One of my favorite things about Christmas is the North Pole... I'm not sure why it fascinates me so much but the North Pole ranks right up there with several of my other favorite places... you know like Hogwarts, Narnia, Middle-earth (obviously after the ring is destroyed), a world with "vegetarian" vampires... Although some will argue this, truly I am not very creative. However, I do have quite an imagination. The stories behind these fantasy places completely draw me in, and I am so eager to be lost there. I will never be a great author or artist, but I sure do admire the work of those who have such talents.
I do have a point here... Years ago I believe my grandmother gave my mother some houses from "the North Pole" ... Each of the first ones had a letter on them: N is for Neenee's Bells and Toys, O is for Orly's Bell & Harness Supply, R is for Rimply's Bakery, T is for Tassy's Mittens, and H is for- oops. Mom, you'll have to let me know what H stands for because the sign is on the side of the building, and I can't quite read it in my picture. You all get the idea here. Department 56 then added new houses and accessories each year. Though I believe the idea was to collect "North Pole" ... I can't begin to tell you what fun (and by fun I mean blood, sweat and tears) it is for my parents to put these up around Christmas. And, in all honesty, how much fun (and by fun I mean joyful delight) it is to look at them all. Mom and Dad do a great job with these... I can't even begin to describe to you the process involved. The pictures hardly do it justice, but it is incredible to look at each piece, so realistically put together... Each building has its place...
I only wish it were real! How fun to stroll along peppermint side walks and through snowy woods... to take a reindeer ride, and check out Santa's Lookout Tower, to visit the Tinsel Mill, Sesame Street, and the M&M factory... to tour Mickey's Playhouse, Arctic Game Station Video Game Testing, the Gum Drop Factory, and the Acme Toy Factory... to buy snacks at the Christmas Sweet Shop and the Candy Mill, and of course, Elsie's Gingerbread Shop {crullers, cookies, cakes} and the Peanut Brittle Factory Mary, you'd love this street... stay a night or two at the Antler Inn unless that's only for elves, in which case there's Santa's Red Hat Inn, how neat would it be to see hot chocolate towers in place of water towers...
Just in case you had some extra time and nothing to do, you could go ice skating on the frozen pond, warm up at the Eggnog Pub or Caribou Coffee Shop, how cool would it be to see the barn where Santa keeps his reindeer, the spa created just for the reindeer, oooh and what about Santa's House?! The North Pole is a town, you see, so there's also a Visiting Center, a train depot, and a post office, and a Hall of Records... and more than I could ever dream up!
Again, the pictures just don't do it justice. When you walk into our living room at home, you cannot help but be swept away to the North Pole. Let me tell you, that is the next best thing to actually being there!
More detailed pictures are here... but below are just some "big picture" photos...
3 comments:
WOW!!! That is awesome! What a collection!!
That is an impressive collection. If you get a chance, you should come see my neighbor's collection. I think you would love it as well. It stays up well past Christmas since it is so hard to set up each year. Maybe one day at lunch you can come see it.
Hassell's Mufflers and Woolies!
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