Winter Wonderland

I have been seeing beautiful snow pictures while visiting Garden Blogs lately and I am a bit envious. We just do not have snow falls in my area so I must make my own snowy scenes.

Welcome to my version of a Georgia Winter Wonderland! Most of my Dept 56 items have been giving to us as gifts by my parents. Thanks mom and dad! I add pieces as I find them on closeout or real bargain prices. I try to stick with the Dickens Village but some accessories are too cute to pass up by not being from the collection.
Each year I set the town up a bit different keeping it fun for me. I actually have two cities set up in the house as you will see later. Here you see the reflecting pond in front of "Swift's Stringed Instruments". I can see myself sitting on that bench while the nice folks sing to me! To the right of the music store you will find the "Admiral's House". He and his wife just returned from a trip and their children are happy to see them. "All Saints Church" sits in the center of town. Fitting name for our Church since we have a "Saint" in the house. Nice selection dad! Lets move in closer to see what is happening around the church. Oh my, a child has fallen on the icy sidewalk beside his father. I wonder if the dog jumped up on him? Be careful on the slick sidewalk! A father pulls his children on a sled on the church grounds behind a really interesting topiary snowman. Look at that neat tree in the background. I would like to have some of those in my yard.

To the right of the church you will find "Green Park Nosegay Flower Shop". You know my Winter Wonderland would have a Flower shop! Nice selection mom with you knowing how I love my flowers.Someone is being presented with some beautiful flowers right now. I think the young lady is blushing. These two children pumping water must belong to the shop owner. I bet they are going to water some flowers. Tina, do you see that Wheel Barrel in the background?
To the right of the flower shop is "Mr & Mrs JB Pickles Antique" store. Children are busy building a snowman while a father and daughter collect wood for the arms.

There sure is a lot of activity happening on this side of town. I wonder what all is going on around the corner? Lets go have a see shall we.... As I mentioned earlier, my Winter Wonderland has outgrown the hall table. Never fear, now we have two cities to enjoy in another part of the house. The Dining room buffet table is a perfect spot for a second village. The print on the wall above the table "After the Snow" is a Winter Wonderland in itself.

On the outskirts of town is the "London Gin Distillery". Here in the USA, we find a pharmacy, bank and pizza delivery service on every corner. In Europe and England, we noticed a Pub and Church in every town. So my Dickens town has to have a place to make such spirits. Actually the building has a real spinning water wheel and I thought that way cool and the price was over half off! Plus the architecture of the building was interesting as well.

I am not sure why the school master and his pupils are heading out from the woods behind the distillery. Hum, maybe they took a tour of the building to learn something. That's my story and I am sticking to it... It appears the children are trying to push Mr Pratchett into the water. Naughty boys! Maybe he was in the "Kingsford Brewhouse" too long and the boys are trying to get him home. Hum...

In the center of town is the "Barmby Moor Cottage". I hear rooms are cheap this time of year. A gentleman sells magazines out front while standing in front of a Wishing Well.

Now that looks like my kind of fun! Sledding while being serenaded to by children. Look at the red berry's filling up that hedge. Is that a birch tree I see?

One of every child's favorite places in the city would have to be the "JD Nichols Toy" store! The store is getting ready for spring and has a new shipment of wagons and bicycles in stock! Someone took time to build a snowman on the lawn.

The "Ashwick Hose and Ladder" company is beside the toy store. The firemen are always on alert and ready to handle any situation that may arise in the city.

No fires today so the calmness allows the deer to look around for a bit of grass to nibble.

It is getting mighty cold now after all this strolling around in the snow. Good thing this gentleman is restocking the Coal bin to keep us warm.

Maybe one day I shall have a room where I can display my Ditty City all together but for now, this will do. Did you notice I called my snow village Ditty City? I must let you in on this little humor. My family refers to Snow Villages as Ditty City due to a grandfather (my dad) making mention that his wife (my mother) has a lot of cute ditty's in her little city. The grandson (my nephew) was nearby listening as little ears do and later referred to the snow village as Ditty City. The rest is history! Out of the mouths of babes...

Even though I don't see much real snow, I can still enjoy a WINTER WONDERLAND. This week, Ditty City will melt and I'll be back, In the Garden....