SCHOONER ESTATES ~ EST. 1989 OUR COMMUNITY IS YOUR COMMUNITY
Writers: Your Schooner Family | Editor: Theresa Nardone
🗓️ In This Issue:
- Christmas in August by R. Southworth
- Pet Photos by S. Lessard
- Word Search
- Tie Dye Day
- “What I’m Reading” by R. Reynolds
- Recipe Corner: Gazpacho
- Favorite Pictures
🎅🏼 Yellowstone National Park: Christmas in August
What is “Christmas in August”?
Christmas in August is a special Yellowstone National Park tradition. It began in the early 1900s when visitors traveled the Yellowstone roadway via stagecoach. In the early 20th century, a group of visitors was stranded at Old Faithful Inn by a snowstorm. They decided to turn their misfortune into a time of festive joy. In decorating a tree and singing Christmas carols, they celebrated the first “Christmas in August.” For much of this century, the seasonal employees at Yellowstone have continued the tradition.
Written by R. Southworth
“This past June 30th marked a wonderful milestone for me—17 years of calling Schooner Estates home. While I love the comfort of my life here, reaching this anniversary got me thinking about some adventures from the past. Specifically, the unforgettable summers of 2001 and 2002, when I went to work at the Lake Lodge Gift Shop in Yellowstone National Park. The gift shop was open from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm. On my days off, I hit the road, driving 125 miles to Cowley, Wyoming, to spend time with my son and his family.
Back at the park, home was a cozy, dorm-style room. My roommate was Ethylmae N., a lovely woman from the Seattle area. She worked with the Christian Ministry at Yellowstone, holding services there. We had a classic dorm setup—sharing our bathroom with the staff next door.
But the real star of our daily routine was right at the entrance of the gift shop: We had an extra-large stuffed black bear greeting everyone as they walked in, complete with a wooden bench between his legs. It was the photo spot. Because of that bear, I became an honorary photographer! Long before smartphones took over, tourists would hand me all different types of cameras so I could capture their family photos on the bench.
We loved to have fun with Christmas in August. We went all out decorating the shop. I even handmade a custom red cape and a Santa hat to dress up our giant bear.
Working there was a lesson in how small the world really is. I met tourists from all corners of the globe and many states in the USA. Every now and then, I would strike up a conversation with a stranger who actually knew where I lived—Bradford, Vermont.
Seventeen years at Schooner Estates have been a beautiful chapter of my life—but those bear-themed summers in Yellowstone will always hold a very special place in my heart.”
🐱 Pet Profile
Pet portraits of two dogs, Callie and Millie, and a cat, Milo.
🧩 Word Search
Word List: CARING, CHARITY, COMFORT, COMMUNITY, EDUCATION, HEALTH, HELPING, HERO, HOPE, INSPIRATION, KINDNESS, LAUGHTER, NEIGHBORS, PROGRESS, SINGING, SMILES, SUCCESS, TOGETHER
(A table grid of letters follows this list in the original newsletter.)
🌈 Tie-Dye Day
A compilation of photos from Shooner’s tie-dye event.
📖 What I’m Reading
Because she asked… Memories of a Downeast Childhood by Pauline Armstrong Gates
Review by R. Reynolds
“Pauline’s memoir should resonate with Maine history buffs. Her words extend an extraordinary glimpse into small-town America during the 1940s through the 1960s. Not just in Maine, but throughout our country in a much simpler time.
I was fortunate to share many of these special (and ordinary) days with Pauline. Lots of days included her (always resourceful) mother, Florence.
Other classmates and family are also reliving the history of their own lives by walking through this journey with her.
On the bottom-right corner of the cover is the path through the woods. At different times, it led to other family homes, school, and eventually to a lifetime connection with me. The path is still there waiting for the next visitor. I hope you enjoy the book.”
🍅 Recipe Corner: Gazpacho
This refreshing soup hits the perfect balance of tangy, savory, and silky-smooth; serve chilled.
Ingredients
- 2 lb ripe Roma tomatoes, chopped
- 1 English cucumber, peeled and chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 1 small red onion, chopped
- 1 garlic clove
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp sherry vinegar
- 1 tsp salt
Directions
- Combine tomatoes, cucumber, pepper, onion, and garlic in a high-powered blender.
- Process on high for 2 minutes until completely smooth.
- With the blender running on low, slowly drizzle in the olive oil and sherry vinegar.
- Season with salt.
- Press the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into a pitcher to remove skins and seeds, creating a silky texture.
- Refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Serve cold with a drizzle of olive oil.
📷A Few of Our Favorite Photos
A compilation of photos from Schooner Estates from the month of July.