Traditions by The Union

The Union

Monday, November 19, 2012

Traditions Season 2012

Guide to holiday ideas and entertaining

Welcome to Traditions.

Over the past few weeks, we’ve asked our readers and employees at The Union to submit stories, recipes, crafts and events that have been a part of families over the years. We received so many heart-warming stories and I am excited to share them with you today. Thanksgiving is the official kick-off to the holidays and a personal favorite of mine. It’s a great time to come together and celebrate the important people in our lives, and continue these celebrations in the following weeks leading us to the New Year. We often forget some of these values with the stresses of the holidays. Cooking, cleaning, shopping and many other tasks leave us stressed, but I ask you to take a moment to read these great stories. They will surely help us remember the true meaning and fill your heart with joy. It truly is the most wonderful time of the year! Happy Holidays, Dana Rosacker and The Union Family

White Fruit Cake

A white fruit cake has been made by our family every year; as we are from Canada with English backgrounds. In Canada, we all serve Dark fruit cakes and this white version which does not have lots of fruits. So many people love this cake here at our home. This is recipe for my Grandmothers. My grandmother would be 124 years old by now so this is a tribute to her and I hope you readers love this recipe and also make it a family tradition. Our other family traditions in Canada include mincemeat tarts and lemon curd tarts. We also make a coconut and raspberry jam tart that are called“Maid of Honour”tarts. In Canada most families do not do the sugar cookie thing but we all do the English/Scottish shortbread. This is the recipe for shortbread with only a few ingredients and mixed with your hands. WHITE FRUIT CAKE 4 cups of light raisins that are brought to a boil, drain, coat with a bit of flour so they do not fall to bottom of the cake while baking 1 lb of butter 1 1/2 cups of sugar 6 eggs 1/2 cup or warm milk 1tsp of baking powder 1/2 lb of glazed cherries 3 cups of flour Add eggs one at a time to sugar and butter that has been mixed. Then add flour, raisins, cherries and milk and stir altogether. Bake in a large round or square cake pan at 350 degrees for 1 1/2 hrs. Be sure to put another pan of water in the oven next to the cake pan or below in the oven. This will keep

the cake nice and moist. Bake until it’s a light golden brown. To test, put a toothpick into the cooked cake and if toothpick comes out clean it’s done. SHORTBREAD 1 lb of butter 1 cup of sugar 3-5 cups of flour Let butter get to room temperature and then knead in the sugar. Mix the two ingredients with your hands. Add flour, one cup at a time, and keep kneading with hands until you have a nice dough that comes away from the bowl. Roll it into a large circle about 1/4 of an inch thick. Cut into shapes with cookie cutters. Put on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes at 300 until a golden brown. Cool and serve at Christmas or holidays for your guests.

Submitted by Miriam Hoiem

Candied Carrots

Prime Rib

My husband’s Grandma Elva came up with this little addition to our holiday meals. It is a welcome change to marshmallows and yams, in my opinion, and serving it to my family one year, it is now continually requested. It’s the holidays, so I will warn you- break out the butter!

Growing up, my family didn’t have a lot of money, but Mom always made sure our Christmas dinner was always Prime Rib. Since I have had my own family, we have continued this tradition. Now my parents are gone, but I always think of them as we slice into the Prime Rib. The secret to a good prime rib:

1 package of peeled, whole baby carrots 1 stick salted butter About a 1/2 cup of packed dark brown sugar In a sauce pan, add butter and brown sugar and warm until the ingredients combine into a liquid. Add carrots and about 1/4 cup of water. Cover and let simmer for about 5 minutes to soften carrots. Remove lid and turn up the heat to steam off all the water. Let the sugar become hot enough to melt and start to crystallize but not burn; essentially becoming thin caramel.

Get good meat. I ask the butcher at SPD to cut away the bones and then re-tie it. It’s called cradling. Coat the outside of the roast with your favorite rub or garlic salt and pepper. Cook at 425 degrees for 20 minutes, then turn oven down to 250. Continue to cook until the meat thermometer reaches 5 degrees less than what you want (meat will continue to cook once it’s out of the oven). Cook it slow. Let sit 20 minutes. It will be the same doneness throughout this way. Carve it and serve it to the people you love.

