The Citizen, 2009-12-24, Page 20It wouldn’t be Christmas for folks
in Blyth without the sparkling lights
and festive decorations in the main
street corner home of Thelma
Johnston (2003 Citizen of the Year
with Bev Blair for Blyth).
Though she admits she’s not
decorating as much outside as she
used to, there’s still a plethora of
lights, plastic snowpeople and her
own hand-made seasonal creations
to warm the hearts of passers-by on
a cold winter night.
Johnston said she began amassing
her collection about 20 years ago. “I
just kept getting more each year. If I
saw someting I liked I got it and
found a spot for it. Now I’ve got
more decorations than I have places
to put them.”Johnston said she likes to have herlights up early each year, in time forthe annual “lighting of the lights” inthe downtown core. Her outside decor is a fetching
display that she enjoys creating for
other people to see. “I finally have
the kind of collection I wish I could
have had years ago. I just didn’t have
the money then.”
The collection too is a result of
Johnston combining her love of
Christmas with a talent for
woodworking. “I used to make a lot
of ornaments and things,” she said.
One of her pride and joys is a life-
size Santa.
Johnston used to get the inside of
her home in seasonal condition as
well. “I had a big tree with a 1,000
lights on it, but not any longer. My
daughter has Christmas so I just put
up a small tree.”
“But I easily have two on theveranda outside.”Where some would find the task ofstringing lights up poles, on treesand around the house, as well asplacing various festive figures in
appropriate settings, Johnston enjoys
the task. “I like to work outside. And
I used to decorate a lot inside, but no
one saw it. This brings pleasure to
others.”That desire has Johnston over thepast few years beginning a newtradition, assisting another Blythwoman, Donna Govier with charitywork at Christmas. The pair have
organized a drive for the shoebox
program, which delivers necessary
items to needy children. “It’s been
very rewarding to do this.”
PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2009.Collection lights up the village each year
WHITE CHRISTMAS
CAKE
Jeff Cardiff’s Great-Grandma
Harris
(just as Grandma said it)
1 cup butter and 1 cup
margarine, creamed
salt
2 cups white sugar
5 eggs
1 1/2 cups milk
1 tsp. each - almond, lemon,
vanilla extracts
5 cups flour
3 tsp baking powder
2 lbs. white raisins
1 lb. coconut
1 pkg whole peel
1 lbs cherries (some green)
4 rings pineapple
1/2 lb. almonds
Rub fruit with two cups of the
flower. Mix dry ingredients, then
add moist.
Put in two square tins lined with
greased paper and set on broiler pan
with water in. Bake at 300°F two to
four hours, according to size of tin.
Test with toothpick.
Grandma always said batter
should be fairly stiff before adding
the fruit. Add a little more flour if
necessary. Mix all together with
your hands.
Her special Santa
Thelma Johnston, Citizen of the year for 2003 in Blyth, is
an avid Christmas decorator whose talent for woodworking
has resulted in some creative designs of her own. (Bonnie
Gropp photo)
Season’s Greetings
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1-800-265-3033
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Greetings Of The Season
Thank you
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We value the friendships we've
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Hope you all have a happy holiday!
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Warm Wishes
at Christmas
Thank you for the privilege
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I hope you look forward to our
continued friendship, and to
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trust.
ONNIE SALLOWS
Aesthetician & Electrologist
56 King Street, Brussels
519-887-6661
By Bonnie Gropp
The Citizen
See videos
from the
Brussels Santa Claus Parade
on our
website at
www.northhuron.on.ca