Snow Village Insanity

When I was growing up, my mother and grandmother collected Department 56 Snow Villages, and they were always one of my favorite parts of Christmas. After we got married, we I started collecting them also (Patrick seems to be under the delusion . . . yes, I said delusion . . . that we've reached our max). My grandmother and mother have given me quite a few, and as an early Christmas present this year, my mom bought me two more. Then my grandmother pulled out her collection and passed down a couple more to me. So my collection has grown by four this year. Hallelujah! Patrick did not share the same sentiment.

This meant two things:
(1) The Walmart Villages that have been intermingling with my Snow Villages got kicked to the curb. I'm a Snow Village snob . . . I mean purist . . . I'm not too big to admit it.

And

(2) The overall schizophrenic-ness of my Snow Village collection is now apparent for all to see. If you've never seen Dept. 56 Snow Villages, they have different collections (North Pole, Alpine Village, Christmas in the City, Dickens, etc.), and I'm pretty sure the idea would be to create a town from one of the collections. But for some reason my ocd doesn't kick in when it comes to my village, and y'all it is one big mixed up mess. Let me show you what I mean.

First, we have the Santa's workshop. Definitely, the most magical, and Andrew's favorite. The train moves, and the elf chases it. It's so cute.

Then we have my village shops and houses. You'll notice that the Alpine train station, is next to the incredibly American one room school house which just so happens to sit next to the clock tower from the Dickens Village. The clocktower can be found right nextdoor to St. Paul's Chapel straight out of New York City, and one door down, you'll find the candy shop from "A Christmas Story". And of course, then there's the traditional American home.

Close by you'll find my Swiss chalet hanging out next to the mill because isn't that how it always is?!?

So there you have it. The Snow Village with multiple personality disorder. And you know, the funny thing is, I like it that way. I like that it's fun and whimsical and completely unrealistic. Because every Christmas needs just a little bit of unrealistic in it.

But now that I think about it, I may go move the Alpine train station next to the Swiss chalet . . . you know, just to see . . .