Submitted by Mary Anne Davis

Stick a fork into the carrots to make sure they are soft before serving but not mushy. Dump contents into a bowl for serving and let cool for just a bit so the caramel sets up. Serves about 4.

Cheers to Grandma Elva. Happy Holidays! Submitted by Shawn and Dawn Ryley

Monday, November 19, 2012

The Union

Christmas Cake

Our family tradition is a crab feast on Christmas Eve. We invite family and friends over to feast on fresh crab, salad and sourdough bread. Everyone invited brings a dessert to share. I have a special dessert to share that my mother made every Christmas when I was a child. CHRISTMAS CAKE 1/2 lb. chopped dates Pour 1/4 cups boiling water with 1 teaspoon of soda over the dates and let cool. Cream together: 1/2 cup sugar 3/4 cup shortening 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 eggs 1 2/3 cup flour Add dates and soda water and mix. Pour into greased 9X13” pan Topping: 1/2 cup chocolate chips 1/2 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup walnuts (finely chopped) Spread over the top of cake before baking Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes

Italian Cioppino and Limoncello Liqueur

On Christmas Eve the entire family sits down with their elegant handmade bibs, placed over our Sunday best clothes, to a dinner out of this world. The meal of choice is Italian Cioppino. This is a wonderful fish stew in a lightly spiced red sauce. This recipe is handed down straight from Sicily from our great grandmother. The bibs are a necessity as this meal gets all over. It has fresh shrimp, scallops, Dungeness crab, calamari, clams and oysters on the side if you want them. The sauce is handmade the night before and the fish is added before dinner to cook and soak up the incredible juices. There is an herb green salad and fresh warm bread. After dinner we gorge ourselves on homemade Italian cookies like, Cucidati (fig cookies), sesame cookies, Neapolitans’ and many more. Finally we top it all off with homemade Canolli. We make the shells a few weeks before from scratch, sometimes making 100 or more. The filling is fresh Ricotta Cheese that my mother in-law makes with pieces of chocolate or dried candied fruit, topped with powdered sugar. It is washed down with homemade Lemoncello. Buen Apetito. LIMONCELLO LIQUEUR 6 think-skinned lemons (Eurekas) or 12 thin-skinned lemons (Meyer) 1 750mL bottle of 100-proof vodka 3 cups water 4 1/2 cups sugar With vegetable peeler, remove zest (yellow part) of lemons, making sure not to scrape too deeply and get the white part. Put the peels into a ½ gallon glass container with a good seal. Add the vodka, cover and let sit for about 10 days or until the vodka is a deep yellow. Make sugar syrup by bringing the water and sugar to a boil and allow it to boil for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Drain jar with vodka through a strainer, draining lemon peels. Return vodka to container making sure no lemon peel remains in container. Pour hot sugar syrup over lemon peels into a heat-proof bowl. Discard lemon peels. Allow syrup to cool. Add syrup to vodka in container. Let sit for 5 days. You may then decant into smaller bottles. Keep in refrigerator or freezer for longer storage.

Submitted by Jodi Jannings

Hot Shrimp Dip

GIVING WARMS YOUR HEART GIVING WARMS YOUR HEART

When I was young, my mom and dad disliked turkey, even though my siblings and I liked it. Of course, Mom and Dad won out! So each year my mom would store for several months in advance a huge stockpile of hors d’oeuvres. When Thanksgiving arrived, she would carefully arrange the delectable morsels in swirls on several huge trays. And, yes, we had all the turkey decorations and apropos pies. To this day, I don’t know where to get some of those mysteriously delicious hors d’oeuvres. Maybe some of them don’t exist anymore. Today, I like turkey – but my mind always wanders to those swirls of beautiful hors d’oeuvres … One hors d’oeuvre that stands out in my mind is deviled eggs. Cut boiled eggs in half and remove yolk. Mix yolks with very finely chopped celery, garlic to taste, salt to taste, grate in pickles and add mayonnaise and small amount of mustard. After mixing together and stuffing each egg hollow, sprinkle tops with either Italian spice mixture or paprika. Serve in large tray with black olives, celery sticks and pickles randomly placed around eggs.

