CEDAR MOUNTAIN NEWS FOR THURSDAY 12-10-15

MCGAHA CHAPEL

Bolstered by wonderful weather, the McGaha Chapel Caroling on Sunday afternoon attracted over 80 people. The chapel had a surprise visit from Santa Claus who took time out from his busy schedule to wish us a very merry Christmas.

Following the caroling, the Cedar Mountain Community Center hosted a Christmas party featuring home baked cookies complete with accompanying recipes by talented Greater Cedar Mountain bakers. The home-baked sweets and accompanying recipes were an ongoing topic of conversation at the gathering after the singing, and were consumed with gusto and notable appreciation. There was also fruit, hot apple cider and fresh coffee. The center was filled with festive happy chatter and featured Christmas Carols played by Suzanne Lawson. Many thanks to all of those who made this day so memorable.

CHRISTMAS CANTATA AT ROCKY HILL

The choir is working hard rehearsing for our Christmas Cantata so mark your calendar now to attend this year's cantata at Rocky Hill Baptist church, which will be held on Sunday evening December 20th. Following the performance of the Rocky Hill Choir's "Greatest Christmas Hits" we will gather at the Family Life Center building next door for home made cookies and fellowship!

CHRISTINE'S CORNER ~ Christine Pace

U. S. WAR DOG ASSOCIATION

If you'd like to donate to a very worthy cause this season consider purchasing an item to be sent overseas to the U. S. War Dog Association. There's a big list of choices at "Pure Pets" store in Brevard, as 210 S. Broad Street across from the library. They open at 10:00am and can also be reached at (828)884-7333. I was there Monday purchasing new soy collars for my two little dogs Jack & Jill and saw their generous offer; a lady purchased a pair of dog boots while I was there, and they went right into a box that the owner of Pure Pets will be sending by this time next week. The workers at Pure Pets will tell you all about this effort.

BENEFITS & PITFALLS OF DEEP BREATHING

Pitfalls? Well, when I practice our Christmas cantata at Rocky Hill Baptist Church in the evenings I can never get to sleep afterward! I figure it’s because of the deep breathing I'm doing for over an hour; it’s good for a person to do this but I believe its better done earlier in the day. Maybe I'll try deep breathing during the mid-morning or early afternoon slump? What do you think? Just like drinking water, which is so good for so many reasons, deep breathing is free, yet so easily forgotten. Just don't try doing both at the same time!

WESLEYAN CHRISTMAS PROGRAM THIS SUNDAY

I'll miss my own church this Sunday morning in order to attend the Brevard Wesleyan church's annual Christmas program at11:00am. My youngest granddaughter Calla Harris has a part in it!

ANOTHER GRANDCHILD FOR CLINT & BETH

Clint and Beth Owings now have six grandchildren! Their son Brooks Owings and wife Merritt had a 7 pound 6 ounce baby boy last Friday, December 4th, and named him Julian Brooks Owings. He will be called Jude and I'm sure will come to love Cedar Mountain as much as his folks and grandparents do! He is Brooks' & Merritt's second child, having a sister who will soon be three year's old. Congratulations to the Owings' family! Little Jude is Joe's and my great-great nephew!

MAGAZINE COVER HAS MY ART!

The largest magazine of gourd art, here and in the world, is the "American Gourd Society" magazine, which comes out four times per year. I was asked several month's ago to do a tutorial on making Santa ornaments from the banana gourd, which is of similar shape and size of a banana. I used polymer clay to sculpt the face, beard, etc on the gourd then painted them with acrylics after being cured. Betty Bessette took many photos of my gourds as I worked on them, and you have seen a couple of her photos printed here in the Cedar Mountain News these past few weeks. Imagine my surprise when the latest issue of the AGS magazine came out last week with two of my gourds on the front cover, and a four-page spread inside! I am honored indeed and thankful to Betty for her photography too.

WORTH SEEING:

The largest pile of logs I have ever seen is on my road, almost 1 & 1/2 mile down Reasonover Road. A huge harvesting of lumber is going on at the Rigley's property, and the extremely long trees are brought out to the road side before being loaded and hauled off to the lumber mill. It's very unique! Drive down Reasonover and take a look! While there you're invited to turn in across the road and cut your own Christmas tree if you haven't already. Follow the sign to where these beautiful Christmas trees are being sold, cut already or you cut!

NOW YOU CAN "SEE"

With the leaves finally gone from the many deciduous trees you can now see many areas in Cedar Mountain that you can't see in the spring, summer or early fall! What a beautiful area we live in! Take a drive and take in the sights. And please have a very Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Kwanzaa!

ZUMBA AT CEDAR MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY CENTER

Zumba classes are every Monday & Wednesday, 10:30-11:30am. Remaining classes for December are 12/ 9, 14, and16.

WEB SITE

We are hearing from a lot of folks as a result of our informational website. Many folks are contacting us with a variety of questions and to inquire about our community and community center rental. For more community news and a calendar of events go to www.cedarmountaincommunitycenter.com

RENTAL

Our community center calendar is filling up and calls keep coming in. Several receptions have been booked for 2016 already. Call now to reserve while your date is still available. Call Deborah Perkins at 828-885-7878 for information or reservations.

AROUND THE HOUSE ~ Linda Young

Well the highlight of this week is the installation of a new gas space heater in my sunroom. With this new heater and my fireplace I won’t have to seek refuge from the cold when the power goes out. Two friends had an unexpected guest last winter because my fireplace was not working at that time either.

Not so pleasing is the fact my heater in my Jeep is malfunctioning. I had the lines flushed before leaving for Illinois but it only lasted a couple of days. I had it worked on again in Illinois and that lasted a few more days. It goes to the car doctor tomorrow for a more definitive fix (I hope). Good thing we haven’t had zero temps.

Welcome to new neighbors Mark and Sherrie Novak in Cedar Creek subdivision in Cedar Mountain. We are glad to have you.

We’d love to hear what’s going on in your life or the community if you would like to share. Please send all news to cedarmountainnews@hotmail.com. You may also call Christine Pace at 828-885-2103 and leave a message.

All news needs to be received by Monday evening in order to be published in the Thursday edition of the Transylvania Times.