y i n g t he w o o den pieces.

Lots of l it t le g i rls were t h r i l le d on C h r i s t m a s mornings in the 1980s when t hey opened a Cabbage Patch dol l box . L ot s of others were disappointed because the Cabbage Patch doll fad caused a shortage and a spike in that toy’s price that many families could not afford.

Dol ls have ta l ked since the “Mama” dolls of more t h a n a hu nd r e d y e a r s ago. A pull-cord put a few shor t ph ra ses i nto dol l vocabularies. Some may remember a Tom and Jerry puppet duo that quipped, “Were you squea k ing to me? ” Computers allowed interfacing so that dolls such as Teddy Ruxpin or a Pooh bear could tell whole

stories.

Legos started as a basic c l i c k- t o g e t h e r p l a s t i c bu i ld i ng block. T hey have evolved beyond imagination. But a Slinky is still a Slinky, and it’s still enjoying robust sales.

Board games take t hou s a nd s of d i f ferent forms, and one of the oldest was introduced by a Maine man whose name is still synonymous with games.

Mi lton Brad ley, bor n in Vienna, Ma ine, in 1836, or ig i n at e d “T he G a me of Life,” still sold by the Hasbro compa ny, which acquired the Milton Bradley firm.

Lionel model trains (three rails) and American Flyer (two-rail) were competitors for sa les since t he f irst part of the last centur y.

Members of the Great Falls Model Ra i lroad Club in Auburn will attest to the tremendous popularity of model railroading today.

T he y spon sor f re quent shows around town and at their Mill Street clubhouse.

Their Web site at w w w. greatfallsrailroadclub.org has more information.

Other kinds of models also captivated young and old through the years. In the

Talking with Santa at Peck's in the 1940s.

1940s and 1950s, kits for model airplanes and ships were usually based on balsa wood construction, and it could be a painstaking, but ent hra l ling, ex perience.

To d a y ’s m o d e l s m a y be si mple plast ic snaptoget her k it s. Ser ious enthusiasts often move on to radio-controlled models.

A go o d pl a c e t o s t a r t looking for models is CraftMa n ia, 730 C enter St ., Auburn. That’s also a good place to rev isit a not her bit of nostalgia. Paint-byNumber projects were a major craze dating from t he early 1950s. Though hardly a serious art form, most every household has a treasured paint-by-number creation, and that endeavor often started people on lifelong journeys in art.

Toys can be very important i nt r oduc t ion s to ot her endeavors, such as music a nd spor t s. Ju n ior-si z e balls, bats, gloves, footballs and football pads, skis and skates were among the vital links toys provided from childhood to adult.

For 60 years, Gee and Bee

Sports has been the go-to store for equipment of all kinds. The business was on Court Street, Auburn, where Auburn Hall was expanded to become today ’s cit y building. Gee and Bee is now at 190 Mt. Aubu r n Avenue.

Carroll’s Music Store Music is also fondly remembered f rom it s or ig i na l Cou r t Street location in Auburn (also on land now Auburn Hall) to its later address on Canal Street, Lewiston. It was a source of everything musical from a kazoo to a grand piano.

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A folder that held 8X10-inch Santa photos from Peck's in the 1940s.

Main Street Music Lessons f i l l s m a ny pre sent-day musical needs at its address at 134 Main St., Auburn.

That’s in the Roak Block near Festival Plaza.

There’s also Musician’s Hub at Center Street Shopping Pla z a i n Aubu r n . It s emphasis is on guitars and other string instruments.

The big stores such as Best Buy and Walmart also offer

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Holiday

Advertising Supplement to the Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Friday, December 5, 2014

The LaFontaines’ winter village: A labor of love

By Deborah Carroll Feature Writer “It started with one house,” said Mary LaFontaine, but then, for 19 years, Mary and husband, Dick, have re-created a small-scale Christmas Village reminiscent of an era when one purchased items such as candles, watches and music boxes from local craftsmen and artisans -- which nearly fills their Auburn living room.