Submitted by Betsy Hunter

2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice 1 tablespoon Old Bay Seasoning 1 pound large cooked shrimp 3 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 large onion, minced 1 cup minced green and red bell peppers 1 tablespoon minced garlic 1/2 teaspoon cayenne 20 ounces cream cheese, softened at room temperature 1 cup mayonnaise 6 ounces shredded pepper Jack or Monterey Jack cheese 2 tablespoons minced green-onion tops 1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme leaves (optional) 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1 cup crumbled butter crackers or panko French Bread Croustades, for serving Serves 8 to 10

For the past nine years, neighbors on Forest View Drive near Nevada City have been celebrating the holidays with a progressive dinner where each course is hosted at a different home. The inspiration for this event was a creative idea from Sandi Kasting, a fellow Forest View neighbor, when many new residents moved into the neighborhood nine years ago. Through rain, sleet and snow, neighbors trek to the next abode often signing carols while admiring holiday decorations and appreciating our wonderful forest views. During this busy season, we all look forward to this evening of catching up with good friends, meeting new neighbors and sharing a glass of holiday spirits. Although the title of this feature requested“family”traditions, many of us have family out of the area and our neighbors have become a special family. At the progressive dinner, every course is like a holiday gift we share with each other and each year has been unique: one year, a port wine tasting; another year, a tribute to 50’s era casseroles;

Hors D’oeuvres & Deviled Eggs

Submitted by Stephen Fleury

and one year, a spectacular array of desserts. One of our favorite recipes is Pati Stinnett’s Hot Shrimp Dip as adapted from Emeril’s Table.

PLEASE HELP...

No one should be cold!

In a large bowl, add 2 quarts of ice water water, lemon juice, and 1 tablespoon Old Bay Seasoning. Stir to dissolve. Add cooked shrimp and set aside in refrigerator while preparing other ingredients.

Book Your and

Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, bell peppers, garlic, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon cayenne and cook, stirring frequently, until vegetables are thoroughly wilted but not browned, about 10 minutes. Transfer vegetable mixture to a large bowl and allow to cool. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove shrimp from ice water bath and drain well, then finely chop and transfer to a large mixing bowl. Add cooled vegetable mixture, cream cheese, mayonnaise, pepper Jack cheese, green onions, thyme, black pepper, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon cayenne and stir to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Transfer mixture to two oval gratin dishes, each about 7 by 10 1/2 inches, using the back of a spoon to evenly spread mixture. Sprinkle cracker crumbs or panko in an even layer over top of dip. Bake, uncovered, until dip is heated through and golden brown on top, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool for at least 15 minutes before serving. Serve warm, with French bread croustades for dipping.

Submitted by Ann Westling

Christmas Parties Party Platters now!

Tri-tip • Chicken • Pork Ribs • Sausage • Brisket Sandwiches • Platters • Salads

HAPPY HOUR 3 to 6 pm Every Day

Impress You for the H r Guests olidays! Smiley Guys Pulled Pork & Coleslaw COLESLAW – Shred cabbage and to taste 2 cups mayonnaise 1/2 cup cider vinegar 1/8 cup dijon mustard 1 tablespoon sugar 1 tablespoon salt 1 tablespoon granulated garlic 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (or to taste) PORK SHOULDER – Method: Rub, Inject, Cook or Smoke Rub: Thoroughly rub all meat surface (ignore fat cap on top) 3 tablespoons salt 1 cup paprika 3/4 cup brown sugar 1 teaspoon celery salt 1 teaspoon sage 1 teaspoon chipotle powder 1 teaspoon granulated garlic

Please help us with our 3rd Annual

Winter Coat & Children’s Clothing Drive

Inject with needle, through top of fat cap (about 2 cups per butt) 1 cup apple juice 3/4 cup water 3/4 cup white sugar 1/3 cup salt 1/4 cup worcestershire sauce

(coats for adults & children in our community)

Please drop off new or gently-used coats and children’s clothing at:

Arch’s Automotive

Cook at 225°F until internal temp is 195°-205°

Pulled Pork & Coleslaw

1355 E. Main St., Grass Valley • (530) 273-4540 archsautomotive.com

All Donations Benefit Hospitality House, Boothe Family Center and Livingwell Thrift.

We Thank You for Your Support!

