Little Toy Village

That title is a song Fawn, my daughter, learned to sing in grade school. I can still hear her singing it. My favorite part of our Christmas Tree was a village and I waited until the sheet went under the tree so I could put it there, when I was very small.

Another fond memory for me was once a year, Ringling Brothers Circus came to town. I never cared about going to the circus, my big excitement was waiting for the Circus train to come. It had a special horn and at 5 AM it arrive at a crossing about 5 blocks from our house. My Dad always took me to watch the train unload. It was so wonderful to see all the animals and the beautiful cages all painted they were then moved in. This is a picture of my special Circus train.

Kristy's husband, a very special Grandson to me, heard my story when Kristy and I made a scrapbook of my life for Heidi and then also Kristy. He bought me this special train. I used to go on the Pennsylvania Railroad Passenger train to my Aunt's. We rode the train from Canton to Pittsburgh. He also bought me that train, also in the picture. I had the freight train. I bought him an N gage railroad set and boy did I ever create a monster. He went crazy and who knows how many he has now. My husband has HO but I liked the N better. I have one in with my

Lilliput houses in a glass top coffee table. The large tree was painted by Bill when he was 14. It was a school project and I treasure it also.

The village and all the people I painted myself. I have painted several villages now. This was the first one I ever painted. Heidi has one and will be showing hers on her blog I am sure. Hope you enjoy seeing my Little Toy Village, underneath the tree. Sweetest little town you will ever see. There's a Little Toy Village underneath the tree and it comes to life on Christmas.
I wish I could remember the entire song.

Night and Day

I put the tree up yesterday, but didn't get the village set up yet. This is the night view.

Here it is in daylight. As you can see, my tree is all snowmen. (Heidi's Idea)

This tree skirt is made by Heidi, and I embroidered Marshmallow World around it. My friend Patty painted the picture on the left, and Heidi cross stitched the other two. I usually hang them each year in the bathroom. I just redid the bathroom in red and white, so I don't know if I will hang them. For now they are on display in front of me TV cabinet.

Snowman Stairs

I started the easy way this morning. Every year most of my stuffed snowmen go up the steps. Believe it or not, George started this by giving me one little key chain snowman. I even have one in my car that Haali gave me.

It's hard to see all of them and I wish I would have tagged them all to know where I got them.

The thin one sitting sort of on its own was made by Heidi.

Most of the snowmen are gifts.

Can anyone tell I am addicted to snowmen?

More and more and more. Should I stop you think

Way on top is one given to me by Eric and he does not do Christmas. He says snowmen are ok.

Welcome Mandie

I hope everyone who visits my blog will now visit my Grandaughter started hers today. Welcome to Blogland Mandie. http://www.armywifeismylife.blogspot.com/.

Receipes

I told Angela I would put the poundcake receipe on the blog. Here it is. It is Fawn's receipe and we all love it, especially Mandie.


Fawn's Poundcake

1/2 cup margarine or butter ggs
1/2 cup shortening (crisco)
1 tsp lemon extract
6 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
3 cups of sugar
1 cup of milk
3 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp salt

Bake in two loaf pans at 325 degrees for 1 hour 30 minutes


Fawn's Apple Crumb Pie

4 large tart apples 1 receipe of plain pastry (1 crust pie)
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp cinnamon


For the topping:
1/3 cup butter or margarine
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup flour
Pare the apples and cut into eighths. Put apples into a 9 inch pastry lined piepan. Mix 1/2 cup sugar with the cinnamon and sprinkle over the apples.
Prepare the sugar, flour and butter in another dish (I use a pastry cutter to mix)
It should be crumbly. Sprinkle over the apples and bake in a hot oven 375 degrees
for 40 to 50 minutes. Check apples with tooth pick to see if they are soft.

On the Road Again

This morning after a way too long, with terrible service, breakfast at the Cracker Barrel, my Grandaughter's and their families went North and South to head home.

Kristy and her family are on the road now heading for New York. Hope the traffic is not this bad.

Going South is Mandie and her family.

They are going to North Carolina and Ft Bragg Army Post.