Once upon a time, said Mary, “Dick had aspirations to own a pub.” And so their first purchase, “The Grapes Inn,” a pub which stands about 5-inches tall, captured their imaginations.

The Grapes Inn is part of a line of ceramic miniatures created by “Department 56,” said Mar y, and most pieces in the LaFontaine’s collection are part of Department 56’s quaint Dickens Village series.

The LaFontaines purchased The Grapes Inn at the Carriage House Gift Shop, “which used to be where the Residence Inn is now,” said Mary. “Before we started collecting, I had no idea that all of this existed,” and for the Lafontaines, collecting pieces to add to their village has become “a shared passion.

Every year we pick up one or two new pieces.”

They now own more than 60 buildings, with many more accessories.

“We’ve got areas and themes,” Mary pointed out, with “a green section that has grass rather than snow,” and a seaside section

Deborah Carroll photos

Among the hustle and bustle of the winter village's seaport, the LaFontaines have included the Fisheries Trading Company and an Oyster House. with ships, lighthouses, and a blue base creating the illusion of water.

Among the hustle and bustle of the winter village's seaport, the LaFontaines have included the Fisheries Trading Company and an Oyster House.

A graduate of the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point, Mary has an art background and a bachelor's degree in studio arts. She also spent some time in London, and so they

The village includes several castles. have replicas of the Tower of London and Big Ben, as well as Kensington palace and several other castles. The London region, explained Mary, “is also the arts and financial district,”

Village

page 10 ‰

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Advertising Supplement to the Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Friday, December 5, 2014

5

Cooking with kids for holiday fun

By T. S. Chamberland Feature Writer / Photographer As traditions go, holiday cooking, whether an entire meal or decorative baked goods, is often the most easily inclusive activity for all family members to participate in. It’s a relatively safe bet most people remember someone in their family cooking in the kitchen at some point during their childhood.

It’s also likely that a majority of the most vivid recollections from those days are of the holiday season. There really is no surprise, given the contagious enthusiasm that surrounds each palatable, holiday dish found at many celebrations.

Jaime Berube, of Auburn, showing her daughter Lydia, and sons Gabriel and 4-month-old Solomon how to make homemade Poptarts.

Jaime Berube, mother of three, from Auburn, said that there is more to cooking than just preparing a meal.

“I think that cooking with your children is important all year long, but cooking around the holidays has a magical touch to it,” Berube explained. “The kitchen is the hub of many homes and it is where lots of memories are made.”

Often weeks before a holiday gathering, careful consideration and planning is taking place. The food we bring, or serve at a holiday event is a large part of how we convey our festive spirit, and appreciation for those with whom we celebrate each holiday. That festive spirit is often evident in the creative presentation many foods are given.

Gabriel Berube concentrates as he stirs the batter.

“We made gingerbread houses out of our house cookie cutters, homemade icing and decorated the houses using different candies and snacks ever yone brought. A neighborhood gingerbread house day is already in the plans for this year.”

“On Christmas Eve morning we always make waff les, and form them in the shape of Christmas trees. We put a piece of bacon for the tree stump, a piece of fruit for the star,” explained Berube.

Snow days are something the Jessica Russell looks forward to as well. Not only does it give her something to fill up the hours when school has been cancelled, it’s something constructive and full of learning experiences. Russell said the biggest benefit for her, is that they get to spend “treasured family time” together, an important thing as the kids get older.

Winter cold’s got nothing on a warm and toasty kitchen

Learning really can be fun

Anyone who is familiar with the holiday season in Maine understands that there’s really no better place to be on a snowy day than in a warm house, with the fantastic aroma of cookies, cakes, and pies filling the air. There's something about those delicious scents that brings a smile to any face, and instantly create a cozy feeling from head to toe. When it is too cold to be outside, why not grab some flour, sugar, and any other key baking ingredients and stir up some fun?

The more the merrier on snow days, Berube said. Last year, during a snowstorm, she welcomed neighborhood kids and adults alike into her home to make gingerbread house cookies, giving everyone something to do that didn’t involve “shoveling snow.”