20/49

Maltman Dr

E. Main St

Joerschke Dr

Brunswick Rd

We will be closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Year’s Day.

131 Joerschke Drive, Grass Valley

(530) 274-2933 SmileyGuysSmokeHouse.com www.facebook.com/SmileyGuysSmokeHouse

The Union | Traditions

Awards for 1st-3rd Place in Age Groups (530)-273-0521 or (530) 913-3782

Monday, November 19, 2012

The Union

Wedding Invitation Ornament

Turkey gourd craft Every year for the holidays, I try to create a new homemade craft project that adds to our decorations each year. I have two children, Sofia who is 8 and Lilah who is almost 5. They really appreciate the homemade crafts and decorations compared to the ones I’ve bought at stores. Now that they are old enough, I try to pick something they can be involved with. A few years ago I came up with this fun turkey from craft supplies I had on hand.

This year has been an amazing one for my now husband and I. We recently got married in September right after buying a house. A wedding present to us and our new house was a Christmas ornament. A good friend of ours took a clear, empty ornament and filled it parts of our wedding invitation and save-the-date card. They had taken specific strips of each invite and strategically placed them to create a cool design within the bulb. I thought this was such a creative idea and a great way to keep our wedding invitation. It will forever be a part of my holiday décor and a great reminder of our special day. Submitted by Dana Rosacker

I had a gourd from the previous summer’s garden that had been waiting for an idea. It was a whole gourd that had cured/dried with the seeds inside. One day I looked at it, and saw this turkey waiting to happen.

Gift Buckets A fun and easy Christmas or

First I sanded the gourd to give it a nice finish. To create the feathers, I folded a piece of felt in half and cut out the feather shape so I had two identical pieces. I placed a piece of wire in between the felt and hot glued the two pieces together. I snipped the sides of the feathers to make them look more realistic. I created eight brown feathers this way and did this so the feathers would stand up. I then added six smaller red pieces of felt feathers and four yellow felt feathers to make it colorful. The smaller feathers did not have the wire, and were just one piece of felt each. I just arranged these feathers in a fan, hot glued the feathers together and hot-glued the whole fan to the back of the gourd.

housewarming gift idea

You can get these metal buckets at any of the local hardware or feed stores. I love them and have giving them out as gift holder for years.

What you will need: 1 dried gourd, bought or home-grown Felt fabric in brown, yellow and red Thin gauge wire Glue gun Sharpie

I created a yellow felt beak with a red felt wattle hanging down and glued that on as well. Lastly I just drew two eyes with a sharpie, and he was complete! We have so much fun pulling him out every year and finding the perfect spot for him, he always makes me smile. Submitted by Emelia Marini

My son and I create hearth buckets by gathering pinecones, sticks, fire-starter sticks and the long fireplace matches. Give them as Hearth buckets to be kept by the woodstove or fireplace. I’ve also used them for party and picnic buckets. With wine, I mark the buckets, one with a red tag for red wine and one with a white tag for white wine with ice and use them as wine buckets. For the picnic bucket, I put in a picnic cloth, napkins, candles, mustards, nice salami, and some cheese and crackers. Great as a gift bucket for a pet as well. Fill with treats and fun stuff for the pet. Submitted by Julia Stidham

Character Names for Christmas Presents When my two boys were growing up, every Christmas they’d be snooping in the presents under the tree. The rules were “no touching” but they were really curious and who knows what they did when I wasn’t watching. They would try to guess what they were getting, and sometimes they were right, which sort of ruined the surprise Christmas morning. Until the Christmas I decided to confuse them. The next year I put tags on my oldest son’s gifts that said “Woody,” and my youngest son’s said “Buzz Lightyear.” They didn’t know who was who until Christmas morning. Each year I would change the names, but never using their real names. I think the more children you have, the more fun this could be. The most important part is to remember which name you assigned to which child! Submitted by Mary Anne Davis

Family time Being together as a family is our Tradition. As family is the most important aspect of the Holidays. Also, our kids open one present on Christmas Eve every year, while we watch “A Christmas Story” (the opened gift somehow manages to be pajamas). Then we set out cookies and milk for Santa as a special snack for all of his work. On Christmas day, we wake up and open gifts. We have a big delicious dinner, and everyone in the family cooks their best dish. We always remembering our blessings and we will pass down the tradition of gathering as a family to future generations. Submitted by Damian Reyna

