Nan’s Cookies is in honour of Marguerite Weir, grocer and co-founder of Herbie’s. Marguerite was born in Petty Harbour to Phoebe and Cecil Whiiten; and was the second eldest of nine children. She and her husband Herbie opened Weir’s General Store in the Spring of 1951. In 2001 at age 72, Marguerite became the smiling face of Herbie’s’s Olde Craft Shoppe. Marguerite enjoyed meeting and sharing her love and knowledge of Petty Harbour with those she met at Herbie’s. Her yummy chocolate chip cookies were enjoyed by family, friends and customers. Always happy to see folks coming for a visit, Marguerite quietly served everyone a cup of tea and a plate filled with food. Nan’s Cookies represents all the kind neighbours who welcome the Mummers into their homes and serve them Christmas cake and cookies. “Come in, lovely Mummers, don’t bother the snow,” is the greeting in The Mummer’s Song (1983) by Simani. The song describes the visit by the Mummers to a typical Newfoundland outport home and can be viewed at
http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/community-stories_histoires-de-chez-nous/times-times-times_le-temps-le-temps-le-temps/gallery/the-mummers-song-by-simani/