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At some point in life, we all are faced with feeding ourselves.

No matter how involved or simple we choose to make it, Berube said she believes cooking is something all children need to learn how to do. She said she discovered something else as well.

“We have learned that if the kids help us make something they are more apt to try it. Not only do we get quality time out of it, but they also learn about math, improve small motor skills, and learn about healthy choices.”

Noah Russell, 12, and Gabrielle Rochette, 10 of Lewiston, put the finishing touches on holiday treats.

“The kids love it. In fact, they sometimes annoy me with 'Is it time to make stuff,'" laughed Russell.

There is another benefit to encouraging children to help out in the kitchen: increased production. Once they get the gist of how to measure, add, stir, and shape, those little hands can be quite the assets.

Cooking

And when learning is fun, kids seem to want to repeat the process as often as possible which is something Russell has found out, as the holidays near and the kids’ enthusiasm increases.

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Holiday

Advertising Supplement to the Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Friday, December 5, 2014

Stick to your alternative diet through the holidays

By T. S. Chamberland Feature Writer/Photographer Soc ia l i z i ng w it h f r iend s a nd fa m i ly over favor ite dishes is a timeless tradition.

No mat ter what you r heritage, t here is likely a table full of must-haves for Thanksgiv ing, Hanuk ka h, and Christmas. Must-haves u nt i l t hey become ca n’thaves.

Hol iday get-toget hers, or rather the food associated with them, can be c h a l leng i ng to n av ig at e when you’re on a specialized diet. Loading up your plate all willy-nilly with a little of every offering is no longer an option if you’re vegetarian, gluten-free, or diabetic.

Imagine wa lk ing t hrough t he door of a loved one’s home, immediately being tempted by the aroma of an a ssor t ment of delectable dishes, and then realizing that most of the food you’re smelling is off limits to you.

Whether you’re new to your lifest yle d iet, or you’re a seasoned professional, it can

be tricky to explain to your hosts that you “can’t eat” what they’re serving.

There are more than just veggie platters Steff Deschenes, author of "Eat the Year: 366 days of food holidays," and a vegetarian f rom Por t la nd, ta kes her l i f e s t y l e s e r i o u s l y. H e r French-Canadian roots made the holidays a bit tough when she passed up eating dishes that contained meat.

“One of the things I noticed my first holiday season as a vegetarian was that people wou ld get of fended when they heard I was no longer eat i ng meat,” Deschenes s a i d . “A s i f m y c h o i c e somehow a f fected t hem.

I think some of my family felt as though I was turning my back on my heritage and family traditions, because I wou ldn't eat cretons or tourtiere anymore.”

Becom i ng a vegeta r ia n meant that Deschenes would no longer be able to indulge

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She described the FrenchCa nad ia n favor ite, made w it h t u rkey d r ippi ngs as “legendary.”

Her new lifest yle did not d e t e r h e r m ot h e r f r o m ma k ing t he holidays just as special and delicious as, Deschenes said, her mother c re ate d a he a r t y, den s e stuffing from “unseasoned bread cubes, onions, garlic, vegetable stock, and many,

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“Every year since, she goes out of her way to make it, and ever y year it tastes a little different as she's constantly changing and adding which mushrooms a nd nuts she uses,” Deschenes explained.

No gorging on gluten With all that the holidays bring, avoiding meat-based

entrees and sides isn’t the only challenge facing potluck goers with specialized diets today.

New to the gluten-free eating world, Anna Hill of Turner, found out quickly that there’s more to pa ssi ng up t hat

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Advertising Supplement to the Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Friday, December 5, 2014

Diet

Watch out for sugar

from page 6 telling people, 'I am sorry, I can’t eat your food,'” Hill explained. “I feel like I am hurting people’s feelings by not eating their food.”

Fa r f rom let t i ng t he unknowns overwhelm her, Hill has embraced preparing g luten-f ree food. A s she lea r ns what she ca n a nd can’t eat, her avid gardening skills have enabled her to really experiment and utilize fresh vegetables, making the adjustment more bearable.

