DECEMBER 2022 Newsletter

It’s that wonderful but busy time of year! The holidays are upon us and with them: traveling, planning, cooking, cleaning, etc. Amidst this flurry of excitement we want to take a moment and thank you, our valued customers and friends. We appreciate all of your support and continued business. We will start fresh with the 2023 year but our dedicated service to our customers will never change!

Please note the dates and times that we will be closed during this holiday season:

Dec. 24^th (Saturday)- we will close the shop at 2pm.

Dec. 25^th (Sunday)- we will be closed.

Dec. 31^st (Saturday)- we will close the shop at 3pm

January 1^st(Sunday)- we will be closed.

In order to give Susan a much deserved break, we will be closed January 15^th through January 29^th. Our online shop will still be available for purchases during this time. We have some marvelous upcoming events and classes to share with you below.

Our Upcoming Events
POLSON’S PARADE OF LIGHTS 
December 2
Come see us for cookies and hot cider and 15% off storewide (consignment items excluded) before or after you enjoy the parade at 6pm. We will be staying open until 7pm.

SANTA SHOPPING
December 10
Needing to get some gifts for that creative someone? Unsure of what to give that person who seems to have everything already? Buy them a gift certificate at a discounted price! Come shop with us and get 20% off storewide (consignment items excluded)!

AFTER CHRISTMAS DISCOUNT SALE!
December 26-31
If you missed any of our fabulous pre-Christmas sales, treat yourself to this after Christmas clear out! Everything in the shop, excluding consignment items, will be considerably discounted! Susan really wants to start fresh for the New Year and we need your help!

Local Events

POLSON'S PARADE OF LIGHTS
Come see our local businesses and community members light up the night with their parade floats! Before and after the parade, come see us at All in Stitches for cookies and hot cider!
-The parade starts at 6pm and will go down Main St. 

PORT POLSON PLAYERS' PRODUCTION OF:
"THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK."
Go see our Jessica Dauterive on stage!
-Friday, Dec. 2nd and 9th at 7 pm 
-Saturday, Dec. 3rd and 10th at 7 pm
-Sunday Matinee, Dec. 4th and 11th at 2 pm
For more information, call 406-883-9212 
or go to portpolsonplayers.com 

LIGHTS UNDER THE BIG SKY
You cannot miss this Mission Valley community event! There will be a market, lights, food, music and games!
Dec. 9-10 and Dec. 16-17 at the Lake County Fairgrounds
For more information, go to bigskylights.org

MISSION VALLEY CHORAL SOCIETY AND STRING QUARTET CHRISTMAS CONCERT WEEKEND

-Saturday, Dec. 17th at 1 pm in the St. Ignatius Mission (be sure to get there early as spots fill up fast!)

-Sunday, Dec. 18th at 2 pm in the Ronan Performing Arts Center

Our very own songbird, Viktra Bumgarner, will be participating and her husband, Chris, is directing!

For more information, call 406-261-3304 or 406-370-2076 or go to missionvalleychoralsociety.org or Mission Valley Choral Society

Judiee is once again teaching her fabulous clutch class! Be sure to sign up early to reserve your spot!

Panic Pillowcase and/or Simple Simon Table Runner
Wednesday, December 7th and 21st
10:00am- 2:00pm, $10.00 + supplies

In a pinch to come up with some last minute gifts? There's no need to "panic!" ;) All in Stitches is here to help! We will have two rounds of this pillowcase and table runner class! The first one is on Dec. 7^th and the second is Dec. 21^st. Join Susan Hartman to create a simple but beautiful pillowcase and/or table runner that will be the envy of all your friends and family.

From QT:  A Flutter of Leaves

 December Musings

The holidays are definitely on us. Waking up to a fresh blanket of snow with the lights twinkling on the outside trees stirs even the Grinches amongst us to hum along to the caroling sounds. I am a pretty firm believer in not decorating or playing carols until after Thanksgiving. With Thanksgiving so early this year it gives an extra week between holidays. Certainly need the time! Not only have I not started my shopping, I don’t have a clue what to get anyone. Our daughters keep calling asking for ideas, especially for their Dad. All I can say is, “ if I knew I’d get it for him and you can figure out something on your own.” I know what the grandkids all want, MONEY! The tree looks so bare when there aren’t any gifts, just envelopes with gift cards. Maybe I’ll just wrap some empty boxes.

Started the annual fudge making last night and Pat assures me that I haven’t lost my touch. He’s quite sure that the milk chocolate cranberry amaretto is the best he’s ever had. We’ll see if the spiced rum eggnog white fudge can come in as a contender. I’m stepping into the realm of tradition and making Chex mix this year. My Dad was the Chex mix king for years. We even shared his recipe at his funeral. It wasn’t just a box of each cereal, it was 3 or 4 boxes, bags of pretzels, pounds of deluxe mixed nuts and loads of butter, soy sauce, and spices. One main item I can’t find that was a staple item in Dad’s is Bugles. I don’t know if they don’t make them any more or I just can’t find them. He spent hours roasting it in the 3 ovens that graced his kitchen then it was spread to dry on the ping pong table before being packaged up in all the coffee cans that had been faithfully saved all year.

The Christmas season of my childhood and early adulthood is one filled with memories and traditions. From Thanksgiving on, my folks’ kitchen was filled with baking and cooking. Usually one or both sets of grandparents came to visit and there were neighborhood gatherings and goodies to disperse to a long list of friends. As the grandkids came along and other cousins, the opening of presents became a real event. As our girls have married and have families of their own it is sometimes hard to let go of wanting things at our house. We will miss Kara and Matt joining us this year. Matt graduates with his masters on the 23^rd and tickets are out of sight to fly. Not sure what Naomi’s family is going to decide. Hopefully either the 24^th or 25^th here in Polson.

Wherever and with whomever your holiday is spent, I wish for you and yours the most blessed season and memories to cherish for the years to come.

Merry Christmas to all and Happy New Year.