998 Plaza Drive, Grass Valley (Between Margaritas & Perkos)

530-274-3301 • Open Mon-Sat Visit us online: GrandeWood.com

Santa collects gifts at this house, not deliver On every Christmas Eve, our family of 14 gathers at my mother’s house where Santa pays us a visit. He comes to the house with his cherry red cheeks, but his sack is empty. The children are not disappointed, as they know why Santa has made his special stop. Each child is holding a gift they bought with their own money. As each child sites on Santa’s lap, rattling off their Christmas wishes, they give Santa their gift and he puts it in his empty sack. The children know that Santa is there to collect gifts for needy children. This impresses the value of gift giving. Submitted by Melissa Rhoden

The Union

Monday, November 19, 2012

Turkey Trot Traditions I know of no better way to kickoff the holiday season than joining the amazing people of this community at the Michael Edward II Memorial Turkey Trot. For the past six years, the Turkey Trot has become a special part of our Thanksgiving Day traditions, as it represents precisely what the spirit of the holidays is all about—compassion, gratefulness, love, friendship and generosity! Submitted by Candace Wilson

Holidays as a child were amazing! My Thanksgiving tradition is the Turkey Trot. This is a great way to start a day of thankfulness. I think back and remember how lucky I was, and still am, to have had such a close friend like Michael. He loved this community. I am thankful that I have a community supporting a fundraising effort to bring awareness to a very taboo subject such as suicide. This is a great way (especially before the holidays) to come together as a close-knit community and share in the holiday joy or reach out to get help. That is what the Turkey Trot is about: getting help and support in any way possible. It is also a great way to spend time with family and friends before feasting in on all the holiday food for the rest of the day. I look forward to waking up early; showing up to my alma mater in the dark hours of the morning; and working all morning with my closest friends and family to put on an event for the whole community to enjoy and embrace. You just can’t help but smile. Happy Holidays! Submitted by Linda Senner

We would always go to my grandmother’s and the whole family would be there. When my grandmother died in 1991, it changed. We all sort of scattered and Thanksgiving was never quite the same. Over the years we have added friends to our Thanksgiving family, but not having a set expectation for the Holiday was always hard for me; other than the amazing food my mom makes. Now, we have the Turkey Trot Tradition. Michael Bratton was a friend and his sister Jenny is someone I consider to be one of my best, most treasured friends. Frankly, I truly love their entire family. I am so happy that our family could make the Turkey Trot a tradition that brings us together in one place every year. As a volunteer at the Trot, I feel like I am doing something to show them I am thankful for having them in my life and honored to be a part of this amazing event. Friends are the family we choose and I am so thankful this year for all of my family!

Our family tradition started back in 2006 with the creation of the Michael Bratton II Turkey Trot. My family has had the pleasure of celebrating the beginning of the holiday with this wonderful community event. Since the event came from such a place of sadness when our community lost Michael Jr., it is so rewarding to join in the love, friendship and truly positive message that this event has become. Rain or shine, my kids and I look forward to it every year as a brisk start to the family festivities. This tradition has now expanded from just our immediate family to our extended family and friends coming from all over California to make these memories and support an amazing cause. We are truly blessed to be a part of this event and look forward to it for years to come. What a great way to give thanks! Submitted by Sarah Hooper

Submitted by Michelle Litton Ogaidi

Let a local ® REALTOR get you home for the holidays The local Nevada County Association of REALTORS® has a tradition of giving back to the Community. Thank you to our 2012 Community partners. Big Brothers Big Sisters Economic Resource Center Conflict Resolution Center Fire Facts Habitat for Humanity Hospitality House Interfaith Food Ministries Nevada County Food Bank K.A.R.E. Crisis Nursery KVMR KNCO Relay for Life The Union (530) 272-2627 • www.nevadacountyaor.com

Have your business or family holiday party here

View Rental Facility Information

ESTERLY HALL and Rates Online at Accommodates up to 150. Covered patios, formal entry, hall, stage, warming kitchen, audio/visual www.nevadacountyaor.com & WIFI and ample parking. Available Monday-Saturday. or call 530-272-2627 CONFERENCE ROOM Accommodates up to 15 with media equipment & ext. deck access. Available Monday-Friday, 9-5. TRAINING/CLASSROOM Accommodates up to 25 with private entry off parking lot. Available Monday-Sunday. with this coupon. Expires 12/31/12.

