Debra LaValley's Blog

January has swept in . . .

I hope everyone had a great holiday season, and the New Year started off well for you all. We are still having very frigid weather; however, the meteorologists have said that milder weather is coming in for later this week.

It has been so cold that the town has had no problem getting the public skating rink up and running. I can watch young and older out skating on the rink from my kitchen window. I never was much of a figure skater. I had to glide to a stop or crash into something – lol. I did love going sliding, whether on a saucer, Flexible Flyer sled, or a toboggan. Tobogganing was the best fun. My favorite spot was the old ski trail behind Rolfe Park in Penacook. The side trail was fabulous, and we really could fly down the hill. Great times! The ski trail is all grown in now. We had many other hills in our neighborhood, and we often would stay out until well after dark. Snow would be caked all over us – especially our mittens. We also wore bread bags over our socks in our boots to help keep our feet dry.

Growing up, my mother knitted not only our lovely Christmas stockings, but also our mittens and hats. I loved our “tukes.” That what we called our long v-shaped hats with a tassel on the end. The name may have come from tuque or toque hats. I just know we always called them “tukes.” About 10 years ago (a guess), I asked my mom if she would knit me one for my Christmas present or birthday present (my birthday is 12/26). She needed a pattern since she hadn’t made one is decades. I found a “toboggan hat” that looked like one. It wasn’t as long, but it was long enough. 🙂 Today, I put on the hat and my winter jacket in my living room. I set up my iPhone to take photo with a 10 second timer. It gave me long enough to sit in my rocking chair with my legs on the hassock. I was trying to look like I was in a toboggan. I then recreated the image above using ChatGPT. I haven’t been on a sled, saucer, or toboggan for quite a few years … but Never say Never! I amused myself with the creation and added my calico Maisey along for a ride. At least, I didn’t have to walk back up the hill!

Fun memories, for sure!

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