Hi Tommy, Great memories of Christmases. Reminded me of the scrawny pine trees we cut down and thought they were the most beautiful trees ever. Thanks, Ann -------------- Original message ---------------------- From: "Newton, Thomas" <Thomas.Newton@astrazeneca.com> > I remember going to my "Big Granny's" house every Christmas. Big Granny - FYI - > was Willie Mae Jeffers Evans (1889-1989), the mother of my paternal grandmother, > Juanita Evans-Newton, w/o Wm Sterling Evans. I remember the chill in that old > farmhouse - those gas-burning heaters had a distinct smell that I'll never > forget - and Granny - being in her 90's when I was a kid - she always had a > prime seating location - right next to the heater. I also remember that there > was always a copper pot with water sitting on top - steam keeping the air moist. > In the opposite corner of the room was the little pine tree that Aunt Grace > Evans-Zeigler had cut from the woods by the pond. It looked just like that > little tree owned by Charlie Brown! It had about ten ornaments, each one nearly > bending the limb to the ground....and it always had those foil ice-sickles > handing all over it. Under this tree were MANY MANY presents. As us kids > passed out the presents, everyone would tear into the! > m - except for Big Granny - who would make a stack of gifts next to her rocking > chair. When everyone else was done opening their gifts - we'd all get > excited...because we knew that it as Big Granny's turn to open!! And - did I > tell you yet - this was the sweetest woman that ever lived - I still miss her so > much. Granny's gifts were always wonderful - cook books, perfumes, aprons, > sweaters, nick-nacks - it was great fun watching that sweet face smile. > > Big Granny died in 1989 when I was in Grad school at Purdue. Today - I live on > the farm where she lived for eighty years. I feel her presence all of the time > - and no Christmas goes by when I do not remember the love that she gave to her > family on Christmas and throughout her life of 100 years. > > > Tommy Newton > > > -----Original Message----- > From: gascreve-bounces@rootsweb.com > [mailto:gascreve-bounces@rootsweb.com]On Behalf Of > deborahbryd@bellsouth.net > Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2007 9:33 AM > To: gascreve@rootsweb.com; gaburke@rootsweb.com; flhillsb@rootsweb.com > Subject: [GASCREVE] Christmas Past, list mom message > > > In years past we have opened up the lists to remember our favorite family tales > about the holidays as a way of sharing our stories and hopefully connecting with > new family members and keeping the memories of those that past alive in our > hearts. > > I would like to open the forum up again to that activity. Have fun, who knows > you might find the missing link in the family story or hear it from a different > perspective. > > Happy Holidays may they be bright with the love of family and friend those that > share our daily lives and those that have blessed our lives in days gone by. > > List Mom > Deborah Byrd > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > GASCREVE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in > the subject and the body of the message > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > GASCREVE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in > the subject and the body of the message