“Si nc e I a m ne w to t he gluten-free lifest yle, I am lea r n i ng how to mod i f y our favorite recipes,” Hill shared. “Our favorite food is chicken parmesan. We have successf u l ly t u r ned t hat gluten-free using homemade spa g het t i sauc e t hat we made from the tomatoes in our garden, chicken breast, whatever cheese we have on hand, and gluten-free pasta.

We sk ip t he bread i ng on the chicken, as it truly isn't necessary.”

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A number of popular potluck dishes are full of yet another com mon l i fest yle no-no: carbohydrates. If you’re a diabetic, foods like like lasagna, starchy vegetables, and of course nearly every dessert can wreak havoc on your well being. Hadley Taylor of Auburn, said the hardest part of get togethers for her is misjudging how much insulin she should take.

“While counting carbs is a daily exercise in my world, it is downright tacky to use a measuring cup to scoop mashed potatoes out of the serving bowl,” Taylor said. “I would rather take too little than too much, as a bad hypoglycemic reaction will put a damper on my day, not to mention the party.”

Taylor opts for protein, though she said that holiday carbs are tough to resist. Indulging a little means she will take a walk, or engage in other fun activities like touch football, along with frequently checking her blood glucose levels.

Deschenes said that being vegetarian doesn’t mean you’re limited to salad and veggie platters.

❇

7

“You don't have to live off just sides, t hough t here's nothing wrong with that,” she ex pla ined. “There's a company called Gardein that makes a large assortment of vegan meatless meats. ” If you’ve got a Hannaford, or natural food store such a s A x i s ne a r y ou , t he n Deschenes said you should be able to find these items.

Hill said her “go-to” dish for sharing at the holidays, has been caramel apple pie. She’s determined to tr y make it gluten-free t his year. The key in trying to modify old favorites, as well as trying new recipes is having a sense of humor and patience. Her hope is that the pie turns out just as good as the original version she loves.

“If not, well we will still eat it, and be happy we tried,” Hill laughed.

Helpful tips for the holiday season to those with a new eating lifestyle When in doubt, each of the women say eat ing a light mea l before you head out to any holiday function is a safe way to avoid eating something you shouldn’t.

Avocado Meatballs, cooked “To prepare for a get-together, I eat before I go, that way t here a re no awk wa rd questions,” said Hill. “And the host or hostess won’t feel bad if there are no gluten-free food options, other than a veggie platter with please-letit-be-gluten-free Ranch dip.”

“I t h i n k vegeta r ia ns w i l l joke that the safest thing is to eat before or eat after,” D e s c hene s s a id . “I n a l l seriousness, I don't go to get-togethers with the sole intention of a feed anymore.

And, as a vegetarian I don't expect people to cater to me; this is something I chose. So if there's nothing to eat at a

Avocado Meatballs served with sauce and pasta

party for me, there's nothing to eat.”

For those who are new to dea l i ng w it h d iabetes, particularly Type 1 as Taylor has, eating a full breakfast or lunch is essential to avoid having reactions that missing meals or eating late can bring about.

“Ever yone t h i n k s t hey shouldn't eat, because they will be pigging out later on,” Taylor explained. “But to skip meals, and then blow out will send any type 1 diabetic into a bad, bad place.”

made with, and always make your potluck contribution something you can consume.

Most importantly though, don’t let your new lifestyle diet keep you from enjoying the holidays.

Deschenes summed it up best, “Really, the most important thing about foodcentered holidays isn't the actual food, but the people you get to break bread with.”

For recipes and food holiday fun find "Eat the Year," at a local bookstore or online at amazon.com.

S o e at a s you nor m a l l y wou ld, k now what you’re eating -- ask what the dish is

Diet

page 11 ‰

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Holiday

Advertising Supplement to the Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Friday, December 5, 2014

Rose, the Elf on the Shelf

By Deborah Carroll Feature Writer On the day after Christmas a few years ago, Rose made her first appearance at the Anderson household.

