Thursday, December 20, 2012

MERRY CHRISTMAS

 
from the farmer and me.
May the season be bright with the spirit of Christmas.
 
No snow here, but we did have some rain last night, much needed rain, and today the wind is howling from the west, so we know winter is coming tomorrow.
 
I finally got the Christmas tree put up, fake branches fluffed out and old decorations hung around it.  But this year it has a little something special added:
 
 
a circa 1940 train set,
 
 
 
with signal lights and barriers.  I added three little village buildings, a fence with cattle, trees, and children playing in the snow.  Can't you almost hear the train whistle as it rolls through the countryside?
 
There is a story about this train, similar to the story of the country mouse and the city mouse.  When the farmer was a boy, and the fields along the creeks were plowed each spring for crops, he and his brother could always find really nice arrowheads in the turned dirt.  They saved them until there was a small bucketful.  Meanwhile, their city cousin had this train that he no longer played with, and when he saw the arrowheads he suggested that they could be traded to him in exchange for the train.  It seemed to be a wonderful idea to two country boys who had only dreamed of ever having a train set!  So, the trade was made, and I can only imagine the hours of fun they had with the train.
 
The farmer looks back now and thinks it might not have been such a good trade on their part, but I'm glad he has the train.  Of course the electrical part doesn't work anymore but it's a great connection to his boyhood and I'm glad he brought it out of storage for our Christmas.  But -- don't tell the American Pickers we have it!
 
Charlotte 
 
 
 

15 comments:

  1. Merry Christmas to you too - what a nice train set - it goes perfectly with the tree
    the wind is howling here too and we had 3/4 inch of rain.

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  2. Merry Christmas to you and your farmer Charlotte. The train is a special momento!

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  3. I love the train and story. I think it's great that boys worked it out. The memory alone is worth more than the bucket of arrow heads. ;)

    Wishing you & hubby a very fun and Merry Christmas. :)

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  4. A Christmas tree needs a train circling round it. What better than a vintage train and all the memories to go with it. Merry Christmas!

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  5. Oooh~ love the train set, and the story behind it, too!! I won't say a word to American Pickers... *haha* (James LOVES that show!)
    I love the Farmall in the picture too!!

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  6. That's a very sweet story. The train is the perfect addition to your tree!

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  7. Oh! I absolutely LOVED that train! I thought it was the coolest toy there ever was, and wanted so badly for it to work. I think sometimes it would turn the wheels a bit, but never went very far. Maybe I'm even imagining that! LOL Can't wait to see it set up around the tree.

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  8. Charlotte, Merry Christmas to you
    also.
    Cold and windy here by the woods.
    A quiet Christmas in store...

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  9. Nice story and I love the train set around your tree! We've had snow blowing here all day, but not a lot of accumulation. I think the wind blows it away before it has a chance to pile up! Merry Christmas.

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  10. I've always wanted a train to go around my Christmas tree...maybe next year. I really enjoyed the story!
    I hope you have a Merry Christmas!

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  11. Merry Christmas to you, Charlotte. I love the train - and what a special story for its history!

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  12. Merry Christmas my friend.. That is so neat. I love the story..Stay warm.

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  13. Just popping by to wish you & your family a very Happy New Year! :)

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  14. Hey Charlotte,
    I made a post about how to join crocheted squares together. You're welcome to come by and see it. I hope it helps.
    I don't know if the link will post, if it doesn't just come on over to my blog and see it. :)
    http://enjoyingcreating.wordpress.com/2013/01/04/two-methods-for-joining-crocheted-squares-together/

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  15. I hope your Christmas was wonderful. A lovely addition to the tree and family history to go with it.

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