Monday, Jason, Mandie's husband is being deployed for ten months. We wish him a safe time away from home.

I can happily say I just spoke to both of the girls and one is minutes from home, and the other 20 minutes away. They are safe and had good trips.

Some of my Pies

This is one of six pumpkin pies and the two apple pies I baked yesterday. I will have a lot
of hungry people here tonight and tomorrow. There will be 14 tonight for ham sandwiches,
salad and chips, and tomorrow will be Thanksgiving dinner for us. Bill has to work today and
the girls are with their other Gramma. George's family will be her this evening.
This receipe has been in our family for as long as I can remember, but I call it my sister's.

Jane's Pumpkin Pie

1 can pumpkin 1/2 tsp. ginger

1 tsp. nutmeg 1 Tablespoon Cinnamon

3 eggs 1 Tablespoon Flour

1 qt. milk 1 cup sugar

dash salt

Happy Thanksgiving

Today will be a busy day for me. I will be baking 6 pumpkin pies, two apple pies, and gingerbread and maybe pound cake. We will have 11 on Friday for our Thanksgiving turkey, and 14 on Thursday evening when the girls drive in from Pennsylvania, from their Gramma.

My bathroom painting is finally done, so I just have a few more things to finish up today.
Safe travel to my girls and families and Eric

Over the River and Through the Woods

Ok, remember the song Over the River and Through the Woods to Grandmother's house we go The horse knows the way, to carry the sleigh through the white and drifing snow. So, may my Son, Eric and my Grandaughters and their families travel safely on their way to my house on Thanksgiving, and may there be no snow. They won't need it for a semi and their cars. Heidi, if you hurry, you can still make it on time.

Julie's Idea

Julie from Nunnie's Attic thought it would be fun for everyone to go to Amazon.com and find a book with their name on it to put on their blog. Ok, Julie, here is what I found under Nancy. The fancy part doesn' suit me but oh well.

It is a cute idea so I decided to give it a try. Bet Zoe would like this book too.

Poor Heidi

' Heidi says I forgot her today and she was waiting and waiting for me to get on Skype. I didn't forget you Heidi. We went to Amish Country to have breakfast, then to buy apples for my
Thanksgiving pies and then to a bulk food store for more needed items. I then had to go to two grocery stores, (Yes Mitch, I said two). I finally caught up with Heidi, now she is gone to have tea. Oh well, now who is waiting?

First Snowfall and Snowman

This morning we went outside to the first snow fall that stayed on the ground. It lasted only a very short time, but reminded me it is Snowman time at my house. I have to start getting my collection out a little at a time. This is number one for this year.

Thankful

This is a picture of the first Thanksgiving, which was held in 1621 somewhere between September 21 and November 11th. It lasted three days. This year our Thanksgiving will also last for 3 days. My Grandaughters and their families will be coming in on Thursday after they visit their other Grandparents in Pennsylvania. Kristen for sure, Mandie if Jason can leave the army post early enough is my understanding now. They have a long drive from North Carolina. Kristen's husband is stationed at Ft. Drum in New York.
Eric is hoping to drive his semi back to Ohio to be with us, and Bill is here. Heidi and Jos of course are a total other issue. Right Heidi? We are having a dinner on Thursday, but our turkey and trimmings will be on Friday when we have a day to prepare. Both of my Grandsons will be deployed soon. Jason the end of November. I am thankful we can all be together this year, and pray they both are safe when out of the country. Thank God for our Armed Forces who keep us safe and able to celebrate our Thanksgiving.
for our armed forces, so we can have Thanksgiving here in our country. Heidi is away,
but she still has her own American Thanksgiving, and will be here in spirit.

Back Home Again

We are back in our hometown, Canton, Ohio, home of the Football Hall of Fame. I only went in it for the first time last year and then again this year. They have a Seniors day, so I decided to see what it was all about.

We don't have snow yet, this was not taken this year. It is only a matter of time though.

Even though I have traveled the world as a military family, and lived in many places, I grew up in Canton and I love Ohio. There is so much here to see and do, and I have fond memories of growing up here.