20% OFF Facility Rental

Monday, November 19, 2012

The Union

Sierra Presbyterian During the holiday season, we at Sierra Presbyterian Church have traditionally expressed God’s love through many local organizations and global missions. We are in the midst of our seventh year of providing shelter and meals on Thursday nights for our homeless population in Nevada County through Hospitality House. We also support Interfaith Food Ministry in its Operation Christmas Turkey Program. Our Ankor youth group and KidVENTURE group partner with KARE Crisis Center and Trinity Episcopal Church to assist with shopping and to provide a venue for “Santa’s Christmas Shoppe,” which is a program for those who might not otherwise receive Christmas gifts. Each year, our Women’s Fellowship group leads up Compassion International’s Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes. Over the years, we have provided thousands of shoe boxes to children across the. Sierra Pres has involved musicians and singers in the community through our production of “Handel’s Messiah” which has occurred every other year for over 20 years. On the off years, we provide a musical with this year’s being “A Special Season of Worship” at 3 p.m. on December 2. Submitted by Sierra Presbyterian Church

Christmas Story – Abundant Life Community Church

Peace Lutheran

Every year at the beginning of December, Abundant Life Community Church presents the story of Jesus’ birth in a very special way. We recreate the little town of Bethlehem within the walls of our church sanctuary and then tell the Christmas Story in an unforgettable manner. Our desire with this presentation, as well as with our Christmas Eve service, is to enable our community to experience the excitement felt by those who were alive during the events that took place in the days of Jesus’ advent; when angels were appearing; shepherds were rejoicing; innkeepers were scurrying; and people were praying for the coming Messiah. This, we believe, is the true meaning of Christmas – celebrating the birth of a tiny baby, whose coming to this world changed the entire course of human history. And we are excited for the opportunity we have to celebrate this miraculous event every single year.

At Peace Lutheran Church, an important seasonal tradition is music. For more than 15 years, the church has offered a midweek “Advent Organ Vespers” featuring well-known local organist Paul Perry. December 5, 12, and 19, this will be again part of our Advent tradition. Each Vespers begins at 4:45 p.m. with 30 minutes of seasonal music (often featuring other local musicians as well as Mr. Perry); the recital is followed by a 30 minute sung Evening Prayer service. Many local residents have found this a wonderful way to take an hour out of our busy December weeks to sit quietly and reflect on the joy and hope of the season. All are welcome, there is no charge and no offering is taken. Submitted by Peace Lutheran Church

Submitted by Gabe Barber with Abundant Life Community Church

Happy Holidays

Watch for Christmas in Nevada County in Thursday’s paper.

Your guide to all holiday events in the area

Scarves & Socks

With sincere thanks to our clients and friends for your business, support, confidence and referrals

Sweaters

Holiday Tops

throughout the year. We appreciate the opportunity to serve all of your real estate needs.

Gift Certificates

Wishing you a wonderful holiday season with family and friends and a very prosperous New Year.

...it’s just

what I

wanted!

The Kathy Papola Team Kathy Papola, Roberta Ollenberger, Pamela Ruth & Cindy Argento

exciting styles for women

1039 Sutton Way, Grass Valley

Network Real Estate Fine Homes Division Cell 530 913-9879 Office 530 271-3815 email: kathy@papola.com www.papola.com DRE LIC #00498457

(530) 272-9110 freshimageclothing.com

The Union

Coasters crafts

Monday, November 19, 2012

Halloween Christmas Cards

Coasters are an easy-to-make hostess or Christmas gift. There are many tiles to choose from at The ReStore that supports Nevada County’s Habitat for Humanity. Choose your tiles and then get the small round felt pads that have the self adhesive. Attach them to the bottom of the tiles and group together in groups of four to six. Wrap with a ribbon and you have a great gift.

Every year on Halloween, we all dress up and take a family photo and use the picture for our Christmas card. We send out the photo and a letter about what each member has done that year. The rest of the family and our friends love these.

