There is a Story Behind Each One!

Yes, the house interior is decked out for the holidays.  Although the tree is small, it is decked out with our most precious ornaments, the keepsakes from Fred's News.  Ornaments given by patrons young and old, all carefully unwrapped,examined and remembered.  Still looking as lovely as it did on it's first Christmas, Mary and Scott Turner's handmade ornament made a successfully journey to Florida.  Styrofoam snowmen, thanks to Jordan and Taylor Nute, are now complete with their new twig brooms, their handiwork is still being admired. Pat Olsen and Mrs. G. also have ornaments on our tree.  Of course, our family has their special ones, even Fred the Dog still being represented and admired. Some have tarnished a bit, all have the gorgeous patina that only comes with age, but the memories hold firm in our minds and hearts.

Of course there were a few ornaments left at Fred's News.  One was a little snowman, his battery lasting almost ten years.  You simply pushed the button to on....."We wish you a Merry Christmas" plays loud and clear.  Funny, no matter where we put that ornament on the tree, youngsters never had any trouble finding it. That snowman, because of the noise factor and the hopes it would see many more Christmases, was the reason we left it behind.  Kids young and old looked for that ornament year after year.

Kathleen's burnt toast ornaments never made the Florida expedition.  It seems the second year of their existence was cut short by a nibbling mouse during the warm summer months.  That mouse probably could of dropped any "Fat Cat" after his summer of nibbling toast ornaments and four ears of carefully packed away Indian corn.  Little Bastard!! Some of my most precious handmade ornaments, are all hand-carved and painted by Kathleen.  These adorable Santa Clauses, all different, were a labor of love by Kathleen,  Every year, I received one,and yes I always felt so grateful to be on Kathleen's list. Such an artist, yet so humble.

One year, artist in residence, Kathleen decided to make a pineapple upside down cake for the annual Fred's News holiday party.  As her and Don entered the kitchen, hellos and hug exchanged, Kathleen showed us the gorgeous cake.  As she was handing it to me, she tripped, the cake flying to the floor, when suddenly , through fits of laughter, we realized the cake, a fake, had been made of foam and other materials.  The "icing on the cake", confectioner's sugar made it look all the more authentic.  God, that was a great joke.  During the course of the evening, Kathleen asking another party goer, "would you care for some cake?"  If the answer was affirmative, she hurled the cake at the unsuspecting Guest.  Screeches pierced the loud the din of the crowd, Kathleen, uncontrollably laughing!  It was great, we were just lucky, some of the invited old farts didn't have a heart attack!