Amherst starts the holiday season Friday with the annual Merry Maple celebration at 4:30 p.m. on the Town Common. The UMass Marching Band ushers in Santa Claus who arrives on fire truck. Santa will meet with children at the Strong House Museum after the parade. Barry Roberts will have his Belgian horse-drawn wagons available for rides.

The celebration continues the next day , which is a local shopping day. Instead of Card Day , a new sales promotion is being offered. Take advantage of it and support our stores.

Also, Saturday is fair day in Amherst with events at the Grace Episcopal Church, the Unitarian Meeting House and the Artisans at the Amherst College Alumni House. Everyone you know should be out and about.

The Amherst Business Improvement District has planned several events to entertain us including concerts, sing-alongs and trolley rides. Check the ad and listings in the paper. There are several fliers around as well.

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Nancy Brose of Amherst sent me a great postcard that features a recipe for Chesapeake Bay crab cakes. One of the ingredients is cream cheese, that is new to me.

Nancy and husband Carlton were visiting family in Washington, D.C. and at the beaches in Delaware. Nancy was raised in Washington and said she was a grateful returnee.

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My Thanksgiving cactus bloomed right on time. More blossoms are ready to pop that will add color to some of the grey days we have had.

I had stuffing for breakfast the day after Thanksgiving, and a small piece of turkey, not very much. I certainly didn’t have a whole piece of pie, well maybe a tip of the triangle.

Thanks to all the volunteers and the Survival Center staff for hosting a great dinner, the day before Thanksgiving. I did eat a whole piece of apple pie there.