Submitted by Julia Stidham

Submitted by Julie Stephens

TREE DIRECTORY 1

••★ •• ★

• •★ ••

OPEN DAILY 10-8

CHOOSE THE PERFECT TREE AT ONE OF THESE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS…

• •★

• •★• ★•

Thanksgiving - Christmas (Will sell out before Christmas)

•★•• •★ • • ★ ••

•★

•

•★

•

and

Jones Bar Rd.

swic

N Bitney Springs Rd. Rough&

Voted Best Christmas Tree Lot by The Union Readers 2 YEARS IN A ROW

W. M a

Ready Road

in S t re et

6 lley Rd.

Willow Va

Brun

d. nR ow t ew

Sutton Way

464 Sutton Way Grass Valley

★ • •★ •

Behind The Union Next to Beach Hut Deli

Cement Hill Rd.

Nevada St.

Stunning wreaths to fit any Christmas decor

★ ••★••★ ••

Fresh Cut Oregon Noble Firs

RIVER

UBA UTH Y

ALTA

k Rd

Mead ow

ryland Rd

Idaho Ma

Alta 146 Exit

•★••★••★•• ★• ••

★• •★ • •★

2 8 ax

Retrac Way.

olf

Lo Sunshine Valley Rd.

Mount Olive Rd.

cie nda

Dr.

Cone & Hill Dr.

Brusin’s Cement Hill Road

Choose and Cut your own Christmas Tree Pine -Any Tree- Any Size

W. Ha

CHRISTMAS TREE RANCH

75*

+ Tax

Douglas Fir* Any Tree -

OPEN G IVIN THANKSG DAY

Ask about pine, silver tip & white fir Pre-Cut Sierra Silver Tips discounts.

Any Tree, Any Size, Just $25. Open Thursday-Sunday until 4:00

Make us your family tradition • 530-432-2660

Cone & Hill TREE Farm

Choose & Cut

Doug Fir • Wreaths • Tree Stands Pre-cut Nordman & Noble Fir • Picnic Area! FREE Tree Netting OPEN FRI 2-5 • WEEKENDS 10-5

(530) 268-3610 21001 Cone & Hill Dr.

Off Wolf Rd. 2.5 miles from Hwy 49 Donn & Nicole Coenen

$2.00 OFF with this ad!

+ Tax

& White Fir* Trees up to 7 ft.

265-4018

3725*

THURS THRU SUN 10-5:30 Cement Hill Road

Trees 7 ft. to 9 ft.

60* $ + Tax

12* + Tax

*Limited supply.

6 Willow Valley Chrstmas Tree Farm 8 Choose and Cut Douglas Fir White Fir Red Fir Sequoia 10642 Willow Valley Rd., Nevada City 478-5859 | Open Friday, Saturday and Sunday

Toney’s Tree Service, located at the Idaho Maryland exit will not be offering Christmas trees this year.

From our family to yours, have a happy, holiday season

Driv

r Tor

13015 Cement Hill Rd., Nevada City

Choose and Cut your own Christmas Tree

in ey P

Wolf Mountain

Christmas Trees Choose & Cut Trees

Douglas Fir & Scotch Pine

OPEN WEEKENDS 10-5PM

18251 Retrac • Grass Valley (530) 268-3969

Monday, November 19, 2012

The Union

Fart Machines and Fake Mustaches —Just Another Thanksgiving at the Vieaux’s No one can remember how the fart machine got invited to Thanksgiving dinner one year, but today it is as much of our tradition as the turkey and trimmings. Perhaps it was brought out to make the “orphans” (guests who would have otherwise been alone for the holiday) feel welcomed? Regardless of the reason, that silly remote-controlled fart machine has been the quickest way to get the giggles started. Laughter aids digestion, after all! Another holiday staple is the annual passing out of fake mustaches. Even the grandmas and nanas get into the festivities. The more creative folks make uni-brows or soul patches—the sillier the better! While it may not be your typical traditional Thanksgiving, it is full of thankfulness, gratitude, laughter and love. Submitted by Laurel Vieaux

St. Canice Church 317 Washington St., NC 265-2049

Father Sylvester Kwiatkowski Father Julito Orpilla Father Bob O’Neill, Ret. Saturday: 5:30 p.m. Sunday: 8, 9:30, 11 a.m. a.m. Weekday Masses: 7:30 a.m.

