In motion
Everybody loves to see the action, but I needed some help to maximize the fun so my grandchildren, Sam and Annabelle, helped out.
Improved track configuration
Each year my fans look for what is new in the Christmas Village. Some years the changes are subtle, but not this year. The small hidden trolley diorama track of past years never worked right anyway. So this year Sam and I picked out a new trolley at the train fair and I make a new track for it farther to the front. Thanks to a gift of additional Erector pieces from Dottie’s friend Ted, I doubled the width of the Erector bridge and created a trolley line from the front of the station on the left square to the repositioned old inn on the right side. The effect is very pleasing as it connects the sides and creates some counter movement to the right-moving trains loops.
Putting it together despite hardships
I’m thankful my difficulties are minor compared to many. However, I had a taste this year of trying to accomplish something despite obstacles. My right knee was giving me problems that slowed down the process of construction. Kneeling was painful. So I had to use a kneeler and make sure I grouped the work to minimize ups and downs. In addition, there were the usual things here and there that didn’t work right and had to be figured out. Plus adding something new takes time too. The bottom line is that what I did in 10 days about eight years ago, took a month this year. And that was with enlisting help from my grandson and a local Scout to do some of the toting. It was a sobering experience. Thankfully with some medical help my knee is improving
A new ceramic house
With the new design, I needed one more Dept 56 building. I found the perfect fit online in a New England Town Hall. According to the accompanying note, it was going from one grandfather’s Christmas display to another grandfather’s Christmas set. It looks just like it belongs along a village square in an old CT or MA village. You can spot it in the main square next to the church.
The details
I love to look at and take pictures of the small vignettes which make up the larger scenes: a granddaughter running into the arms of her grandfather who has just arrived at the train station; a policeman directing traffic while a big truck unloads drainage pipe behind the Lionel train store; a father-son team building a woodpile to feed the fireplace. These and many more draw my attention into the scenes and make my eyes linger long in the details.
Leaving it up
When you put up something like this, you don’t want to take it down. But I do. If I didn’t it would have stagnated years ago not to mention gathered dust. Being forced to rebuild drives creativity. Albeit, the creative pace is checked both by my pocketbook and by my need for some continuity in construction. So I have a goal to get it stored away before Easter. A couple times, it just made it. This year – we’ll see.