Brrrrr, baby it's cold out there! It feels more like the middle of January, rather than the final days of fall. We have now begun to gain a few minutes of sunlight in the afternoon, with the sun now setting at 4:31 p.m. By the time you read my next column on January 3, 2020, the sun will be setting at 4:41 p.m. We only start to gain more sunlight in the morning on January 8th. Crazy but true.

The word of the day on December 18th was “snow squall”, with the National Weather Service sending out emergency text messages of snow squalls in the afternoon, as though there was emergency flooding or an amber alert.

A big thank you and farewell wishes to the Town of Bethel Highway Superintendent, Patrick Cunningham, who will be winding up his term as the Town of Bethel Highway Superintendent. Thank you for doing such a wonderful job. Patrick was always attentive to my texts of a big tree or branch in the road or a drifted road. We wish you all the best!

I recently had a delightful conversation with Bill Erdmann, Jr., of Fosterdale and a faithful reader of this column. We discussed my favorite bird, the Eastern bluebird as well as other birds. As you know, I am a bit of a birder and love hearing from folks about their bird sightings.

Looking for last minute gifts? Go to Jeffersonville and check out Sue Bodenstein's The Secret Garden or the 52 Wine & Vine Spirits store, that is next to Tavern on Main. Last year the 52 and Vine store put together a gorgeous gift basket for my husband Ray and me. Thomas does an excellent job in assisting with the selection and the gift basket presentation is sure to produce wows from the recipient.

Another great place to shop is Cochecton Mills, where their annual bird seed sale is still going on. If you want to get some enjoyment feeding the deer this winter, you can also pick up some sweet feed and or one of their nutrition blocks. This will be the last winter where we can legally feed the deer in Sullivan County as this activity is prohibited, as of the fall of 2020, due to the recent changes in the DEC rules, on preventing Chronic Waste Disease in Sullivan County.

Congratulations to Jack Danchak on being selected, once again, the President of the Sullivan County Federation of Sportsmen Clubs. This will be Jack's 30th year as President. Take a bow Jack and thank you for all that you do for our Sullivan County outdoors men, women and youth.

Preaching schedule for the Kenoza Lake United Methodist Church: December 22nd - Paul Thompson, Christmas Eve -Linda Simmons (7 p.m.), and Sunday the 29th - Bud LeConey.

Christmas Eve service at the Kenoza Lake United Methodist Church, December 24th, 7 p.m. This is a joint Kenoza Lake-Jeffersonville United Methodist Church event, which is open to ALL.

Shortly after writing my last Kenoza Lake news column where I asked if it was a muskrat or beaver lodge in Briscoe Pond, I ran into Eileen and Burt Robertson, folks who live near Briscoe Pond. I am happy to report that it is a beaver lodge.

In case you are tired of the nonstop Christmas music and hustle and bustle and ask yourself, what is the real meaning of Christmas, I love to reference Charlie Brown's Christmas show. This show first debuted in December 1965.

This show, as well as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, are my two favorite Christmas shows. Towards the end of the show, after all the commercialization and noise from the Peanuts cast, Charlie Brown asks Linus, if Linus could tell Charlie Brown, the real meaning of Christmas. Linus says he can, and with that, after having the lights on the stage dimmed, Linus starts to recite the chapter from the Bible, Luke 2, where the heart of the Christmas story is told.

In my opinion, one captures this same experience, at the Kenoza Lake United Methodist Church Christmas Eve service, especially when all the lights in the church are extinguished, everyone stands in a circle, lighting their neighbor's handheld candles and singing, Silent Night, followed by Joy to the World. At this Christmas time, may you capture the real meaning of Christmas. Peace and Goodwill to all.