While talking about the history of her ancestral home, the Petersen Ranch, in Pleasant Valley, west of Kalispell, where Terry Siderius and her husband still live and farm, we looked through old yellowed family photographs from the mid-1920s. This scene of her mom, Betty Petersen, and her uncles, Woodie, Rodney, and Donald touched our hearts. We both knew this photo would become a painting, but it raised many questions.

From their snow-covered snow pants and sleds, we knew the children were having great fun sledding when their dad came out with his box camera to take the photograph. It seems three of them pocketed their gloves for the photo, and they obviously wanted to continue their play, not stand and freeze for the camera. Those sleds look brand new, and are proudly shown. Could this be a photo taken on Christmas? As the painting progressed, that thought was always present.

Yet, why on earth would Rodney be packing a single-shot shotgun in place of a sled and standing steadfastly like a play soldier? We questioned Terry, but she had no idea, so at art shows we questioned others. Finally, an elderly Montanan that admired the painting had a theory. The Kalispell area, he said, had a large population of wolves, known to attack children in winter, when food was scarce. He believed Rodney had been deputed by their parents to guard his little brothers and sister while at play in the snow. He had to ensure they did not become the wolves' Christmas dinner.

This is our present to you, readers; a Christmas scene from the past. We wish all of you a blessed and merry Christmas and much happiness in the New Year.