Salem Sampler - reprise

Anyone who has lived in this area for any length of time and read the Colborne Chronicle will remember the down-to-earth musings and recollections of Nancy Ellis in her regular Salem Sampler column. The column was discontinued some years ago, but Nancy has generously agreed to bring it back – 2010 version, once a month. Today’s posting is her first in the new online Salem Sampler.


A Salem Sampler –reprise

Let me see, now where was I…

Oh yes… I was passing on information about events in Salem community.

It’s a new year, 2010.

Do you realize we’re now a whole decade advanced into the much-vaunted Millenium? How will you pronounce it? Two thousand and ten, or the shortened twenty-ten?

Anyway, now that we’ve packed Christmas firmly away for another year, I’d like to give it one more thought.

Christmas for us at Salem invariably begins with the annual Country Fare Bazaar and Tea which takes place at the end of November. This year’s event, dubbed “The Magi” was outstanding due to the talent, creativity, dedication and plain hard work of its organizing committee, its members and the Salem community. Everyone participated.

The king-sized sign on the church lawn announcing the event was cut into the shape of a camel. Despite the comments of its perpetrator, Cathy Galt, that it looked more like a donkey, I thought, as did many others, that it depicted a perfectly respectable camel.

Most folk seemed to appreciate the innovative changes made in the bazaar this year. It began at 9:00 a.m. with coffee and doughnuts and carried on till 4 in the afternoon with the serving of the traditional afternoon tea and all its delights.

The Magi, Gaspar, Melchior and Balthazar, clad in their gorgeous costumes were in residence answering questions about their attendance.

Atmosphere was created by the swathing of a night-blue material filled with twinkling stars across the ceiling of the hall. You could almost believe you were among the sand dunes of a Mesopotamian desert. Very impressive.

It was a most successful event, as it usually is; we are most grateful for the talent that abounds in Salem.

We offer our sincere thanks to all the folk who supported the event and have done so over the years. We do appreciate you.

There’s always something new and exciting happening in Salem.

There was an almost-packed church for the rainy-night Christmas Eve service with the Rev. Anja Guignon presiding. Our candles, snuffed out rather than extinguished, disseminated their wisps of smoke into the atmosphere as tendrils of Hope, Joy, Peace, and Love.

And now, Happy New Year!

The Salem Valley Quilters began their spring session in the church hall on January 6. These get-togethers will continue every Wednesday evening beginning at 7 and ending at 9. It’s a good group which gathers for the practice of this skill; if you’re interested just pop in and join them. Help is available if you need it.

The Quilters displayed their works of art at the bazaar and were a delightful addition.

The Salem Lunch Ladies are back, serving their delicious comfort food. The next lunch is Friday, January 22, at 11:00 a.m., and every two weeks after that.

We have a brand-new state-of-the-art kitchen at Salem – very up-to-date and efficient, and a delight to work in. Have you seen it yet?

If you have any information or news that you would like to share with other Salem folk and the greater community, please let me know as soon as you can and it will be included in the February missive. My phone number is the same 355-2051. Or you can pass the information on to any Salemite and they can contact me.

Hear from you in February?


Nancy Ellis