Chester P. Greenwood and Milk Punch

Yesterday was a day of celebration in Farmington, ME: Chester P. Greenwood Day, celebrated yearly on the first Saturday of December. This year, C.P.G. Day also happens to fall on Chester's birthday (born in December 4, 1858).

Chester famously invented earmuffs while breaking in a new pair of ice skates. He got sick of his ears freezing in the bitter wind, and after little success with wrapping a scarf around his head he had his grandmother sew some wool to ear-sized wire loops.

Greenwood's Champion Ear Protectors were worn by U.S. soldiers in World War I, making them Chester's most famous invention, but he also patented a whistling tea kettle, a steel-toothed leaf rake, an advertising matchbox, and a machine for making wooden thread spools.

The most important aspect of the Chester Greenwood Day celebrations is always the parade. Everyone wears earmuffs, what could be better? A few highlights from this year's parade, in order of appearance:

Fake guns and earmuffs!

School bus/Polar Express!


Pirogi distracted me at this point, so I did not get a picture of my favorite earmuff-wearing gentlemen. Thankfully, I got one last year:These ones get real guns. Also, note the Frosty earmuffs--he had them this year too.

Snow plow!

After the parade we celebrated with pancakes (made from Trader Joe's Pumpkin Pancake mix, yum!) and lovely breakfast cocktails. We found this recipe on the New York Times winter party drinks page.

Milk Punch--makes 4 drinks
1/2 cup bourbon
1/2 cup aged rum or brandy (we used what we have--regular dark rum)
2 cups milk
1/4 cup maple syrup

Serve over milk ice cubes with a sprinkling of nutmeg on top.


We thought these were lovely. Rather boozy and sweet, but not too sweet for Pirogi, and surprisingly light. The NYT article suggests using this as a Christmas morning drink for curmudgeonly grown-ups.

Soundtrack: The Chieftains The Bells of Dublin, John Fahey Guitar Soli Christmas Album