The second day is beginning...

 Last night was the first time that we offered an evening at the Windsor mall Christmas  party. Thank you for those who attended. It was a night for meeting new people, catching up with old friends and enjoying a chance to slow down and enjoy the true meaning of Christmas. Family, friendship and the Spirit of Good Will.

Yesterday was a fantastic day. There seemed to be more foot traffic than any other year. Hopefully things will be even better today. We have a great selection to choose from this year so things can only get better.

A lot of our loyal participants have returned brining a whole new selection of items. Paulette is one of our very loyal participants and returns every year bringing with her new recipes for us to sample. This year she has made Sweet Potato Squares which are so moist that they just melt in your mouth.  I look forward every year to see what new baked delight she will be brining for me to experience.

Another loyal participant at this market is Harvest House. This is a community drop in centre for teenagers looking for help and guidance. Many who visit Harvest House had very little or no family support. Many had burned their bridges and arrive some looking for food, shelter, or just needed friends and a supportive community. Donna Eldridge is the coordinator of the centre and has such a warm personality when you speak with her that you immediately understand why anyone would feel comfortable dropping by the centre for a visit.

I've been shopping...

Every year I work on this market and sometimes wonder if all the work is worth it.  Then the big day arrives... I think in some ways it may be like giving birth, once you hold the child in your arms, you forget everything else.

I love to shop and I think I select the tables that are here by what I am looking for every year for Christmas.

This year...I’ve hit the jackpot!

I have spent more money in the first day than I have in the last six years that this market has occurred. I justify the expenditures as Christmas gifts...yeah Merry Christmas me!

And so it begins...

It is early in the morning before everyone has arrived and things are set up and ready to go. I like to arrive early before all the chaos to enjoy a few quiet moments before all the activity begins. All the tables are set out the night before with their name tags in place and everything is made ready for the next day.

The success of this show every year is due to all the help and support from all the fantastic people that work behind the scenes. The show wouldn’t happen without Darrel, Sandra and Angela, organizing tables, electricity etc... Thank you for all your help.

A special thanks to Richard Cole for picking up the tables and making sure that they were all set up in place.

The market has now opened and everyone is excited about the imminent arrival of Santa Claus.

Make sure to come by for a visit and enjoy a visit with your  neighbours.

Preparations are nearly done for the 6th Annual Christmas at the Windsor Mall

Preparations are nearly done for the 6th Annual Christmas at the Windsor Mall. I don't think that this event would happen without all the dedicated people who keep asking/reminding me that it is once again time.

The focus this week has been making sure that all the plans are in place for marketing this event. The face book group has been updated for people to be kept updated and to post comments. This blog has been freshened and an ad placed on Kiiji as well as with every radio station. Not to mention all the flyers Sandra has distributed around town. Flyers have been distributed all around New Minas (Thank you Shirley), Mount Uniacke and Kennetcook as well.

Even without any major advertising, all of the tables have been booked and I will continue to update you on some of the participates.

It looks like it is going to be another year that my wallet will get a little lighter...

The best news is that Santa Claus has agreed to once again put in an appearance, so make sure to have your Christmas list ready. I wonder if he could fit a new house in that bag for me?

Looking for someone to talk to...?

Every year there are a number of return venders. One very loyal participant is Shirley with Candles Lasting Memories. She has been participating at the market since the very beginning. I have to say that she is one of the more loyal participates and is very active in promoting this market to everyone she meets. She makes sure that posters are distributed throughout the community and at every other market she attends. She also actively recruits participants for future markets. She is another one of the participants that without her participation...this market would not be as successful.

Shirley is one of those people who has never met a stranger. Often within moments of someone stopping by her table...finds out who their family is and where they came from. If you are looking to experience that true small town feeling of belonging to a community...than make time to stop by and chat with Shirley and let her show you true home town hospitality.

Almost as popular as Santa...

One of the more entertaining participants at the Christmas Market is Pituco. He was not as big as many of the other participants but what he lacks in height...he makes up in sheer volume.

Pituco is a small parrot with a big attitude and lives at Windsor Pet Services. One evening¸ Angela and Roy, the owners of the kennel went away to a wedding and asked me to house sit for them. Now Angela is a very good dog trainer and is able to produce a very commanding tone of voice. It is a type of voice that if I was a dog and she told me to sit...I expect that my butt would quickly hit the floor! It was late at night and I knew that I was the only one in the house but suddenly I heard...”Come here...come here now!” and it certainly sounded like Angela. (Did I mention that I like to watch scary shows?) I searched and searched and couldn’t find anyone but could still hear someone talking. I finally saw this little body stomping towards me, issuing his command and annoyed that I was not instantly obeying him. He had flown off his perch and needed me to pick him up. Who knew that Angela had taught him to talk and that he mimics her tone perfectly?

Angela has trained her dogs in both obedience and scent detection. She has agreed to have her dogs give a demonstration at the show; a demonstration which I expect will be both entertaining as well as educational.

And the cranberries will be returning...

The most important ingredient to a successful Christmas market is the vendors or small business owners and this market has benefited from having some of the best. One of my favourite small business owners who participate every year is Earl. The first time I met Earl, was also my first time for organizing the market and I had actually refused his participation.

My main concern is that everyone who participates does well at the show and I would hate for anyone to not make their table fee. So when I asked him what his business was and he told me...well I thought...he’d never make any money selling that and I didn’t want to take advantage of him as he seemed like such a nice man! Well didn’t he ask to book a table for the next year; I agreed but figured that he would forget by the time the next show... if I ever did another anyway.

The next year Earl showed up at my desk with his deposit to hold his table. I tried to talk him out of it... again thinking he wouldn’t make any money... but he was determined. So I took his money and pushed down my twinges of guilt. He set up his table of Cranberries and Christmas Wreaths (who knew he also did wreaths?) and sold out almost within the first two hours! Who knew that everyone loves freshly picked cranberries?

He now books his table a year in advance and I think he sells out every time. His wreaths are incredible and I always have to ask him to reserve me two to make sure that I get ones for my family (I think that I would be banned from the Christmas Festivities if I did not produce one of his wreaths) His cranberries are always freshly picked and make fantastic cranberry sauce to go with the Christmas Turkey. I think that something would be missing for me without his participation each year so thank you Earl for proving me wrong and persevering through my ignorance.