December 2019

CC

“Tis the Season of Gift-Giving!

As a new member of the Friends of Topsmead, I am honored that President Carol Gould has asked me to take over the writing of her “News” page on the FTSF website. I will be weaving in my reflections and experiences of Topsmead along with Carol’s news items. So here we go...

One morning after Thanksgiving weekend, as I was burning off the first set of holiday calories by walking up the lane at Topsmead towards Edith Chase’s cottage, I was struck by the peaceful repose of the landscape. The songbirds of summer had flown south; the leaves of fall were composting; the gardens had been put to sleep; the cottage had withdrawn into its boarded, curtained winter dreams. The repose reminded me that I have always been sad for gardens in Santa Barbara, CA where one of my sisters lives, because they have to grow and bloom all year round without the reflective, rejuvenating respite of winter.

As I continued walking out into the fields past the cottage, my thoughts turned to holiday gift-giving. After all, “tis the season” is fast approaching. But the consumerism afoot in the world, especially after the frenzy of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, got me thinking about a gift of sharing something special versus a gift of more stuff.

• Why not share the specialness of Topsmead by giving someone the gift of a membership in the Friends of Topsmead State Forest?
• Why not give yourself the gift of a FTSF membership or a renewal of your existing membership?

Renewing or gifting a FTSF membership is so easy. Just go to the following link to pay online or by mail. https://www.friendsoftopsmead.org/become-a-member.html Why not do it before the snow flies and check off a few folks on your holiday gift list? Membership benefits include:
​

• Insider news about Topsmead
• Exclusive member events and event discounts
• ​Satisfaction that you are helping to preserve and enhance a very special “mead” at the top of Litchfield in keeping with the wishes of Edith Morton Chase’s gift to the State of Connecticut

And hey, why not give a gift to Topsmead itself? Here are two ways. It’s so easy!
​

• Visit any Stop & Shop store and purchase the Community Bag. Then use the attached Giving Tag to direct the donation to Friends of Topsmead State Forest.
• Make a purchase online at Amazon Smile and designate Friends of Topsmead State Forest as the recipient for the Amazon donation.

Here’s to a “tis the season” of rejuvenating gift-giving and reflection!

Margaret Hunt
FTSF New NewsBlogMistress