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‘Tis the Season of Snow and Celebrations!
“Sweet! Hey Mom! It snowed last night! Today when I come home from school, do you think I could try sledding on Bumble Hill? It looks like we received plenty of snow!”
How could I resist my soon–to-be 12 year-old son, Robert? After all, he’s worked hard on his school work and scout projects, and…….well….. the day simply was too nice to resist; a beautiful blue sky and sunshine with 33 degrees. You know, I really think kids stay indoors much too long and I consider us lucky living in the Berkshires in an area of woods, field and hills. Although I too enjoy the winter wonderland with its crisp, clean air and sparkling snowflakes, I think winter has recently bamboozled me because—I have the flu—with all of its endearing characteristics including cold chills, blocked sinuses, a harsh cough and about as much energy as a worm in mud. I guess it’s my turn to enjoy being a ‘couch potato’ for a while! My comfort foods include hot herbal teas and chicken soup – I’m remembering my Mom’s good advice, “Feed a cold. Starve a fever.” It’s too bad that Mom forgot to mention to me how to explain this to my dulled taste buds longing for the savory spices of a beef stew or burrito. ‘Nuf said.
Aside from the winter wonderland outside, my family is planning a number of traditional things this month including several celebrations. Our traditions focus on customs from years past, when we typically venture out in search of a Christmas tree at nearby farms.  Folks can find numerous varieties of Christmas trees for sale throughout the Berkshires like balsams, scotch pine, douglas fir, fraser and blue spruce at Ioka Valley Farm, Hancock and Whitney’s Farm, Cheshire. Freshly made wreaths and garlands, homemade jams and jellies, arrays of holiday sweets and fresh locally grown produce stock their shelves as well. I always like to stop in any either of these locations because of unique gift ideas, especially for the people in our lives who are special, and in need of kindness and love.
“Mom! This year, I’d really like to see “A Christmas Carol” either in a movie or with live actors on a stage,” said Robert.
Guess we’ll plan an afternoon at Berkshire Theatre Festival to see the famous story written by Charles Dickens. And come to think of it, the brand new Beacon Theater on North Street in Pittsfield is showing the film in 3-D.
Our list for family holiday programs continues with viewing the films Miracle on 34th Street (December 20) and The Polar Express (December 22) at The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, Great Barrington; The Nutcracker, December 12 and An Irish Christmas, December 19 at The Colonial Theatre, Pittsfield; and on Sunday, December 13, Williams College, Williamstown hosts the Rotaract Holiday Benefit Concert at 8:00 p.m., inside Thompson Memorial Chapel. Rotaract is  the collegiate branch of the Williamstown Rotary Club featuring Ephoria, Elizabethans, a Chamber Choir and performances by local performers. It’s free, donations welcomed.
December in the Berkshires also invites kids all ages to make holiday crafts. At Ventfort Hall, Museum of the Gilded Age in Lenox, on Saturday mornings of December 12, 19, 26, from 10 a.m. to noon, kids can make their own holiday crafts during workshops. And at 3 p.m. on the 19th the museum will host a “Kindred Spirit” musical performed by Berkshire Music School Choir complete with a Victorian Holiday Tea. Other options for creativity are offered at Bisque, Beads & Beyond and IS 183 – art classes and workshops learning to design one’s own jewelry and collectables.
As for our holiday shopping, we’ll make the rounds to find unusual and affordable items at gift shops inside Hancock Shaker Village, Hardware at MASS MoCA, Clark Art Institute, Williams College Museum of Art, and the Norman Rockwell Museum.
On a separate trip, I plan to check-out the discount clothing in brand-named stores at Prime Outlets and the Berkshire Mall looking for warm, practical winter wardrobe for hubby and Robert. Gifts for our extended family might be found in other popular shops like Where’d You Get That!?, Spring Street, Williamstown,Pine Cone Hill in Lenox,Tom’s Toys, Great Barrington and Kenver Ltd., in South Egremont.
“Okay, hubby, it’s time to take your wife (that’s me) out for a relaxing overnight at Cranwell Resort. They have two dates, December 13 and 20 called Serenity Sundays.” “Huh? What’s that he asked?” With hearty enthusiasm, “it’s 50% off on a Sunday overnight, plus 20% off for a spa treatment. I think we both can use some pampering, don’t you? (What a sales pitch!)
In closing out December, special holidays are to be celebrated beginning with Hanukkah, a Jewish tradition of an eight-day festival of lights beginning December 11; Christmas on December 25, when Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus, over 2000 years ago in Bethlehem, and Kwanzaa a week-long, African American holiday observance held from December 26 to January 1. And our family has an extra celebration, Robert’s 12th birthday on December 27! Happy birthday Robert!
Happy Hanukkah! Merry Christmas! Happy Kwanzaa!
About Ann Claffie
A Berkshires native, Ann grew up in Dalton as the oldest of five children who were encouraged to use their imaginations for fun and play. Today, married and living in Pittsfield, Ann and her husband enjoy family fun and adventure with their twelve year old son.
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