As we sat in my kitchen on Christmas Eve, I realized that we were making memories. This was the Christmas when my daughter-in-law was with her ailing father. This was the Christmas that my granddaughter could not make it home because of her work commitment.

The table that we sat around used to be in my great-grandfather’s home. It became mine years ago. One time when we were putting in the extra leaves, we discovered what I think is a date. We found a date in the 1870s. I am not positive that this is the date that it was manufactured, but if not, I know it is old. My grandfather told me his parents purchased it second hand.

My grandfather would now be over 120 so that is a long time ago. It came with five leaves. I could never fit in that many in my kitchen. My kitchen is big enough, but not that big. In the early days we had a woodburning stove in the kitchen. The table would have reached the stove.

When my husband died, I took the stove out. I was not going to have the boys climbing to clean the chimney and to cut my wood.

I moved my electric stove to that wall and now had more counter space. I bought new cupboards. I had a carpenter install them.

The table has two drop leaves. It sits against the wall by my bay window. That is how I use it most of the time. It will comfortably seat five that way.

After my great-grandparents died, grandpa had this table out in his garage. At the time I was using a table that I purchase second hand. I told grandpa I wanted the table. He was so happy. He set to work removing several coats of paint. I knew that it was a light green, but I had no idea there was blue paint and grey paint underneath that. Grandpa got it all sanded and applied a coat or two of varnish. That is the way it came to me. We made a trip to Dunkirk to collect my table. It is on casters so it moves about quite easily. I roll it out and put one or two leaves into it when I need a bigger table.

I remember that cousin Rita was here when we expanded it and found the date. I later found out she had a similar one at her house in Chittenango. When we visited years later, we sat by her table.

My husband really enjoyed playing around with that table. When the hayers were here I had to add another leaf or two. He waited until I had everything on the table then whirled it around so everyone was by a different place. Actually, I think it was Dick who nick-named my table “Mother’s Marvelous Table”.

I have served many Christmas dinners at that table. When my children were young, we ate with an oil lamp for atmosphere. Our big dinner was the next day when the family all arrived at Hickory Heights. We had as many as thirty people for dinner sometimes.

Once my children were on their own, things changed. Sometimes my son, the veterinarian, was on call. He would come home later. My daughter went to college out in Des Moine, IA. She did not make it home for Christmas. I made her a Christmas table and mailed it to her.

Then, came the grandchildren. Everyone came to Hickory Heights on Christmas Eve after we went to the Akeley Church. I have a picture of my grandson, the youngest member of the church, with Mid Angove, the oldest member at that time.

There were always a few extra people at our table. My mother was with us. Lori’s parents were here. Ida Grace Larson was here. I remember my niece, Bethany, asking how Ida Grace was related to us because she was always here.

I love that old table as much today as when it first made its way to Hickory Heights. It is no longer shiny, it shows its age as we all do. Now I use some of the leaves under my mattress to make it firmer.

Last night we did not add a leaf but we pulled it out. There was plenty of room for all the food.

Ann Swanson Russell, PA. Contact at hickoryheights1@verizon.net.