Nothing says Christmas like Elf on the Shelf

Elf on the Shelf is a holiday tradition for many families. The elf magically appears in different places around the house each day of the Christmas season. The cleverness factor of the different poses and places is amusing.

But Jamie Green, mother of four young ones, was bemoaning the fact that it's a lot of work to remember to hide the elf after the kids go to bed so they can find it every morning. Her friend, Monica Fooe, made me laugh out loud with her solution. Said she, take the elf on the Lake Coeur d'Alene Cruise to the North Pole with the family. Then tell the kids the elf is lonely for his people before throwing him overboard!

I'll be seeing the "I Remember Christmas" show at The Coeur d'Alene Resort the week of Christmas, but for those who attended opening night, there was a very special guest in the audience. John Travolta was in town to see his sisters, Ellen and Margaret, perform. Those who caught a glimpse of the superstar observed he was very gracious and friendly. John was also spotted shopping at Figpickels and enjoying the holiday ambiance in downtown Coeur d'Alene.

During a decade of emceeing the Senior Social at the Festival of Trees, I've had the pleasure of announcing the local acts who perform. This year, Coeur d'Alene High School student Autumn Plucker was on the bill. Wow! What a talent she is and I predict her dream of making it to Broadway will come true.

Thanksgiving dinner for me, Bert and my mother was at the Mica Flats Grange. What a really sweet way to celebrate a day of gratitude. I made two new friends, Robin and Al Near, who moved to Kidd Island from Alaska a few years ago.

While this year found our family circle quite small, the folks at Mica Grange made the day special.

The Red Hot Mamas wowed the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade crowd in New York City as well as millions of television viewers. They definitely did their hometown proud - and seeing the Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, banner on the screen was a treat.

Now the local ladies of Blazen Divaz will take a similar turn in the Old Fashioned Christmas Parade in West Chester, Pa. on Dec. 5, which will air on the QVC Network.

Christmas was kicked off spectacularly Friday in Coeur d'Alene and this coming weekend, surrounding communities will officially light up the holidays. Winterfest is Friday at Post Falls City Hall at 6 p.m. and will include the lighting of the tree in the plaza, Santa, cider, cookies and crafts the kids can make and take home.

Also starting Friday evening is December d'Lights in Rathdrum with tree lighting and hay rides on Friday. On Saturday, Main Street will be filled with activities for the whole family and the Lighted Rig Parade at 5:30 p.m.

The city of Hayden will hold its annual Hayden Lights Parade at 5 p.m. Saturday with the Christmas tree lighting ceremony at Hayden City Park right afterward.

If you've been missing the farmers markets of summer, don't dispair. The Winter Market is on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Jacklin Building at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds. Winter produce, greens, eggs, cheese, lamb, beef and pork are among the farm offerings at the Winter Market. There will also be evergreens, jams, jellies, pickles and quality crafts.

The Coeur d'Alene Tribe's annual Winter Blessing is a free event starting at 5 p.m. on Saturday with cultural entertainment, fireworks and "blessing" a dozen local charities with $10,000.

I love, love, love seeing festive Christmas lights in the neighborhood. It seems there are already more homes lit up this year than last. If you know of any great residential displays, let me know and I'll include in this column.

Happy Birthday today to Carol Fairhust, Sandy Bradbury, Sandra King, Joyce Ekness and Jennifer Keefe.

Tomorrow, Carrie Cook, Bob Brooke, Tina McWhorter, Dirk Fredekind, Bayley Brooks, Doug Shevalier and Barry Corigilano put on their party hats. Jennifer McGrath, Sharlene Scott, Marna Bateman, Annette Barstow and Anita Banta blow out the candles on Friday.

Happy Saturday birthdays to Sam Clevenger, Jacki Ackerman, Kathy McDowell, Jennifer Hawkins, Hazel Day and Kylie Allen.

On Sunday Dec. 7, Dean Opsal, CJ Deacon, Rhonda Newton and Randy Duncan will celebrate another trip around the sun. Tammy Schneider, Kelly Ferguson and Becky McIntire Bufeuillet are blowing out the candles on Monday and Tammie Peacock, Cecilia Fehling, Cheri Banta and Cindy Jarnagin are the Tuesday birthday girls.

Kerri Rankin Thoreson is a member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and the former publisher of the Post Falls Tribune. She was voted Best Local Writer by the readers of the North Idaho Business Journal. Main Street appears every Wednesday in The Press and Kerri can be contacted on Facebook or via email mainstreet@cdapress.com. Follow her on Twitter @kerrithoreson.