Miniota By Linda Clark
A wonderful Christmas parade was held on Dec. 17, complete with floats, many lights, music, horses, adults and children and more and of course Santa made an appearance as well. Thank you to the organizers of this spirited event for our community. The town was full of cars and people ready to watch and enjoy. Winners of the floats were: The Muir Family with ‘Remember Santa Loves Milk’, Miniota United Church with ‘Hope, Joy, Love and Peace’ and Prairie View Municipality complete with Santa accompanied by the Fire Department’s Sparky. Honourable mention went to Sadie and Blair with their team of horses and family members aboard and Luke and Robin Lelond and family representing Mary, Joseph and the Three Kings, complete with a donkey to tell the story. Job well done everyone, and we can’t wait for the next Christmas parade.
Judges have made their decisions for the Light Up Prairie View contest. For the town of Miniota winners chosen were Jack and Irene Bryant and Jamie and Stephanie Brown. For rural Ward 1 the winners were Stuart and Sierra Priestly and Nick and Tracy Young. Congratulations to our winners and thank you to all who helped to bring joy to so many with your lights and Christmas displays.
Many of our young people are home for the holidays from college and university: Devon Sanders, Antigonish, NS; Gracie Sanders, St. John’s NFLD; Mikaela Young, Ottawa; Jessica Young, Regina; Hailey Gardham, Brandon; Becky Gardham, Vermillion; Wyatt Anderson, Sunnybrae B.C.; Peyton Hawtin, Montana; Jenna Wasteste, Lethbridge; and Rory Laite, Brandon. Enjoy your break and time with family and friends.
Ken and Jody Still and family from Peace River, Alta. are home for the holidays visiting with Mac and Pat Lelond and family, and Glen and Margaret Still and family.
Wishing our readers near and far a very Merry Christmas! And Merry Christmas and thank you to the Virden Empire staff for continuing to bring news to our communities!
This quote explains how many of us are feeling this Christmas after not having family with us last Christmas; and as I write this on Monday morning many families are even unsure of how Christmas 2021 will pan out:
“Life was a little strange this year. And the world felt so apart. But one thing we treasured were those closest to our hearts. We lived a moment in history, and can say without a doubt that the pandemic gave us a lesson in what family is all about. We’ll hug a little tighter, we’ll pause and we’ll reflect, Because Christmas 2021 is one we won’t forget.”
Stay safe. Test negative. Be hopeful.
Evergreen Place By Helen Martens
Hello Winter!
December 21 is the beginning of winter. "Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand, it is the time for home." -Edith Sitwell
To start my report today I must make corrections from my last two reports. In the December 10 edition of Empire-Advance, the name should read Suzanne Dunning. In the Dec. 17 Paper it is not John Doone, but John Boone. These were my mistakes, I'm sorry.
Evergreen has been a'buzzing with workers from Dee's Electric of Swan River. What a lot of work and energy it takes to replace the whole Fire Alarm System in a big building like Evergreen. However, it is interesting to see how they are doing it.
Anne Lodder's daughter Maddison of Shoal Lake came to visit her grandma one day this past week, with her two happy golden retrievers.
Thankyou, Cecile of Elkhorn, for the Christmas Cake recipes you sent me. The Fruit Cake cookies sound fascinating and I will try them soon. Today I baked Braid Christmas Bread and I would like to share the recipe with my readers.
BRAID CHRISTMAS BREAD
1. Dissolve one pack dry yeast in 1/4 cup warm water. Stand it for 5 minutes.
2. Combine1/2 cup warm milk, 1/2 cup sugar, 1 tsp salt, and 1 tsp lemon zest
3 In a large bowl, cut 1/2 cup butter into 4 cups of all-purpose flour
4. Add yeast mixture and 1 egg to milk mixture
5. Gradually stir in flour mixture and let rise till double in size, about 1 1/4 hours
6. Punch down, adding 1/2 cup raisins, 1/2 cup chopped almonds and 1/2 cup red or green candied cherries
Knead dough about 10 minutes.
7. Divide dough into 3 portions. Roll each portion into a 20-inch rope and place side by side on a greased cookie sheet.
8. Braid ropes together, tucking ends under to seal
9. Cover and let rise for about 30 minutes. Brush top with one egg mixed in 1 Tbsp water.
10. Bake 350* for 40 - 45 minutes. Cool and drizzle with glaze made of 1/2 cup icing sugar and 1 Tbsp milk.
This is a beautiful, delicious BRAID CHRISTMAS BREAD recipe, Compliments of Cecile Fisher.
Quote for the Day: "Christmas is a necessity. There has to be at least one day to remind us that we're here for something else besides ourselves." -Eric Sevareid
