Excerpt from page 59-60. Our story is available at: Whispers from Kith and Kin : Hill, Gerald Lorne, Hill, Shannon Jane: Amazon.ca: Books
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The following morning before the boys awoke, George and Collett slid out of bed onto the cold floor to prepare the last-minute details for the upcoming treasured day.
While George was in the process of lighting the kerosene lamp, Collett whispered, “George, I want to bake bread before we cook the turkey. I reckon we should try to have dinner around five o’clock, so would you please light the outside oven after we eat breakfast?” She paused for a moment. “After we open the presents would be just fine.”
George nodded that he would take care of that task.
It didn’t take long before Patrick appeared at the kitchen door. “Mor’n Father, mor’n Mother.”
They both lovingly playfully quipped in unison, “Merry Christmas, Patrick.”
Collett softly whispered, “Are Philip and Paul awake yet?”
“They’re coming.”
In next to no time, the twins bounded out into the light of the room to see all the presents under the tree. Collett passed each one a glass of cold apple cider and suggested that they open their presents. There was great merriment with the present opening.
When it was seemingly over, George explained, “Boys, now there is one more present that your mother and I have spoken about for some time.” He cleared his throat and elaborated. “We have planned this since the day you were born.” He paused for a minute, and then requested, “Wait right here whilst we go.”
He paused again and then, as if he had not methodically thought out the precise moment, began again.
“No, better yet, get your boots and jackets. We’re going out to the barn.”
“The barn?” yelled Phillip and questioned, “Did you hide it in the hayloft?”
Without answering, his father continued. “Now we have to have order here. We hanker to all get dressed and then walk to the barn—not run, walk. Phillip, go get the snow shovel in case we hanker to help your mother.”
They continued on their snowy walk and as they approached the barn.
“You all must close your eyes, and then I’ll open the big door.”
They followed their father’s orders, and once assembled at the door, Collett gleefully instructed, “Now hold hands and be sure that your eyes are shut tight.”
With great expectation, Phillip specified, “Hold my hand. We’re all going in together.”
With the barn door pulled back on its slide, merely enough for them to enter while still holding hands, they stumbled through the last fall’s whitewashed painted door into the enclosure. Their first smell was earthy cut hay. Once inside, their eyes became accustomed to the darkness. Collett again instructed, “Walk straight ahead.” The boys proceed.
“Ok, now stop.”
Two small furry kittens suddenly rushed to greet the party.
After a moment, Collett further instructed, “All right. Open your eyes and look up.”
As they peered upward into the darkness of the loft, the boys saw their father standing there, holding something high into the air.
“Hold on,” shouted George. “I’ll pass them down to you.”
He shooed a chicken to the side and carried the unwrapped present to the hayloft ladder. He struggled and passed the first one down to the highly anticipating waiting family. It was the highly sought-after hope saddle with uniquely red-stained fenders.
“Wow,” they all voiced in unison.
Collett looked it over and pronounced, “This one’s for you, Phillip.”
George retreated to the pile of hay, and while digging around, he found another one and returned to the ladder.
It was another hope saddle. This one had yellow-brown fenders.
“This one's for you, Patrick.”
Retreating to the hiding place, George located the last saddle and called out, “And this one’s for you, Paul.”
It was, as it should’ve been, the twin to Phillip’s saddle with the red-stained fenders.
George returned from the ladder, and Collett declared with gusto, “You all are mostly full-grown, so I’m sure they will last you for a lifetime. Besides, we couldn’t wait any longer to give them to you. I do hope you like them.”
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Shannon's Recipe Corner
Peanut Butter Bon Bons
Ingredients
1/2 Cup Butter
2 Cups Peanut Butter
3 Cups Icing Sugar
3 Cups Rice Krispies
Melting Chocolate Wafers or Chocolate Chips
Directions
Melt butter and peanut butter together slowly. Once melted, add icing sugar and stir. Add rice krispies last stirring until mixed well. Chill mixture for 10 minutes. Roll into balls and place on a parchment paper covered cookie sheet. Melt the chocolate wafers (or chocolate chips). Roll each ball in the melted chocolate until entirely coated. Place on cookie sheet. Chill until chocolate coating is hard. Enjoy!
Tip: If the mixture is sticky while rolling into balls, chill a bit longer.
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