Smiles are possible during a pandemic

There seems little chance to smile during this pandemic, but two Chico glass artists have found a way to bring out a grin.

Bruce Sillars, co- owner of Orient and Flume art glass studio, has designed a glass snowman that’s wearing a mask. The whimsical figurine just a few inches high is clearly masked, with strings over the ears.

Also helping him create the humorous figures is artist Robert Winget.

Sillars said that the snowman is being well received, although some have suggested the sooner that masks and

2020 are forgotten, the better.

I think it’s wonderful to find a giggle in these sad times, and I have to say the snowmen are giggle-worthy.

The locally- owned art glass studio, founded in 1972, has a collection of snow and holiday figurines and art glass pieces and is carefully adhering to the customer capacity restrictions and other safety measures. The gallery is open Monday through Saturday, but Sillars said there is a limited supply of mask wearers. There are plenty of beautiful objects that can be seen on the website.

If you have seen the masked snowman and thought that the mask glitters, Sillars said that’s true, with it made from dichroic glass that is found in other Orient and Flume pieces.

Stumped over gifts?

After combining three households — my late parents, my late inlaws, and mine — I am appreciating a movement called minimalism, which in my flawed description is getting rid of what you don’t want or need in order to simplify life.

With Christmas approaching, some gift-givers are weighing the purchase of “something, anything to fill the stocking.”

In our area of superb agriculturalists, why not give the gift of local food? There are a number of boxed food gifts, such as from Sierra Oro Farm Trail, which had to skip its much-loved farm tours this year, to Rancho Llano Seco meat products, mandarin growers, Lundberg and Massa rice. There’s locally made candy from Shuberts and Joy Lyn’s, to other local products, many of which can be found online or stores like Made in Chico, Chico Natural Foods, S and S Produce, and New Earth Market in Chico, the Wagon Wheel in Oroville and others.

The best thing about a gift of food is there’s nothing to dust or take up shelf space permanently.

Certainly, another choice is gift cards to favorite retailers and restaurants that you would like to see stay in business. After this latest stay-at-home order, I worry about what businesses we’ll lose.

There’s also the gift of your time. Donate or dedicate time to nonprofits. Volunteer to serve on a public committee.

I see in Chico there are openings for the Airport Commission, Architectural Review and Historic Preservation Board, Arts Commission, Bidwell Park and Playground Commission, Climate Action Commission and Planning Commission.

Information about the openings is available on the city’s website http://chico.ca.us

The deadline for applications to the city is Jan. 4.

There are more ways to give than putting a wrapped box under the Christmas tree. Let me know other ideas you have. Share with me at lurseny@chicoer.com