Friday morning Claude and I delivered our Christmas ornaments to our neighbors. Then we drove over to downtown Sadieville to check out the snow and ice needing removal before the big event in the evening. Yike!! There was a lot of snow and ice needing removal. It turns out the man who could usually be called upon to help keep this under control in our little city had knee surgery and had been out of commission. Hence, the build up. Particularly in front of the door to City Hall we wanted everyone to use.
I set to work with a shovel on the decking around the caboose. Claude started on the sidewalks in front of the caboose and Warring Pavilion and then headed to the front of City Hall. I shoveled the snow and we placed rock salt all around the caboose. Claude shoveled the front of City Hall an layered the ice melt on the ice there. It was about 3-4 inches thick in places. Then we headed to do our duties for the day. I took Papa to the doctor and Claude handled things in his office at home.
I got home about 4pm. We headed back to Sadieville to work on the ice which, hopefully, would be easier based on the work done in the morning and the sunlight and temperatures being just above freezing during the day.
The decking around the caboose cleared off very well for me. A lot of ice was movable for Claude at City Hall but there were still inches of ices to be pounded and loosened. He and Cindy Foster, our city clerk, were pounding away the entire time I finished the caboose. Then I took my heavy duty shovel and proceeded to help them. Cindy got the orange cones and placed them indicating where people should walk. After yeoman effort, we were set for the arrivals for the first reading of the Polar Express.
Claude and I had not eaten during the day and, after two stints for shoveling and breaking ice, we were ready for something for dinner. We drove back to the house so I could change my socks and shoes which were soaked through. Then we drove to the Wendy's at the Pilot station and had a nice dinner.
We missed the arrival of Santa. I would have loved to have taken pictures of that. Our local fire department brings Santa in the fire truck with our Police Chief, Bobby Bruner, leading the way in his police cruiser with lights and sirens flashing. So much fun for the little kids.
There were four readings scheduled for the Polar Express. They can handle about 20 kids with one parent for the group of kids in each family in the caboose. Last year we had three readings. This year people were requesting tickets before any announcements were made about getting tickets. Based on that, it was determined to increase to four readings at 6pm, 6:30pm, 7pm and 7:30pm. The day these free tickets were available they were gone immediately. Then it was learned there were many Sadieville kids who were not able to get tickets. So a quiet 8pm showing was added for these kids.
The kids gathered in City Hall (the old depot). Santa was there in a rocking chair by the Christmas tree to allow each child a chance to sit on his knee and have their family take pictures if desired. We provided candy canes from him to the kids. The Friends of Scott County Library manned a table with hot chocolate and cookies. One of the ladies even had song sheets so caroling could happen. The conductor would come to the door and tell the kids it was time for the next reading. They would gather at the door of City Hall and with his conductor lamp he would lead them across the street and up the little hill to the caboose. "The Polar Express" would be read to the kids. Then, as they exited the caboose, Santa would be there with a basket full of bells. Each child would receive the first gift of Chrismas, a bell with a red ribbon, just like in "The Polar Express". Then the conductor would lead them with his lamp back to City Hall for hot chocolate and cookies.
Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the evening.
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