November 8, 2007

Yuletide Bazaar is just what Santa ordered

By Jeanne C. Carbone
Staff Writer

Wondering what to buy that special person on your Christmas list? Then a visit to the New Almaden Quicksilver Mining Museum’s [NAQMM] third annual Yuletide Bazaar on Nov. 10 might just solve the problem.

“Cascarones, anyone?” asks NAQMM park interpreter Terri Sanislo. A bounty of good things will be sold at the third annual Yuletide Bazaar at New Almaden Quicksilver Mining Museum on Nov. 10. Photo by Jeanne C. Carbone

“The Yuletide Bazaar will have high-quality goods at practical prices,” said Terri Sanislo, NAQMM park interpreter and organizer of the event, while she attached the finishing touches to natural egg ornaments in the European tradition. “No puffy paint, no googly eyes or hot pink. They are things that you will never find at the mall.”

Sanislo’s artistic side will be on display at the Yuletide Bazaar. Besides the delicate ornaments, she has created cascarones and lavender bouteille wands. She’s started baking for the bake sale--cookies, breads, cakes and candies—and suggests shoppers “eat your way through the bazaar.”

Sanislo is not the only one busily bringing unique items to the Yuletide Bazaar. New Almaden has lots of other talent. Peggy Melbourne is painting birdcages in the likeness of many of the historic structures of the mining area. Virginia Hammerness is baking and canning apricot and pomegranate jams and pickles as well as other tasty treats.

There will even be miner pasties [stuffed pastries] in honor of the miners who would carry the easy-to-eat meal to work. Fall cuttings like foxtails and fresh fruit of persimmons collected from the nearby mountainside are also available. Sanislo will also be taking orders for the fresh holly that grows on the hills.

Including the creativity of New Almaden, there will be over 20 vendors displaying their crafts--gourd birdhouses, photography, artwork and greenery at Casa Grande in New Almaden.

“We work so hard on this, we make Santa’s elves look bad,” said Sanislo. “Be ready to fill a basket with hostess gifts and small staff presents. The whole idea of the Yuletide Bazaar is to show people where this lovely museum is and do some affordable, quality shopping early in the season.”

“It’s always a beautiful day here in Mayberry RFD. You don’t have to worry about your cell phones ringing and the locals are friendly. And you may see the protected wild turkeys roaming free,” added Sanislo.

NAQMM’s third annual Yuletide Bazaar will be held Nov. 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 21350 Almaden Road. Call (408) 323-1107 for more information and directions.