Nevada City United Methodist 433 Broad St., Nevada City 265-2797 www.nevadacitymethodist.com

Trinity Church

202 High St., Nevada City 265-8836 trinitync@priest.com

Sun: 8 & 10:30 a.m. Youth & Adult Forums: 9:15 a.m. Sun.

Rev. Charles Smith Sunday: 9 and 10:30 a.m

First Baptist Church 1866 Ridge Road, Grass Valley across from Nevada Union High School

530-273-7301 Sunday Services 9:00am Traditional 11:00am Contemporary

Crossroads Church 10050 Wolf Road Grass Valley

St. Canice Church 317 Washington St., NC • 265-2049 Father Sylvester Kwiatkowski, Father Julito Orpilla 268-2539 Father Bob O’Neill, ret. Saturday: 5:30 p.m. Sunday: 8, 9:30, 11 a.m. a.m. Sunday Services: 8, 9:30, 11:15 Weekday Masses: 7:30 a.m.

a.m. Wednesday Bible Study: 6:30 p.m.

Calvary Bible Church

11481 Hwy. 174, Grass Valley

530-273-1343 www.gvcbc.org First Baptist Church - Grass Valley 1866 Ridge Road 530-273-7301 across from Nevada Union High School Sunday Services

Grass Valley United Methodist

236 S. Church St., Grass Valley 272-1946 www.gv-umc.org Rev. Tana McDonald Bible Studies and First Church Service: 8:45 a.m. Second Church Service: 10:30 a.m.

Grace Lutheran (LCMS)

Twin Cities Church

(between Racquet Club and NUHS)

530-273-6425 twincitieschurch.com

11726 Rough and Ready Hwy

1979 Ridge Road, Grass Valley (530) 273-7043 gracelutherangv.com

Pastor Ron Thompson Sunday: 8, 9:35 & 11:15 a.m. Children: Birth-5th grade (during every service) Sr High 9:35 a.m., Jr High 11:15 a.m. Celebrate Recovery Fridays: 7 p.m.

Rev. Chris DelCol Adult bible study: 8 a.m. Sunday Worship w/Nursery Care: 9 a.m. Sunday Family Education: 10:30 a.m. Sunday Contemporary Service: 11 a.m. KNCO Lutheran Hour: Sunday 7:30 a.m.

in the

Gold Country Spiritual Center

180 Cambridge Court, GV 274-2463 unitygold.us Rev. Jerry Farrell Services /Religious Ed: Sun: 10:30 a.m. Course in Miracles: Thursday 7 p.m. The Way of Mastery: Monday 7 p.m. Men’s/Women’s Groups: Tues.10 a.m.

Peace Lutheran Church ELCA 828 West Main St., GV 273-9631 peacelutherangv.org

Pastor Richard Johnson Sunday Worship: 8 & 10:45 a.m. Sunday School 9:30 a.m.

Abundant Life Community

10795 Alta St., Grass Valley abundantlife1139@yahoo.com Pastor S. Floyd 273-1139 Sunday: 8:45 & 10:30 a.m. Wednesday: 7pm

Bethel Church

13010 Hwy. 49 (1.5 miles below K-Mart) (530) 273-8475

Pastor Brian Johnson 1Sunday School 9 a.m. Sunday Worship Service 10 a.m. with nursery and kids church Family night 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays with adult bible study, girls ministries, Royal Rangers and youth

St. Patrick’s Church

Emmanuel Episcopal Church

273-2347

273-7876 • www.gvepiscopal.org

Church & Chapel Sts., GV Father Sylvester Kwiatkowski Father Julito Orpilla Saturday: 8:30 a.m., 5 p.m. Sunday Mass: 7:30, 9 & 11 a.m. Weekday Mass: 8:30 a.m.

235 S Church Street, GV

Rev. Seth Kellermann Sun: Holy Eucharist 8 and 10 a.m. Youth Group at 11 a.m. Sunday

Sunday School & Child Care during 10 a.m. service

Tuesday Bible Study 6:30 p.m. Thursday Holy Eucharist 10 a.m. Bible study 11 a.m.