The seasons have changed again. a brief touch of winter last weekend brought out the sand trucks and freezing rain in a few places. An older friend reminded me they had snow quite often and ice enough on the smaller ponds to go skating on Thanksgiving. It is nice to have bare pavement for driving when so many are visiting distant places.

Thanksgiving dinner at Wendy’s in Harwinton included food that broke any intentions of diets being followed and calories were plentiful. Her friend Michael did a large share of the cooking and his mother Thelma brought appetizers that included shrimp and assorted cheeses, chips, and other goodies. It was good that dinner was mid-afternoon!

My grandson Ben brought me home just at dark, and the lights along the way were an indication that Christmas is not far away. Municipal buildings and others were decorated with white lights. It is this weekend their holiday festival will bring many visitors to Bethlehem. By this weekend there will be many more lights everywhere and the big tree at Rockefeller Center was turned on Wednesday night, so Christmas season is here indeed.

Saturday was a special day for our family. As many as could gathered at the Harwinton Congregational Church to attend the court of honor for Bob, who became an Eagle Scout. His mother, Wendy, planned a short slide show that highlighted happenings in his life. His sister Megan read an appropriate poem, and my daughter Laurie, Ben’s aunt, spoke on behalf of the family, citing humorous and special days of his life.

The ambulance Corps of which Ben has been part of for several years turned out in numbers, as did his many friends and neighbors. Officials of Boy Scout Troop 55 presented an impressive program, as the Eagle Scout Award was presented to Ben and pins to each of his parents.

Wendy had planned refreshments and everyone stayed and visited and offered congratulations. It was a proud time for the family.

Laurie got the Christmas tree I put in the bedroom window facing the courtyard circle. Before she started home to Vermont, Sunday, she also got down the tiny ceramic tree with bird lights. Her excuse was that she didn’t want me lifting the stuff down. They are both pretty. Laurie also put a new suet back in the wire hanger. The chickadees and woodpeckers completely demolished the one we put in September. Susan, the daughter in Newtown, says she has birds at her feeders all the time. I’ve had a steady parade to the suet feeders, but a few only at the seed feeders. According to an article in the paper, the summer’s rainy season produced a good supply of weeds and seeds and the birds have had ample food during the autumn weather. That will change when we get a real snowstorm.

Laurie had a trip home to Vermont on Sunday that included spots of slippery roads further north, but also a slower than normal trip through Connecticut because of drivers going too fast, cutting in and out of traffic, and some accidents that slowed cars down. Her call when she got home was very welcome!

Last week’s quote was by Mark Twain.

Who said, “It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is far far better rest that I go to than I have ever known”?