Gingerbread men were the theme at the 41st annual Seniors Christmas Dinner served at the Forest Grove Legion on Dec. 2.
Brenda Scott, one of the ladies who worked in the kitchen, made gingerbread man pins and cookies for 100 people, gingerbread centrepieces for each table and she even made a gingerbread house to give away at the end of the evening.
The room was beautifully decorated and the lovely ambiance of a crackling fire was everywhere because all the TVs were tuned to the fireplace channel.
One hundred people were expected for the annual event, so the Ladies Auxiliary was very busy making sure everything was just right. Dishes of pickles, cranberry sauce and buns and butter were placed on each table.
Huge pots of vegetables and gravy were on the stove, stuffing was warming in the oven and turkeys were being carved up. Happy hour was at 4 p.m. and people started trickling in. All the ladies looked very festive in their best Christmas outfits and the gents eagerly waited for the turkey dinner.
Soon the whole room was abuzz with people happily catching up with old friends. Dinner got started with a beautiful shrimp cocktail then the turkey was served and finally a plate of goodies was put on each table for dessert.
Coffee and tea was served while Art Dumaresq sang and played his guitar. The dance floor was open for anyone who wanted to cut a rug and there were spot dances with prizes.
Legion president Jim Tindale, who usually dances up a storm, had to take it easy because he injured his knee after taking an unintentional swan dive out of his hay barn.
At the end a lovely evening, good wishes were given all around and everyone happily departed for home.
Christmas concert
All the children at the Forest Grove Elementary School are busily rehearsing for their Christmas concert, which takes place on Dec. 18 at 6:30 p.m.
If you can't make it to the evening performance, you are invited to attend that morning’s dress rehearsal at 9 a.m. If any parents are interested in helping with backdrops, costuming or other jobs let the teachers know.
The Community and Parent Advisory Council (CPAC) will be selling 50/50 tickets and the draw will take place at the intermission of the evening performance. Tea and coffee will be served at the intermission, and if you would like to donate Christmas baking, it would be greatly appreciated.
Please bring a non-perishable food item, which will be donated to the 100 Mile House Food Bank and Loaves & Fishes Outreach.
The children will get their report cards the next day and then they are off on their winter break from Dec. 20 to Jan. 6, 2014.
Slip sliding away
Put your curling broom and shoes by the door because the ice at the Forest Grove Curling Rink is almost ready.
There will be an open house on Dec. 14 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and coffee and tea will be served. You're welcome to come out by yourself or bring a friend or a team and throw a few rocks or even play a few ends. If you have a curling broom and slider bring them along, if not there will be a few extras at the rink for you to use.
The curling season will go from January to March with the men’s league running on Fridays at 7 p.m., and a mixed league goes on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. Cost for either league is $100 or $150 for both.
If you're going to give curling a whirl bring a pair of clean, soft-soled shoes with you as well as your adventurous spirit and get ready to have some fun.