December 7, 2006

And a cobweb Christmas to all

By Jeanne Carbone Lewis
Staff Writer

Spinning a magical Christmas web over the lucky children who attended, Almaden Quicksilver Mining Museum park interpreter Terri Sanislo presented a “Cobweb Christmas” this past Sunday.

Yikes, there’s spiders in the room! Kids were fascinated by park interpreter Terri Sanislo’s collection of spiders. Photos by Jeanne Carbone Lewis

“I look forward to this every year because my kitchen smells so good the night before,” said Sanislo. “I feel like Mrs. Claus. And to see the look on the children’s faces as they listen to the story and all the while learning about the mining history here and natural history is priceless. The best thing is that it’s not the shopping mall but a good old fashioned Victorian Christmas.”

But it’s not just about the treats that Sanislo bakes the night before, even though they are a mouthwatering delight of gingerbread with whipped cream, gingerbread men, candy canes and even sugar plum gumdrops. Sanislo actually creates a magical world for the children with the reading of “The Cobweb Christmas” in the Victorian-decorated Randol Room at the Quicksilver Museum. Randol was one of the mine managers during the heyday of the company. The children are whisked to another time and place.

After the story telling, Sanislo keeps little hands busy creating webs from sparkly pipe cleaners and even a plastic spider to decorate the completed orb. And afterwards there’s an even bigger surprise. Live tarantulas, black widows and bugs are presented and the children learn about the natural history of the area.

Sanislo has presented the Victorian Christmas for the past four years and many of the children have attended in the past. And the parents like it as much as their kids, as Sanislo weaves her delightful storytelling web.

“Welcome, to a cobweb Christmas,” said Sanislo. “Now first of all you don’t have to be quiet. It’s not a library. We’re here to have fun. Can you find something that is strange and not Christmassy in the room?”

Sugar plum gumdrops were a tasty treat presented at “The Cobweb Christmas” story hour recently.

“The cookies on the Christmas tree,” said one young girl.

“Yes, you usually do not see them on a tree now,” answers Sanislo. “But they were on trees in Victorian times. And this is still the original packaging by Barnum’s Animal Crackers from 1902 so we use them to decorate the tree. What else do you see?”

“The cobweb!” said a wide-eyed girl.

“Yes, and that’s where are story begins,” said Sanislo.

But not only does Sanislo read from “The Cobweb Christmas” by Shirley Climo. She supplies authenticity to the children’s story, by bringing out her collection of spiders. A few children are apprehensive, but before long the entire group is learning about arachnids and natural history.

While Kaitlin Zarbis, 7, says she loves the story the best, Julia Samuel, also 7, says “Oh, I like the spiders the best—especially the black widows!”

Sanislo even made some tasty treats for the parents, which they enjoy while giving her kudos for her story telling and baking prowess.

“Terri is awesome!” said parent Lori Lydel. “She really connects with the kids and does a phenomenal job.”