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Joyce B
The soft whispering of wind
through the uppermost branches
of the old trees is a comforting
sound on this steep hillside.
High overhead, the greenery
forms a sort of canopy, supported'
by straight, thick, brownish
trunks. At ragged intervals, dead
limbs and stubs of former limbs
mark the trunks, which jut 40, 50,
maybe more, feet toward the clear
blue sky.
But beneath the canopy of soft
green needles waving high above
is the open, airy, cathedral-like
atmosphere found only in a tower
ing stand of mature evergreens.
Decades of pine needle droppings
mat into a dense, spongy carpet
ing, cushioning to the sole and
quiet to the step. The very softness
underfoot seems planned, so as
not to disturb the tranquility of
this quiet haven of nature.
A larger stand of pine, near the
hunting camp, has long been one
of my very favorite places. But the
demands of a herd of milking
cows - twice a day, EVERY day -
prevents more than one, if lucky,
perhaps two, visits to that pine
stand in a year. This pine haven is
closer, and though smaller, affords
a similar feeling of peace and
timelessness.
Scattered across the thick mat
of needles is the fruit of these trees
and the object of the search on this
sunny, but crisp, December
afternoon.
Pine cones. Hundreds of ’em,
scattered at the feet of these old
white pines. At the tip of every
“petal” of each fresh cone is a dab
of sticky, whitish sap. The gummy
residue is wonderfully sweet
smelling, the very essence of pine
scent.
For me, this piney aroma is the
ultimate fragrance of the season.
In just minutes we gather a
large bag of the cones. Their sap
coats our hands with dark, sticky
patches exuding the distinctive,
Christmas-sy scent. Piled high in a
few favorite baskets, they quietly
fill the warm house with their sig
nature perfume.
Soon, the sweet, sharp smell of
cedar will blend with that of pine,
from a tree always too large for
the allotted spot. Together they
blend into a fragrant holiday pot
pourri not found in any shop,
essence of fresh evergreen.
Impossible to duplicate in any
imitation form is a sort of seasonal
aroma - that of citrus oil released
by a freshly-peeled orange. When
oranges were precious, rare taste
treats, they were a holiday gift
highly-prized by a less sophisti
cated generation of children.
The Farmer peeled our first of
the season’s navel oranges while
relaxing after milking one recent
evening. Though he was in
another room, the aroma of orange
filled the air almost the instant he
made the first tear into the fruit’s
tough peel.
How wonderful oranges must
have smelled to children who only
ever tasted them once a year - at
Christmastime. Today - I know
I’m guilty - we wheel past the
ongoing, year-round display of
citrus at die markets, forgetting
how fortunate we are to have
access to them year-round.
Dauphin Co. Extension Focuses
DAUPHIN (Dauphin Co.)—
Penn State Cooperative Extension
in Dauphin County held their 73rd
annual meeting on Monday,
December 3, at the Dauphin
County Agriculture and Natural
Resource Center. Guests were
greeted by Tonya Scholl, the 1990
Dauphin County Dairy Princess,
who served White Russian Milk
Punch.
This year’s theme was “Focus
ing on Families.” Participants
heard about the accomplishments
and program focuses of the family
living agents that serve Dauphin
County, including the training of
day care providers, training finan
cial counselors, getting kids of all
ages “fit,” and resources for the
caring for older family members.
The Expanded Food and Nutri
tion Education Program (EFNEP)
reported on working with young
families to provide nutrition edu
cation and help families budget
Ginger is a favorite seasonal
kitchen aroma, conjuring up vis
ions of raisin-eyed gingerbread
men and cookie-baking session
with flour-splotched kids rolling
out dough. A scratch-n-sniff book
our kids enjoyed when they were
little had a patch supposedly
smelling of ginger - but mostly
more like peppered cardboard. It
was always a letdown, never com
ing close to the real smell of
Christmas gingerbread.
And, the scented votive candles
flickering above our TV screen in
recent evenings are labeled with
names like hollyberry, bayberry
and mint. Disappointment again.
The strongest aroma they give off
is from the wick smoke when
they’re extinguished.
Christinas is both season for the
soul and for the senses. But when
it comes to the fragrances of the
holiday, no imitation products can
begin to touch Mother Nature’s
own natural perfumes.
But Eau de Pine Sap probably
wouldn’t make it as a gift
fragrance.
On Family Programs
for nutritious meals on a low
income. A letter from one of the
graduates of the EFNEP program
was shared explaining how she
had benefited from working with
one of the nutrition advisors. She
wrote that she is eating healthier
and feeling better.
In keeping with the theme of
focusing on families, Michelle
Rodgers, assistant to the regional
director presented, “The Future,
As If Families Really Mattered.”
Michelle’s discussion included
the multiple definitions of family
and what may be thought of as
“traditional” has changed and will
continue to change in the future.
In addressing the future of fami
lies, Michelle’s consensus was
that the family will continue but as
the composition changes so must
extension’s programming in order
to meet the needs of families.
In addition to focusing on prog
rams for families, special recogni
tion was given to individuals in
\sam QAiomen *
gL Societies 3?
Farm Women Group #ll met at
the home of Shirley Lentz for the
December meeting. Election
results from November are presi
dent, Judy Swope; vice president,
Doris Brown; secretary, Jean Erb;
and treasurer, Rose Hibshman.
The Program Committee are as
follows: Shirley Lentz, Jean Erb,
Doris Brown, and Fran Dubble.
Family Christmas night for our
group was finalized and to be held
Free
(Slot* Hour*
UmoMtor fttminsr Satardatf DtewiMr t 5? IMO>B9
the “extension family.” Paul
Wangsness, regional director, pre
sented awards to Michelle Rod
gers for 10 years of service to
Penn State Cooperative Extension
and to Patricia Powley for 20
years of service. Patricia was in
Chicago for the National 4-H
Conference representing Epsilon
Sigma Phi, Extension’s Honor
Society.
Special recognition was given
to several volunteers as well. Ellen
Brubaker was commended for
serving six years on the executive
board. Receiving plaques for out
standing leadership and support
were: Dr. George Love from the
4-H program, Sue Loy from the
family living program, and How
ard Kopp from the agriculture
program. Not only were these vol
unteers commended for their sup
port to the extension program but
their families were also thanked
for supporting the volunteer
efforts of these people.
Berks Society 11
at Kimmerlings Grange. A family
style dinner will be served by the
grange and followed by games in
the upstairs hall.
December 27th is the gift
exchange night, to be held at Doris
Brown’s. At 6:30 the celebration
begins, followed by lots of food,
fun, and laughter.
The Program Committee will
meet at the home of Fran Dubble,
January 7, 1991.
At Our
r End Sale
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