“One day,” said 10-year-old Makenzie Anderson, “this big box showed up, with Rose in the bottom.”

“She was there just for a quick visit, to introduce herself,” said Makenzie’s mom, Kristi Anderson.

“She came with a book,” said Ma kenzie, so she and her 8-yea r-old sister Madison could learn about their new elf.

Makenzie named her Rose because it’s her own middle na me a nd, ac cord i ng to Kristi, “She likes to name everything Rose.” The name seemed to fit and when the

on l i ne a dopt ion p a p e r s were filed by Makenzie and Madison, with a little help from mom, it became official.

Though Rose spends most of her yea r at t he Nor t h Pole, of her annual return to the Anderson household, Makenzie informed us that “she comes back the day after Thanksgiving.”

W hen Ros e a r r i v e s, s he brings with her an entourage including a polar bear and a snowman with whom she spends her time exploring t he A nder son hou sehold while keeping a close eye on the children and making mischief of her own.

According to Makenzie, “She makes good snowflakes.”

“But she doesn’t pick up after herself,” added Madison.

“When she made snowflakes she left glitter all over the

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place ... just like other people in this house,” said Kristi.

“H m m m,” sa id Mad ison, tapping her chin a nd grinning, “I wonder who that is?”

Appa rent ly Rose is, i n general, a bit of a slob. “She made messes every where,” sa id Ma ken z ie. One day they awoke to find a big pile of f lour on the counter, the result of Rose’s attempt at making snow angels.

Kristi Anderson photo

“She got it every where and she was laying in it!” said Madison.

Rose can get into some mischief but she always gets found out.

“It’s bad luck to touch an el f,” ex pla i ned Mad ison.

“It ma kes them lose their magic.”

amid the piles of f lour the girls also found coffee spilled on t he counter t hat same mor n i ng. “It w a s f u n ny when she was surrounded by coffee,” added Makenzie.

And Rose, who travels from place to place by f ly i ng, had apparent ly f low n out to a loca l donut shop as evidenced by the fact that

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“W hen we f i r st got her, she wasn’t naught y,” sa id Makenzie, but now, “She’s crazy!”

Makenzie Anderson, 10, and her sister, Madison, 8, enjoy the shenanigans of Rose, the Elf on the Shelf each year during the holidays.

“She broug ht us presents one day, and she brought us frosting for cookies on another day,” said Madison -- wh ich t he g i rls fou nd endearing. However, sneaky Rose got into the cookies and frosting that night after the

family was tucked into their beds and ate all the cookies that had been set aside for the mailman. “I might have helped her with that one.”

“Rose w a s a l so sick one day,” said Kristi, “just like

Mad ison” -- possibly t he day after they ate all those cookies.

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holiday

Advertising Supplement to the Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Friday, December 5, 2014

Elf

Sometimes Rose likes to accessorize and, according to Makenzie, “She wears jewelry that looks a lot like ours!”

from page 8

Rose f lies from place to place ever y day. She can go anywhere and on one particular day was found stuck on the wall – perhaps the result of sticky, candycovered fingers.

W hen it comes to food, however, “Pa nc a kes a re her favor ite,” sa id Makenzie.

“She likes maple syrup just like Buddy the Elf,” added Kristi. “Like Madison, Rose can sniff out chocolate anywhere in the house.”

“I’m pretty sure her favorite character is Mickey Mouse,” sa id Ma ken zie.

Coincidentally, Mickey Mouse is Kristi’s favorite character as well and so it was no surprise when the girls found Rose hanging onto the family’s Mickey Mouse Christmas wreath.

“Once,” said Makenzie, “we found her sitting in our living room in our pink car with stuffies all around her.”

“On another day,” said Kristi, “we found her sitting in a wine glass, next to a bottle of wine.”

“One day,” said Kristi, “she wrote a note to Madison” who had apparently been a bit naughty.

