News Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, December 23, 2015 A3 THE PERFECT TREE People in Grant County get into the holiday spirit and share photos of their Christmas tree-cutting adventures. Contributed photos Dustin Berry with the perfect miniature tree, while Christmas tree hunting up Laycock Creek. Summer Berry, 4, wields the chainsaw during her family’s Christmas tree hunting venture up Laycock Creek. Kaleigh Bellinger and her son, RH, get a tree from “Christmas tree gulch.” MANGER Club serves up cookies for 25 years Continued from Page A1 Monument’s first ‘Cookie Caper’ helped military personnel %\&KHU\O+RHÀHU Blue Mountain Eagle Contributed photo Contributed photo Ten of Jim and Beth Spell’s 11 grandchildren gather in their grandparents’ Nativity. From left: Summer Spell, Alcina Cloyd, Logan Cloyd, Claire Spell (white T-shirt), Abigail Cloyd, Lily Spell, Gavin Cloyd, Mattthew Cloyd, Natasha Cloyd, and squatting in front, Kara Spell. Not pictured, Beckett Spell. The Eagle/Cheryl Hoefler The large figures in the Spells’ Nativity are made from blown plastic. The vintage set is more than 50 years old. MONUMENT — It’s been a delicious and heart- warming tradition for 25 years. Members of the Monu- ment Service Club gathered Dec. 15 for the group’s an- nual “Cookie Caper” — an effort to help provide deli- cious treats for folks in the community who are home- bound, alone or otherwise in need. Local residents bake cookies for the cause and bring them to the Monu- ment Senior Center in ad- vance of the “Cookie Ca- per” day. Club members then arrange, wrap and label them by the bright and merry plateful, ready for delivery. Club member Sylvia Cockrell said the idea started when she joined other wives RIRI¿FHUVLQRYHUVHDV$PHU- ican bases, who baked cook- ies for unaccompanied mili- tary people living in barracks during Christmastime. “The cookies were a spe- cial treat,” Cockrell said. Festive packages of Christmas cookies are ready to distribute to homebound people in the Monument community at the 25th annual Cookie Caper on Dec. 15, thanks to the baking talents of the Monument Service Club. 02942 That continued for 10 years, with the sturdy display with- standing winter’s wrath each season — that is, until the Christ- PDVÀRRGRIXQOHDVKHGLWV fury and ruined the set. In time for the following Christmas, Beth’s father bought large Mary, Joseph and Jesus ¿JXUHV²DOORIZKLFKDUHVWLOO in use today. Over the years, PRUH¿JXUHVZKLFKOLJKWXSDQG are made of blown plastic, were added — the three wise men, shepherds, an angel and assorted animals to complete the scene. Beth and Jim, who married LQ DUH PHPEHUV RI 6W Thomas Episcopal Church in Canyon City. They have three children and 11 grandchildren. They have lived in John Day VLQFH DQG DW WKHLU 0DLQ 6WUHHW KRPH VLQFH 7KH couple acquired the Nativity set when her parents moved to 9DOOH\9LHZLQ This isn’t the only Nativity the couple owns. Beth collects them and has, to date, about ZKLFKVKHGLVSOD\VLQWKHLU home throughout the year. 7KHUH¶V QR VSHFL¿F GDWH when the Spells set up their large Nativity each year, but usually not until after Thanks- giving unless some of their children and grandchildren are visiting, Beth said. It’s often a tradition to take family photos in the Nativity scene. 7KLVLVWKHWK\HDUWKH\¶YH set up the display. They always keep it up until after the Feast of WKH(SLSKDQ\RQ-DQ 2QH ¿JXUH EURNH WKLV SDVW summer, and Beth has been VHDUFKLQJ RQOLQH WR ¿QG D UH- placement. The only other prob- lem is keeping everything an- chored down at times, she said. One near mishap occurred this season while the couple were in Pendleton for a church meeting on a recent Saturday. Neighbors reported a herd of about 15 deer ran through the yard, pulling out electrical cords and creating a few sparks. Beth said thanks to all the moisture DQGVQRZRQWKHJURXQGQR¿UH or serious damage resulted. Beth said many people seem to look forward to seeing the Nativity each year. “People who grew up here remember seeing it as kids, set up in my parents’ yard on Bridge Street,” Beth said. Mark Hensley A MAN WAKES UP in the morning after sleeping on... an advertised bed, in advertised pajamas. He will bathe in an ADVERTISED TUB, shave with an ADVERTISED RAZOR, have a breakfast of ADVERTISED JUICE, cereal and toast, toasted in an ADVERTISED TOASTER, put on ADVERTISED CLOTHES and glance at his ADVERTISED WATCH. He’ll ride to work in his ADVERTISED CAR, sit at an ADVERTISED DESK and write with an ADVERTISED PEN. Yet this person hesitates to advertise, saying that advertising doesn’t pay. Finally, when his non-advertised business is going under, HE’LL ADVERTISE IT FOR SALE. Then it’s too late. AND THEY SAY ADVERTISING DOESN’T WORK? DON’T MAKE THIS SAME MISTAKE Advertising is an investment, not an expense. Think about it! Mobile Repair Would like to take this time to thank our customers and wish them all a very Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year 03185 Blue Mountain Eagle MyEagleNews.com Don’t get left behind, call today! Kim Kell 541-575-0710 Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year! NO ONE KNOWS YOUR EQUIPMENT BETTER. Your AGCO Parts Dealer has the parts you need when you need them. Hardware, chain, batteries, tillage, belts, cutting parts. We have the quality parts you need to keep your AGCO equipment running smoothly during the demanding harvest season. Highly trained service personnel at AGCO Parts make it all come together, so you can rest easy. Visit your AGCO Parts Dealer and get the parts and services you need to “Keep you in the Field” this season. Find out more at agcoparts.com. From all of us at Longview Ranch