HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2009-12-24, Page 26PAGE 26. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2009.With their feet so rooted in history,2009 Citizens of the Year for Blythand area, Brock and Janis Vodden,
no doubt have a historical take on
their Christmas traditions.
The Voddens, who are known
throughout Huron County and in
historical circles throughout North
America, for their extensive
historical knowledge of Blyth and
the surrounding area, so it’s not
surprising that their Christmas
memories flow right through those
historical recollections.
Brock’s parents, who owned a
bakery on Blyth’s main street, were
very involved with the village’s
Christmas. So involved, in fact, that
an event led to an early revelation
and shaped how he and Janis would
approach Christmas with their
children.
When Brock was a young boy, he
was wandering around his parents’
bakery and stumbled upon a drawer
he had never opened before. In the
drawer, he found a pair of grey
gloves, which he eventually put back
in their place.
He was then called by his mother
to get ready. The pair had to run to
the train station to meet with Santa
Claus, who was making his way to
Blyth via train from Londesborough.
Upon arriving at the train station,
the young Brock noticed a familiar
pair of gloves on Santa Claus’s
hands and mentioned it to his
mother. Upon hearing this
information, however, she was not
thrilled and she whisked Brock away
from the crowd and had a bit of a
discussion with him.
Since that moment, the Voddens
decided to take the wizardry out of
Christmas and take a straight
forward approach to the holidays
with their children. A decision they
are happy they made. Presents came
from them, but for some added
dramatic effect, the tree was always
miraculously put up when the
children woke up on Christmas
morning, put there and decorated by
Santa Claus himself, despite the fact
that the Vodden children were
aware that Santa Claus was their
parents.
Janis, on the other hand, holds
memories of Christmas through her
nose. When discussing Christmas,
she says, the aromas come to mind.
Things that stick out are nutmeg and
cinnamon and dried fruits baking
into cakes and puddings.
However, one of the predominant
Christmas memories Janis has is
from some of her earliest years and
her mother’s sugar cookies, which
she made and cut into rounds every
Christmas.
Her mother would ice the cookies
with white icing and even when
Janis was just three and four years
old, her mother would help her
decorate them. The decoration of the
cookies was also quite an art in
itself.
First, light pieces of citron peel
were cut from a larger chunk by
Janis’s mother and each slice
became a holly leaf and two were
pressed into the icing of each cookie.
Holly berries were created by red
cinnamon candies and then thecookie was complete.In the couple’s later years,however, Christmas has been ratherquiet at their house, with Janis andBrock now doing the majority of the
travelling over the holidays.
They go and see their children at
their homes, however, one of thelong-standing traditions has becomethe phone calls the Voddens receiveon Christmas Day. Calls come fromall over the world from family andfriends Janis says and it is truly a
part of the holidays that can always
make her and Brock smile.
It’s a global Christmas with the Voddens
519-523-4244 Blyth 1-800-265-9002
We're overflowing with gratitude
for your kind patronage and
wish you all a very merry holiday season.
From your friends at the
Blyth Masonic Lodge,
we wish you and your family
a Merry Christmas
and a safe & happy 2010.
Blyth Lodge #303, AF & AM
c/o Rick Elliott
P.O. Box 130,
Blyth, Ontario N0M 1H0
email: relliott@ezlink.ca
Wishing everyone all the best this holiday season.
We thank you for your patronage this past year
and look forward to serving you again soon.
The management and staff of
383 Queen St., Blyth
519-523-9681
We have the
parts you need for your
auto, truck & snowmobile
See us for
power tools, generators,
and so much more!
Call and answer
With their children now living on their own and family all
over the world, one thing the 2009 Citizens of the Year for
Blyth and area, Brock and Janis Vodden look forward to
every year are phone calls from their family and friends
bringing holiday cheer from all around the globe. (Shawn
Loughlin photo)
Playing Christmas
Every year Brock and Janis Vodden would enjoy a play
performed by their children on the holidays. In 1969, for the
first time, the children presented a bit of a nativity play for
Brock and Janis. From left: Trevor (a wiseman), John (the
narrator), Mary Ellen (Mary), Andrew (Joseph) and Pamela
(an angel). (Photo submitted)
By Shawn LoughlinThe Citizen
MOTHER’S SUGAR COOKIES
Courtesy Brock and Janis Vodden
Cream 1 cup white sugar and 1 cup butter until very smooth. Add 2 eggs,
beaten, 1 tsp. vanilla and 2 tsp. milk and stir well.
Sift 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 tsp cream of tartar, 1/2 tsp. baking soda and
gradually blend into the first mixture.
Roll out on floured board to 1/4-inch thickness and cut with cookie cutters
(round ones if making holly cookies as mother did).
Bake at 450°F until just turning brown.
Cool before frosting with butter icing.
ON $6.00 THURSDAYS
Drop into either of our offices any
Thursday with your word classified
(maximum 20 words) and pay only
$6.00 + GST (paid in advance).
That’s $1.00 off regular rates.
The Citizen