“She reports back to Santa,” added the girls’ dad, Mike, with a grin and a wink as he tussled Madison’s blond locks, “so it’s a shocker that our kids get Christmas presents at all.”

“She i s a lot of f u n, a nd a good rem i nder for t hem when t hey a re misbehav ing,” said Kristi. But Rose also rewards the girls with notes and g if ts for achievements li ke gett ing good report cards. Judging by Rose’s messy penmanship, however, Madison guessed that the cat may have helped her write a particular congratulatory note to Makenzie.

“It ’s a w a y to let t he c h i ld r en’s imaginations soar,” said Mike, who appears to enjoy Rose’s antics as much as his daughters.

According to Madison, “There are a gazillion elves ... one for every person in the world.”

There are so many, in fact, “that you can’t count them because you would get too

Kristi Anderson photos

Rose, the Elf on the Shelf, can be found in different situations all over the house. tired,” added her older sister.

Rose leaves with Santa on Christmas Eve to return to the North Pole or, perhaps, “to a different county where they have Christmas on a different day,” pondered Madison.

“I think that on Christmas Eve all the elves go back with Santa and they eat all the cookies that kids leave out for them along the way,” added Makenzie, most likely with dear, naughty Rose One day Rose was found sitting in a wine glass next to a bottle of wine. consuming more than her fair share.

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10 Holiday

Advertising Supplement to the Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Friday, December 5, 2014

Cooking from page 5

Russell, who is a year-round, avid baker, admitted there might be a hint of an ulterior motive when her son, Noah, 12 and step daughter, Gabby, 10, join her at the kitchen counter. “I include the kids for a lot of reasons. It cuts down on all the work involved, and they have fun helping put it all together.”

The holidays are about giving after all Sharing goodies that were made with happy hands and warm hearts certainly gives the holiday season meaning. Food made for a gathering, or shared with love ones is a large part of how we convey our festive spirit, and appreciation for those with whom we celebrate each holiday. Russell’s family is dedicated to sharing as well.

“Every year we make something. Whether its cookie bags, or candy boxes, we always make something delicious,” said Russell.

When it comes to baked goods, Berube said that baking with her children, 5-year-old Lydia and 2-1/2-year-old Gabriel created the opportunity to show them what it means to give from the heart. While four-month-old Solomon isn’t quite up to helping just yet, he will undoubtedly be a welcomed addition to the cooking team in the Berube kitchen soon, baking holiday goodies to share.

“We like to make things for a handful of close neighbors and I think it is important for children to learn the giving process.

They also feel pride when we hand over a tupperware of goodies that they helped make,” said Berube.

A little mess never hurt anyone Life skills, tradition, and quality time are certainly some of the top reasons for teaching children to cook and bake. Before you just decide to dive into a recipe, there are a few things that both

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Deborah Carroll photo T.S. Chamberland photo Lydia Berube creates a holiday gingerbread house.

For 19 years, the LaFontaines have re-created a small-scale Christmas Village seaport reminiscent of an era when one purchased items such as candles, watches and music boxes from local craftsmen and artisans -which nearly fills their Auburn living room.

Russell and Berube say are important considerations.

Village

“My advice would be don't get into it if you have something else to do. Kids have no concept of time when in the kitchen,” from page 4 Russell said.

And since working in the kitchen is often a messy affair, it is the featuring two theaters, “because theaters are important to me.” ideal activity for involving little hands.

One of Mary’s favorite structures is a grand residence with a family inside having dinner with silverware and food on the table. Next door to it is a residence with a dance hall where they’re having a party, complete with dancers spinning gracefully about, and further on a church tower chimes every Enjoy the quality time, make some memories, and add to hour. your holiday merriment. Prepare, cook, and bake with your children, grandchildren, or any little ones in your life this “I really feel like I lived in [something similar] in a previous holiday season. Share the cheer, and enjoy all your delicious lifetime,” said Mary. Many pieces are animated, and many pieces are lit – making the logistics of concealing power cords favorites of the season. a bit tedious.

