New Year's revelry

What a string of parties. I told you about the tremendous Christmas dinner/party at Sondreson Hall in last week’s column, and that was just the beginning.

There were 41 folks at the Christmas dinner party and then 48 people at the New Year’ party.

New Year’s on the North Fork, of course, is different from Thanksgiving or Christmas. Those holidays are celebrated wit a 4 p.m. dinner, and New Year’s is a party which begins at 9 p.m. and lasts until after midnight.

Christmas decorations feature a tree, wreaths and lights. New Year’s retains all of those and adds party hats, noisemakers, balloons fireworks and dancing. This year, hosts Morgan and Patti Hart went all out on decorations and more than all out on food.

Every North Fork social event includes plenty of good food because everyone brings something to share, and this New Year’s was no exception, but in addition, Morgan and Patti brought extras.

They added ham, lamb and smoked duck along with fresh-baked biscuits, which meant that everyone could graze and eat all evening.

Gary Haverlandt set up the sound system, and good music accompanied the dancers. As usual, Duke and Naomi Hoiland were great to watch, but everyone had a good time.

At midnight, we all went out on the front porch to watch a big fireworks show. There were more fireworks than usual, and I was told that many of them were donated by former resident Kent Johnson, who moved away last year. Wherever they came from, they were beautiful as they lit up the snow-clad trees. Our thanks to everyone who helped make the celebration a success.

On New Year’s Day, Trail Creekers and guests held their annual beach party on the banks of the North Fork River.

Prior to the party, I told some of the newcomers that we built two big camp fires, and when everyone arrived, we all jumped in the river and then danced around the fires to get dry and warm up. I then told them I was kidding, but for whatever reason, they did not join us.

Actually, we do have two camp fires for cooking and warming, but no one has ever done the polar bear plunge. Duke Hoiland and his son John ferry in most folks with snowmobiles pulling a sled. Mark and Margaret Heaphy ski to the river, and we heat baked beans, roast hot dogs, drink mimosas and/or coffee, enjoy each other and the beautiful outdoors, and then load up and leave.

It really is great fun, and this year we stopped at Ogle’s on the way out and enjoyed the chili feed that Lynn and Bonny were hosting for neighbors who didn’t want to bundle up and go to the river.

Even with the end of the holiday season, North Fork excitement continues. Next week’s column will feature two bull moose banging horns in Becky Braunig’s front yard — with a surprising ending.