Scooter Chapman
Chapmans go hunting ... for perfect tree
Published on Wed, Dec 23, 2009 by Scooter ChapmanRead More Chapman
Oh, Christmas tree, Oh Christmas tree ...
The nice little tree is trimmed to the nines, the presents (way too many I fear) are under the branches and the Chapmans are ready for Friday morning.
Tree hunting used to be a real December adventure in the Chapman home many moons ago. When the four boys were here, it was load up the utility trailer with a couple of hand saws, hook it up to the trusty station wagon and head for Black Diamond to seek a tree.
Seems we always waited until snow covered the Baskins Ranch and the kids grumbled all the way into the woods in search of the "just right" tree. We even took little ribbons to attach to the trees that looked so good we might come back to them.
Oh, Christmas tree, Oh, Christmas tree ...
After what seemed like hours, one was picked and cut down. Why did the "just right" tree have to be a half mile away from the trailer? Somehow we managed to get it in the trailer and back home.
One time I remember the tree hopping out of the trailer and returning to the woods as we went back to look and never found it.
Sometimes it took two days to flock the tree with those old-fashioned flocking guns. It was a struggle to get it into the house without the flock falling off and it took hours to straighten the tree in the stand.
Most years the Sunday trek took four hours, six frayed nerves, much muted yelling (so the neighbors would not hear) and two six-packs of Wild Rainiers.
How lovely are thy branches ...
Now it's head for the garden store, pick out a nice tree from the large selection (this year we chose the first one we came to), pay the tree charge, the flocking charge and the delivery charge, have it delivered to the front room and straightened by the driver to our satisfaction.
Do I miss the old days of tramping around the woods? Not on your life.
Merry Christmas, everyone ...
Wednesday whirl
_ Reunion - The Bremerton student and alumni association is sponsoring an alumni fundraising basketball game at 7 p.m. Dec. 28 in the Bremerton gym.
They are inviting all former East Bremerton and West Bremerton fans, students, cheerleaders, bandsmen and players to take part in the big event.
Call 360-362-6131 for details. Some great former players are set to take part and former East High coach Les Eathorne is being coaxed out of retirement to mentor the Knights.
If there are any former Knights or Wildcats living in our area, you are welcome. Admission is $5 and players pay $30 for the uniform.
By the way, to honor two longtime Bremerton basketball coaches, the Bremerton school board approved naming the high school gymnasium for former East Bremerton coach Les Eathorne and for the late Bremerton coach Ken Wills.
It will be the Les Eathorne Gym and the Ken Wills Court.
_ Hoops look - It's getting harder and harder to schedule nonleague basketball games for Sequim, Port Angeles and Port Townsend. I hope the athletic directors get together and get a jamboree going again or a holiday tournament type of affair.
Port Angeles, for instance, had to get games in Mount Si, Tacoma and Ferndale for its girls team over the holidays, while the boys trekked to Lynden and Puyallup before hosting a California traveling team.
Maybe Forks, P.A., Sequim and P.T. could hook up for a midweek boy/girl varsity get together in Port Angeles and fill up the place to begin the season. Proceeds could be split after expenses. It's a thought.
_ Dear Santa - Anything you have in your big bag will be OK this Christmas. I'll leave the front porch light on, along with the usual cookies and hot toddy!
Bring the Seahawks a win in Green Bay this Sunday and try to keep the temperatures in the 30s and 40s, not the 10s and 20s for the game.
And while you are at it, how about getting Mike Holm-
gren to be the president and general manager of the Seahawks.
Ho, ho, ho!
Columns by KONP 1450 AM sports announcer Scooter Chapman appear weekly in the Sequim Gazette. He can be reached via e-mail at scooter@olypen.com.
The nice little tree is trimmed to the nines, the presents (way too many I fear) are under the branches and the Chapmans are ready for Friday morning.
Tree hunting used to be a real December adventure in the Chapman home many moons ago. When the four boys were here, it was load up the utility trailer with a couple of hand saws, hook it up to the trusty station wagon and head for Black Diamond to seek a tree.
Seems we always waited until snow covered the Baskins Ranch and the kids grumbled all the way into the woods in search of the "just right" tree. We even took little ribbons to attach to the trees that looked so good we might come back to them.
Oh, Christmas tree, Oh, Christmas tree ...
After what seemed like hours, one was picked and cut down. Why did the "just right" tree have to be a half mile away from the trailer? Somehow we managed to get it in the trailer and back home.
One time I remember the tree hopping out of the trailer and returning to the woods as we went back to look and never found it.
Sometimes it took two days to flock the tree with those old-fashioned flocking guns. It was a struggle to get it into the house without the flock falling off and it took hours to straighten the tree in the stand.
Most years the Sunday trek took four hours, six frayed nerves, much muted yelling (so the neighbors would not hear) and two six-packs of Wild Rainiers.
How lovely are thy branches ...
Now it's head for the garden store, pick out a nice tree from the large selection (this year we chose the first one we came to), pay the tree charge, the flocking charge and the delivery charge, have it delivered to the front room and straightened by the driver to our satisfaction.
Do I miss the old days of tramping around the woods? Not on your life.
Merry Christmas, everyone ...
Wednesday whirl
_ Reunion - The Bremerton student and alumni association is sponsoring an alumni fundraising basketball game at 7 p.m. Dec. 28 in the Bremerton gym.
They are inviting all former East Bremerton and West Bremerton fans, students, cheerleaders, bandsmen and players to take part in the big event.
Call 360-362-6131 for details. Some great former players are set to take part and former East High coach Les Eathorne is being coaxed out of retirement to mentor the Knights.
If there are any former Knights or Wildcats living in our area, you are welcome. Admission is $5 and players pay $30 for the uniform.
By the way, to honor two longtime Bremerton basketball coaches, the Bremerton school board approved naming the high school gymnasium for former East Bremerton coach Les Eathorne and for the late Bremerton coach Ken Wills.
It will be the Les Eathorne Gym and the Ken Wills Court.
_ Hoops look - It's getting harder and harder to schedule nonleague basketball games for Sequim, Port Angeles and Port Townsend. I hope the athletic directors get together and get a jamboree going again or a holiday tournament type of affair.
Port Angeles, for instance, had to get games in Mount Si, Tacoma and Ferndale for its girls team over the holidays, while the boys trekked to Lynden and Puyallup before hosting a California traveling team.
Maybe Forks, P.A., Sequim and P.T. could hook up for a midweek boy/girl varsity get together in Port Angeles and fill up the place to begin the season. Proceeds could be split after expenses. It's a thought.
_ Dear Santa - Anything you have in your big bag will be OK this Christmas. I'll leave the front porch light on, along with the usual cookies and hot toddy!
Bring the Seahawks a win in Green Bay this Sunday and try to keep the temperatures in the 30s and 40s, not the 10s and 20s for the game.
And while you are at it, how about getting Mike Holm-
gren to be the president and general manager of the Seahawks.
Ho, ho, ho!
Columns by KONP 1450 AM sports announcer Scooter Chapman appear weekly in the Sequim Gazette. He can be reached via e-mail at scooter@olypen.com.
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