Autumn in the Christmas Village
Well fancy seeing me show up here today!
It’s been quite awhile, hasn’t it?
A lot has happened in my personal life in the last year, which very sadly includes the end of my sixteen year marriage. I know that may come as a shock to some of my long time friends and followers here. I won’t sugar coat it….it has been one of the toughest years of my life, but I am slowly picking up the pieces and building a new future for myself.
Opening this blog became something I just could not bring myself to do during that time. It was too painful doing things that were “normal” for me before. It hurt so badly. Every single day was a struggle. Lot of tears, lots of emptiness, lots of sleepless nights….but with lots of therapy, lots of support, lots of love from my family and friends, I’m finding my way.
Slowly, God has been healing me and I am finding an inner strength I didn’t know I had. So, I am still very much “on the mend” but here I am…back with you today. And it feels so good.
And, I have something fun to show you today. I broke out the Christmas village early this year, but decided to do it up for autumn first! Fall will always be my favorite season, but the Christmas village is my favorite holiday tradition, so the two just go together in my book!
The entire set shown here is new to me this year…an early birthday gift from my mother that she won in an auction for $30! They go with the rest of my Dept. 56 Dicken’s Village that I have shared here previous years. My two middle kids, had so much fun opening all of these new ones and setting them up here on our dining room sideboard.
To do it up for fall, I kept all of the fall trees that I had in our mini Halloween village this year (you can see that here in one of my instagram reels). I also took some dried leaves from the yard and crunched them up in a ziplock bag and then sprinkled them like confetti around the buildings and on the rooftops. I spread some mini paper leaves throughout to really capture the essence of fall.
I also added some pieces from our dollhouse that fit with the fall theme like a little apple barrel, sheaves of wheat and miniature pumpkins.
This building called the Pied Bull is my new favorite. It’s just so charming and cute, don’t you think?
I have been venturing out into “new to me” social media platforms as well…and created a fun little slideshow on YouTube of my village! Check it out here…it’s my first, so be nice! 😂😂😂
I hope to get braver as time goes on and start sharing video tutorials and other fun things with you there. I have been doing a lot of reels on Instagram too which are really fun, so I hope you will consider giving me a follow 😉
Here is a list of affiliate links to the items I have shown here (or very similar). I may receive a small commission for any sales made through these links, but the cost to you does not change.
Department 56 Dicken’s Village Buildings & Figures
It really feels refreshing to be back! I hope to bring you more of my ideas, decor and creative whims really soon! Until then, have a happy Thanksgiving if you are celebrating this week and thanks for stopping by!
Till next time…
11 Comments
Sharon Chaplain
What a great idea! I love my Christmas village and have always felt it’s never out long enough for me to enjoy it fully. A beautiful seguay from fall to winter, in more ways than one.
Thank you and God Bless!
Alice Wingerden
Thank you Sharon! That is exactly how I feel….it is never out long enough!
Mary
I was just thinking of you the other day! So glad to have you back in my inbox this morning, but sorry to hear of your personal life situation. Happy that you have support. Love your Fall/Christmas village! What a great tradition! And your photography skills are magnificent! Thanks for a fun start to my Sunday!
Alice Wingerden
Thank you so much Mary!!
Dee
What a great idea! Now I wish I had some of the houses.
Alice Wingerden
They are definitely fun!!
Julie Marie
So good to hear from you precious Alice. We’ve been friends for sooo many years and I’ve missed you terribly. I knew you were in therapy for awhile but am so sorry to hear about you and Josh. My prayers for your healing are ongoing. You are a brave, strong and beautiful lady and I love you, Julie
Cristina
It’s been wonderful to see you again! I’m sorry that you’ve had such a rough year but I know that it will get better for you. (Been there, done that.)
Kristin Fillmore
Dearest Alice,
How I have missed you! You are such an inspiration to many and I can’t wait to see what you have in store for us. You are much loved, thank you for being brave and continuing to bring such joy to our lives!
xo
kristin
Briana from Texas
I am sorry for everything that you have gone through. I pray that the coming year will be a kinder one for you.
Your fall village is delightful. Fall is my favorite season too.
Kathy Johncox
Alice, this is amazing both in concept and color! Keep up your creative thinking!👍