Saturday, January 11, 2014

A Magical Village


I've never seen anything like it! I've seen villages before but nothing on this grand a scale!
Delores begins the setup on Labor Day, adding thousands of pieces a section at a time.....

......piece by piece until it is completed 2 months later.
 
  We asked her how many pieces she has but she didn't know. I would guess several thousand. Her husband bought her the very first piece many years ago.
 
It is an amazing Christmas/Winter village! I'm just so sorry that the photos don't  begin to do it justice. (I'm also shocked that some TV channel hasn't done a "bit" on this village.) I've seen villages before but nothing close to this size. I could only capture little sections at a time.
I have a couple of very favorite apps: Larry and Nila App.
Delores and Nila work together and they invited me to go along to see the village. Larry is an incredible videographer. He wanted to take his "real" cameras and do justice to the village.
When we arrived at the house, it was daytime. We were excited when the darkness began to creep in and the entire village changed personality.









Be sure to notice how the stars show up . Not only is Delores a very creative person but she has a creative, patient and handy-man husband who builds whatever Delores needs.






 
Is it any wonder that Delores sets this village up every other year. Could it possibly be because from the time she begins to set up until the final piece is packed away, 6 months goes by.
Now you know! 
 
 
 
 

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Brrrrrrrr!

No school for the 3rd day in a row but Layla and Marley "happened" to have their snow clothes here at our house knowing that PopPop loves to take them on the little hill in the field behind us. But first, they had to wait for PopPop to get ready:


 
"Hey girls! Look this way you silly people!"
(BTW, I am warm and cozy as I take this through the window.)
 
"This is deep!"

"The snow is in my glove, JoJo!
Can you get it out?"
(No!)

"I LOVE the snow!"

"Here comes PopPop!!!"

"Imagine that! The birdseed is frozen!"
 
Now the threesome head for the hill but it's rough going.


 
PopPop has to help pick up a fallen child (that was, after he picked himself up).
They are out on the hill as I type but I can't zoom in far enough.
I guess it's time to go investigate...from a different window...not outside! I just heard happy screeching!

Sunday, January 5, 2014

Walking In A Winter Wonderland!

We have passed the 8" mark with much more on the way! It was not too bad getting to Trinity this morning with 4-wheel drive but I wasn't sure that Tom could get up the hill in his car. He actually made it to church but his car is now sitting at the base of our drive since he can't get it up the hill. It might be there until spring! There were far more at church than I imagined there would be and had about 22 in the choir that were able to make it in. Tom and I even stayed for Sunday School class with Larry and Nila App and Sharon Stauffer. We had a great discussion! Glad we went ahead with class. Tom took some pictures of the church before leaving.
 
Trinity United Methodist Church
 
After lunch, Tom and I bundled up (I actually had to find my boots and  bring my winter coat in from my car since I haven't worn it yet this winter) for a little fun in the snow. When we went out, Tom measured 8 inches of snow but we have had a lot more in the last couple of hours.
 
  Let me tell you that it was very difficult to walk in all that snow!!!
 
Tom decided that he would try to shovel. Too heavy but we have a good neighbor that has very fancy snow removal equipment. Thanks Steve!  (Why! I do believe that Tom is now moving his car up our driveway and into the garage! Thanks again Steve!!!)
 
                                                        Fancy snow removal equipment!

Tom needs to buy a car with 4-wheel drive!!!

 

Looking down our cul-de-sac

The snow on the tree in front of my work room is so full of snow,
I can't see out my window.

                                                     Photos don't do it justice! So pretty!
 
I knew that Tom was walking by the river so I decided to do the same. I finally made it to the path and the snow was so deep and coming down so hard, I had trouble walking. My camera was getting soaked with every picture and my back was telling me that this was not a good idea. I wasn't on the "path" long...especially since I couldn't even see the path.
 

                                           I see the back of our house so I guess I'm not lost!
This was a difficult walk (and there is a lot more as I type this than when I was outside!)

Is it spring yet?

The snow is piled perfectly on our neighbor, Serena's, wood stacks. (Serena's husband, Dave, died the week before Christmas in an auto accident. So much sadness for so many people.)


Thank goodness, my snow blower still works!!!
Smile Tom!
 
                                  Tom had to head back to the path to visit his little friends.
                                              
                                                                      "Hi Tom!"
The river is beginning to "chunk up"

This is Charlene Snelson's chair! My dear neighbor/friend owns this chair which rests at the end of the cul-de-sac. I can't wait until spring when she might be able to use it for her rest time once again.
 
As the snow continues to fall, I think about my dear friend, Kathy Thies, whose brother-in-law, Craig Korporal died this weekend. While some of us play and have a good time, I am forever thinking about the many people who grieve, struggle and have so much to cope with. Blessings to Craig's wife, Norma, and the entire Korporal/Plummer/Thies family.
 
 
 

 
 


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Friday, January 3, 2014

Brrrrrrrrrrrr.......

It is VERY cold today but the sun is shining and the snow has temporarily stopped falling. Tom ventured out, dressed in several layers and camera in hand, and walked our path behind our house. This is his "little slice of heaven".

Ice/frost on the bushes

Misty river



"Whose woods these are I think I know....."
(Love Robert Frost!)

Tom has an artistic eye for beauty


After circling around, the mist was gone.
 
Yesterday was snowy and Tom "ran into" his little friends as he usually does. I think they know him by name.
 
"Hi Tom!"

"He's safe. He only shoots a camera!"