Visiting My Grandchildren

Here I am visiting my Grandaughter Kristen, (ChristianCrafter) in New York. We went to
a little town, Alexendria Bay. Needless to say, it is very cold and windy.

Sorry this picture is a little blurry, but this is a castle (Heidi) actually in the USA. Everything in the town is closed for winter. We couldn't go into any shops.
Kristy is going across the road to see when this church was built. There was no sign saying whenit was built, but it was put into the Natural Historic registery in 1997.
This church is in Watertown, across from the hotel we stayed in.

This is the Best Western we stayed in. We wanted to get 20,000 airmiles on George's new card so he can use the miles for Holland in the Spring. Mitch met us at the airport with a sign saying airport shuttle to Carriage House Hotel Inn. He was wearing a chauffer's hat and blazer. He was not happy with u s for staying at the hotel. Everyone nearby was laughing. Tomorrow we are heading home. \

My music was started by Kristy and me, then edited by my nutty (Captain in the ARMY) grandson. Sorry, he is a little nuts. The cleaning the gun song is definitely him. OHHHHHHH MYYYYYYYYY. We are keeping him though.

Time to Pack My Laptop

Tomorrow morning, and I do mean morning, at 5:38AM we are flying to Syracuse to
be met by Kristen (Christian Crafter) and her family. We visited them at Ft. Dix and
got free tickets because we took a bump on the flight we were scheduled on. We will
be there until Tuesday evening. I hope to be able to take some pictures while we are
there so I can put them on my blog.

Final Dollhouse post

The items seen here will be on the second floor of the General Store. It is going to be a bakery/cafe. I have more baked goods, one is a wedding cake to put in the shop. For now, these things are sitting on the roof waiting for a home.


This is a little room shop I bought in Bourton on the Water, in the Costwolds, in England.

Heidi and I had a Mother/Daughter week there, with my English Pen-Pal and her daughter.

We have been writing since we were 8 years old, and that is a longgggggggg time.

The china is some I had and some Heidi bought for me. The English phone box speaks for itself. I wish I had a real one, but I guess this one will have to do.

Until I make my Amish School, this is the last post I will be doing on Dollhouses.

Meet George

When we were in Holland, George must have been acting up, because Heidi and I decided to
put him in jail. The problem is, he looks like he is enjoying it toooooo much. They let him
right back out.

About Bill

This is my oldest son, Bill. He is featured on my Grandaughter Kristen's blog, Knitting 101.
When he was about 8 he learned to knit. The last time he attempted to knit, was a sweater
at age 13. He made the back then quit. I finished that sweater. I think he will finish this one.
He is nearing the bind off at the underarms, and the stitches are perfect. Good work Bill.

He came today in a sweater I knit for him several years ago. I thought you might like seeing the stitches close up. Right now I am making another sweater for Eric with the sheepies, as

he calls the yarn I bought in Holland from the lady on the farm who spins it.

I NEED MY ELVES

This has been a crazy weekend. All my elves, except Bill, live in different states or countries.
I decided to clean my spare bedroom, which included washing curtains. Well, my curtains in
that room are very old and one decided to split in washing.
I went to Walmart to see about another curtain and I ended up buying rugs and towels for my
bathroom. I brought them home and the colors clashed with the tiles something awful. Well
this lead me to start tearing wallpaper off the walls in the bathroom. There is paper about 24 inches above the tile. The paper is coming off easy, but there is a brown paper under that. Soooooo, I had to go buy some spray stuff I hope will help and of course paint. This is something I have been wanting to do for a long time. I hate the tile color too, but I can't tear them off. Oh well.
Now that job is only partly done, because while in Walmart, I bought a bolt of blue and white checked fabric and I am now making kitchen curtains. I have one more to go then it is back
to the bathroom. My advice is, watch out if you start a project.

The Hat Shop

Mandie, my Grandaughter, and I made all the hats to put into my hat shop. I made the dress
for the shopkeeper. We spent an evening together having a lot of fun creating, we made the
hats in one evening.

This is the front of the Shop. This is another memory for me that I treasure. Time together

with one of my favorite girls.

This man sells ice cream outside of the General Store.