Residents share memories of Christmases past
Friday, December 24, 2004 - Natalie Miller
While she was pregnant with her first child, the mother-to-be recalls climbing fences in search of the perfect Christmas tree.

Toboggan in tow, Margaret Doyle and her husband trudged along farmland owned by their friends for their tree. They would then take it to their home, built in 1880 and located on the Bay of Quinte, and set up the tree in front of their bay window.

Margaret, 83, now a resident of West Lake Terrace in Picton, has many recollections of Christmases past.

"Christmas has always been a fond memory of mine," says Margaret.

"It was a happy time."

Under that Christmas tree presents would accumulate, spilling out into the middle of the room, recalls Margaret, a mother of three. "It was almost sinful the gifts we had under the tree," she says.

On Christmas morning, her husband made the coffee and got the video camera ready while Margaret and her son and two daughters prepared for the gift exchange. Margaret's in-laws and two of her son's friends joined the family for Christmas dinner. The usual turkey, stuffing, potatoes and turnips graced the table, but Margaret often prepared a special salad containing maraschino cherries and mandarin oranges and served it in a large crystal bowl.

"It was a very nice feeling being altogether," says Margaret. "Those were wonderful times."

On Boxing Day, the family members packed their bags and headed to the Laurentians for an annual ski trip, returning on New Year's Day.

Margaret says she is looking forward to her first Christmas at West Lake Terrace, which has become her home. "This is different because I'm in a nursing home. The nice thing is I wanted to come to a nursing home," says Margaret, referring to medical reasons for the move. "I'm looking forward to Christmas here." Margaret's daughter, Debbie, and granddaughter, Danna, will join her on Christmas Day at the Picton long-term care home.

Maplewood resident Ruth McLaren will spend part of the day at the Brighton long-term care home and later join her son and daughter-in-law for a ham dinner. Ruth's son, Al, will connect with her for lunch before they head to Belleville to his place for the evening meal. She has lived at Maplewood for five years.

Ruth, 89, has fond memories of Christmases spent in Toronto with her husband. From morning to night, the couple welcomed guests of all ages into their home that housed "a great big tree with 1,000 lights," says Ruth.

"I loved them all," she says about holidays past.

"My husband was crazy for Christmas."

When Ruth was a little girl, she spent Christmas with her 10 siblings on the family farm. "We'd go back to the woods to cut down the tree." Ruth says they made all of the paper decorations for the tree, using flour and water as glue. They also made popcorn chains.

Neighbours joined the family for music created by Ruth's mother on the baby grand piano and a mouth organ. "I have so many good memories," says Ruth.