November 2022 – Twenty Steps at a Time

I decided to start decorating for Christmas early this year. I hope this isn’t my last Christmas, but then none of us ever knows what is in store for us. I just wanted to enjoy the decorations for a little longer. The tables are in place for the village scenes, the tree has its place in the corner, little touches here and there are appearing, the snowman lot is full but there’s always room for more! The Byers Family is singing Christmas Carols. Our German Advent Calendar is in place to count down the days til Christmas. The kitchen counter has new crafts to be completed and repairs to wreaths and other decorations, waiting for me.

But wait! There’s more!
Advent calendar lights up (batteries not included!)
Byers dolls atop my Grandmother’s antique Singer treadle sttttwing machine. Their assigned place every year.

One of the special items this year is my 1950’s Marx Tin Lithograph doll house that is under the tree. I remember loving this toy as a child and playing many hours with it. I had wanted to donate it to a hometown museum, but sadly they were not interested in it for their dollhouse exhibit. So, I decided to keep it and decorate it for Christmas, placing it under the tree like it was for me over 65 years ago (but without the holiday decorations).

I received quite an amazing reaction with my posting of this doll house on Facebook. Gave an idea to a few others and the most often comment was “love it!” I’m enjoying seeing it under the tree once again.

The village is now done. It ‘snowed’ this morning so there’s a light covering of the white stuff to soften the scenes. Another labor of love as we put it out each year. I wish we had more space to put all the houses out. Years ago, Karen and I merged our two villages together. Most of what you see in these pictures is from my village. I guess it’s what was unwrapped first! Again, we have a couple specialty pieces – Dad’s Diner in honor of Karen’s Dad and the Maple Syrup Factory in honor of my Dad. Candy Cane Lane is a favorite with the photographer using Kodak film (of course!) and Snowball Hill with lots of small snowbals on the ground. The Pretzel Stand is in memory of our Christkindle Markts trips to Europe/Germany/Austria. And what winter scene is not complete without the Hot Cocoa Stand? There’s a tree farm and wreath stand. And it’s over the river and through the woods and a covered bridge for the horse and sleigh. Shoppers are downtown; people are meeting friends on the streets. A soldier is home being greeted by his girlfriend as her brother gets ready to pelt them with a snowball! Lots of mini stories in Mistletoe. Enjoy the overall ‘drone’ pictures! For more pictures of previous years set ups, visit Facebook’s Under the Tree – Christmas Villages.