Thank You Amy & Alice

A big Thank You to Amy Sutton, who organized the gift wrapping at REI this holiday season.  She gathered all of the wrapping materials, including a large variety of decorative items, organized the gift wrappers, baked a pound cake to keep everyone going, and even gave out a jar of blueberry / rosemary jam to each wrapper!  The list of TTA members and non-members who helped wrap holiday shoppers at the REI in Brentwood includes: Nancy Juodenas, Diane Manas (who also helped recruit new members and donors at the TTA / CTC display), Jenice Johnson, Rachel Jakubovitz, Patricia Morrison, Elizabeth Gerlock, Nora Beck, Betty Magee, Dianna Richter, and Doug Burroughs.  (Photo by Jenice Johnson)

Another big thank you to Alice Cannon, who reserves us the clubhouse in her section of River Plantation each year and has everything set up when we get there.

Wintertimes Rhymes by Tom Vickstrom

Here’s a hike one can take from their armchair, without leaving the house.  Please enjoy this little piece of winter wonderland I wrote a number of years ago, based on childhood memories of the long, cold winters in New England….”When sun shines out across the dust, reflecting light like diamond dust”.     Here’s to hiking in snow!   Happy holidays to all.    Tom Vickstrom

Wintertimes Rhymes

Winter’s coming, silent, stark
It’s colder now, early dark
Birds on the fly, leaves swirling down
Changing signs now abound

Plants lie down in their beds
Wings of frost bring winter’s edge
Trees stand in the pristine cold
Stately sights to behold

Crisp and brittle from the chill
All goes quiet, calm, and still
Cold stars nightly shining clear
Tranquility this time of year

Crystals fall as clouds blow past
Objects locked in, frozen fast
Captive in the landscape snow
Wait patiently for sunshine’s glow

Brilliance shows up on clear days
Slanted sunlight, brighter rays
In contrast to the darkened night
Powder, sparkling silver-white

Time stops for awhile it seems
Lost in a reality of dreams
No need to rush the winter through
While spirits rest they can renew

Cold subsides to dampened chill,
Sun’s warm rays yet weakened still
Buds not quite ready to start
Something known inside their heart

Snow crust wilts, to freeze again
Subsiding slowly ‘till the end
Melted runoff, mottled ground
Tinged with warmth, spring coming round

Thus goes winter’s slow parade
Majestic, passing through the shade
Let’s follow it and not lose sight
It’s all right there in black and white