Hello, everyone! To get us all into the holiday spirit, I'd like to ask the group to share your memories of Drew County Christmases and traditions. When I was a girl, Christmas Eve always meant the whole family getting together at my great-grandmother Virgie Loveless's house in Possum Valley. There was always lots of good food to eat, and my mom would inevitably bring either pecan pie or coconut cream pie (or both, if we kids could talk her into it). At Mamma's house, the women pretty much stayed in the kitchen and caught up on family news, while the men stayed in the living room and chatted about who knows what. We kids would go out front and shoot off fireworks, with the bigger male cousins lighting the big Roman candles. Under the tree, Mamma made sure that everybody had a present. Many times, the gift was made by her own hands (slipper socks with a crocheted edging, or crocheted booties, or the like). I don't know what the boys got. It was always amazing to me that no matter how big the family grew, Mamma always made sure that no one was left out. At least one year (maybe more), we had a Loveless family hayride. I could not even tell you who drove, or whose trailer we used, or where we went. Most likely we just rode around Possum Valley for a little while. My dad or my Aunt Bobbie will have to jump in here and fill in the gaps in my memory. All I remember is driving around under frosty stars, singing Christmas carols with my cousins. Please feel free to share your Drew County Christmas memories over the next few days, and have a wonderful holiday! --Melissa