“The conversations we have had about food, and all the other things that come up are priceless,” Berube added. “Although “When we’re finished,” said Dick, “the wires will all be hidden,” they are still so young, and the days are long, the years are with power cords concealed by pathways, snow, grass, and short, and before we know it they will be teenagers. Having other clever means. Ultimately, “We sprinkle freshly fallen “It will get messy, and it will take more time, but it is so worth it,” Berube pointed out. “It took time and lots of cleaning, but my 5-year-old can crack an egg without getting any shell in the bowl, and my 2-year-old can flip a pancake!”

your children help you make dinner every night may not seem important now, but later on in life it will be the moments you cherish the most!”

Village

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Advertising Supplement to the Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Friday, December 5, 2014

Diet

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Potluck Pleasers Almond Butterscotch Cookies from food.com • 6 tablespoons butter • 1-1/2 cups brown sugar • 1 egg • 2 cups almond flour • 1 cup soy flour Directions: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Cream the sugar and butter in a large bowl.

Add the egg and mix well.

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• 1 envelope unflavored gelatin • Two 6 oz. pkgs of strawberry gelatin, SUGAR FREE • 3 medium oranges • 1 pound fresh cranberries • 1 c chopped walnuts Original calls for 1-1.5 cups sugar, but I add in a scant 1 cup only.

Add unflavored gelatin to two cups water and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Stir in the strawberry, stir until dissolved.

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Advertising Supplement to the Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Friday, December 5, 2014

Village from page 10

snow over [nearly] everything.”

According to Mary, “It takes [us] weeks, literally, to finish up all of the touches.”

Some pieces, such as the Alderburg Music Box Shop, play music. Small skiers shush down a snowy slope and swans float in a quiet swan pond. There is a fishing pond, with fishermen, a fountain with a babbling brook – the only part of the display featuring real water -- and a gin mill that straddles a stream with its paddle wheel dipping into the make believe waters of a canal flowing through the seaside village.

When Mary’s sister’s health was good, the sisters spent many hours antiquing, and Mary’s “Quilly Antiques” shop, another favorite, was purchased with her sister in mind.

The seaport village has areas and themes including a green section that has grass rather than snow, and a seaside section with ships, lighthouses, and a blue base creating the illusion of water, according to Mary.

Their newest piece, said Mary, “is a Gentlemen’s Club.”

Collectively, Mary and Dick have four adult children and nine grandkids, “and all of them really appreciate it,” said Mary in reference to the hours and energy that they put into creating their village. Although, she added, “It’s grown a lot since the kids left home.”

Over the years, they’ve received accessories – clocks, a gazebo, and other town square pieces – as gifts from the kids, friends and family members.

“There are two accessories that we get a lot of comments on,” said Mary. One is the fire pit that lights up, and all of the street lights which are also lit. “We’ve even got a polka band in the gazebo,” she said.

Mary, who has lived locally for a very long time, was sad when the Gooseberry Barn closed because it was a great resource for the winter village. "Now, whenever we’re out and about we look for Christmas shops. In Ohio this fall we found a Christmas

shop with a huge display and bought some pieces there.”

When the LaFontaines shop for winter village pieces, not only do they select pieces based on their passion, energy or interests, but when it comes down to choosing between two pieces – one being new and the other retired, "We always purchase the retired piece.”

In fact, she said, “About 95 percent of what we have is retired.”

According to Dick, “Set up is 60 to 80 hours, 30 to 40 hours to take down.”

For Dick and Mary, “It’s a labor of love,” and when the village is complete, they invite family and friends to visit and enjoy.

Deborah Carroll photos

Small skiers shush down a snowy slope.

With the display taking up nearly the entire living room, “I don’t know where I’m going to put the tree,” said Mary with a hearty laugh. “It will probably go out on the porch. I can never do anything small,” she admitted, and so the porch is, in and of itself, a significant display.

What started as three lighted trees of varying sizes and shapes soon became five. And this year? “Who knows?!” laughed Richard.

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