Savvy Entertaining

I think it was the second Christmas after Hubby and I wed that someone started giving Hubby  pieces for a Christmas village. What started out as a few little pieces we enjoyed getting out for the holidays quickly morphed into an obscene number of village pieces that required a lot of effort.

That would be the exact moment when Hubby lost complete interest in The Village.

As much as I would like to lay the blame elsewhere, I think I was the guilty party who started the whole snowball rolling. I vaguely remember purchasing a few pieces on an after Christmas sale. I bought them because 1. They were on sale! 2. Hubby collected Coke memorabilia and they fit the bill 3. It sounded like a fun idea at the time.

This was one of the first pieces I drug home. The old-time store with Coca-Cola emblazoned across the front.

As time went on, it seemed both his family and mine joined in the fray of giving us more pieces every year. We have lighthouses, castles, tree houses, inns, and just about every building a town could possibly want.

One of my favorite buildings is this cabin. It makes me think of Currier & Ives holiday scenes.

I could envision myself hanging out in the Tea Room. It looks like a fun and tasty place to stop during a busy day of shopping.

Hubby enjoys The Village from afar (as in he will look at it, comment about it and find a place to set whatever new pieces he may acquire during the holidays – but goodness sakes, don’t expect him to help set it up!).

Along with way too many buildings, we have a varied assortment if extra pieces.

Like this bridge that goes over the pond, hurried shopper, skater and the homeless man who sleeps under the bridge. All he needs is a cardboard box.

I like this sleigh because the couple looks like they are having fun and that has always been something I thought would be nifty – to have a one-horse open sleigh.

The expression on the snowman’s face makes me smile every time I look at it. Is he afraid the deer is going to eat his nose? Lick him into a puddle? What is the deer thinking? So many intriguing questions.

I would be the guilty party who added these three mischievous raccoons to The Village. Two years ago, three raccoons came on nightly raids through our backyard, terrorizing the Heinous Cat and wreaking havoc around our house. Hubby referred to them as the Invasion Force. When I found this piece, I knew Hubby had to have it for his village.

So despite the fact that I grumble about setting this up and Hubby continues his act of not being interested in it at all, we both know it doesn’t seem like the holidays without it gracing a huge area of space in our home!

Do any of you set up villages?  I’d love to hear what is in your collection!

Happy Holiday Entertaining!

The Village Keeper