twas the night before christmas and the village was on fire

I know you must be so dang curious about the title of this post, no? Well, the story goes like this...
The kids and I made Martha's winter village together a couple of weeks ago. These always look so much better with lights at night but where we have it set up there is not a plug, not even remotely close (it was really the best spot for it or I would have moved it) After thinking it over I came up with a genius idea!! (so I thought) Have you seen those little faux candle lights that run on a battery?  Problem solved! I'll put one under each house then we'll have lights! I'll beat this electrical challenge yet... Yeah, yeah, what a smarty pants I was---I didn't take in to account that those lights are supposed to simulate candle light, so they flicker. duh. Which means when we lit up our little village that we were so proud of, all of the houses look like they are on fire from the flickering. Not the warm homey glow we were after. I should just keep Noah's firetruck parked there and put a little person on the balcony yelling for help.

I'm filling a couple of jars with peppermint bark to give out as gifts, that and homemade granola. We are heading back up to the northwest for Christmas in the next few days and that's when we'll be doing lots more baking and homey holiday stuff. We didn't get a tree because we were leaving and I didn't decorate either--it doesn't quite feel like Christmas yet for me. Right now the tummy flu is picking us off one by one. blah. We're waiting for that to pass because that is ONE Christmas gift I'm not going to bring my family. I think my next post will be from Washington--hoping for a white Christmas!

Comments

[Claudia]

I'm sorry you are all feeling under the weather, but hope you get better soon. The fire story made me snigger at my desk!

[strikkelise]

LOL. I can vividly see your village on fire for my inner eye. Hilarious.
Too bad with that flue, my girl had that last week, too, hopefully the rest of us have walked clear.
Have a great holiday, all of you!

[June]

Your village fire story is so funny--I love the addition of the firetruck.

The peppermint bark is a lovely gift and look delectable in the jars.

I hope you do find your white Christmas and that all illness disappears.

[amy]

We only had one house on fire--we only had one battery tea light for our village. I got the village so my daughter and I could put it together. It was more an exercise in me holding the glued pieces together. Oh well! Hope you all feel better before your trip!

[Rachel]

My grandmother used to make all kinds of candies for christmas, she stopped 2 or 3 years ago. Last year I was missing her peppermint bark so much I bought 4 box of candy canes to make my own. I think I will add bark to my selection of christmas gifts to give this year. I might add granola but I think the kind I make is an aquired taste (and it never lasts very long around here) Last year I made apple butter and spiced grape jelly. I was hoping to make strawberry jam this year but summer went by so fast.

[Gina]

Oh My, When I first starting reading the post, I thought you was going to say they caught on fire! I was thinking how horrible, but glad everything is safe. And actually the fire truck looks kind of cute up there. The jar looks beautiful and I'm sure very yummy. You and your family have a most wonderful holiday.

[Keri]

Stupid question, on that recipe, when it says "2 lbs white chocolate", do they mean that bark stuff? Like you use for dipping stuff into? Or something different? I've never made anything like that before but it seems like a fairly quick and easy recipe to take to work. Or maybe not since I don't even understand the INGREDIENTS........ha ha

[Oona L]

~~Wow what a great post, your village is so cute of course!!lol the peppermint bark looks so pretty and yummy!!
~~I am all decorated and have a tree and I still don't feel very Christmasy, but fake it for my son..........I feel so blah!!! Even all the snowstorms we are having isn't doing it. Oh well!!!
~~Can't wait to hear more...........
~Have a wonderful and safe trip home.

[liz]

The EXACT same thing happened to my Christmas village! I was so smug until my husband asked who had set fire to each and every house.

[Cassie Kemp]

I can relate to fire trucks being part of the Christmas village scene. We usually have Star Wars action figures as well. Very cute. As for the holiday spirit, I haven't been feeling very holly jolly. What helped me get in the mood was watching "Charlie Brown Christmas" last night. Every time I see Linus take his blanket, walk on stage and ask for "Lights, please," I get all teary-eyed. "And that's what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown." Isn't it true? Hope you all feel better in time to enjoy cookies and hot cocoa. Merry Christmas Toni!

[Mama Urchin]

We're in quarantine mode here too trying to keep the barfing to a minimum.

[mgm]

ahh sweet thang! look at you look at you with yer martha village! are they not the cutest little things? so easy and fun to put up! Thanks for the tips on Raw mode...now where is Micah???? I can't find his beautiful photography anymore:( let me know when you have a chance I want him on my sidebar! I'm just learning slr...I'm confused! all those shutter speeds and light etc....but I love that sort of thing you know:)xo! and I tried to comment on Noahs haircut but had trouble leaving my post..what a cute boy he is...I remember the haircut I gave myself??? it took 6 months to grow in...my mother went ape s(**&*#*%T I basically gave myself a butch in the front...not sure what I was thinking! Merry Christmas to you all!

[mgm]

& hahahah! I'm laughing at the village on fire! darn if I don't miss my boys being little like noah:) they made me laugh so much!

[mgm]

& ps....it's the D80 I think??? hahahah 10 mega whatever...basic lens (I'm already wanting another lens I can see myself getting addicted to those:) but like I'm saying I'm already confused...I went back and forth between CAnon and Nikon Nikon or Canon...now my brother swears by Nikon so, Nikon it was...I dream of getting that 300! someday I would love a camera like Micahs...but I need to work my way up to that in knowledge and $$$$$$!

[mgm]

oops it's the D80X ;)

[mgm]

D40X see? I'm tupid bout it all yet!

[Stephanie Barrett]

Oh. Peppermint Bark! It's my husbands favorite, so one more add to the to-do list. I love your paper village. Better Homes & Gardens had patterns for two houses in the December issue. They're on their website with some others, too. http://www.bhg.com/bhg/story.jsp?storyid=/templatedata/bhg/story/data/1194389474648.xml
http://www.bhg.com/bhg/story.jsp?storyid=/templatedata/bhg/story/data/1186496076986.xml
Unfortunately, it looks like it will be next year for me to get to that project!

[mgm]

ok and GET BETTER! & have fun in Washington too:) now I think I'm done!

[Annie]

Have a lovely holiday and hope all are well soon. Last christmas we suffered the chicken pox, from one child to another - it was a long haul.

[suzie sews]

Oh I hope you are well soon, I love the story of the village, I adore this village, sadly its not a kit you can get over here, Martha Stewart there is an marketing opportunity here!!! Have a very special and spiritual Christmas.

[Hyena In Petticoats]

I seriously thought you were going to say that the lights you used actually DID set the village on fire.....

The real story is much better!

xxx

[Jessica]

That is hilariously funny. At my place, we would have kept the flickering lights in just for the amusement factor. Thanks for the chuckle!

[JoAnna]

Oh I can just see the flickering, and what a sight it must have been! Your peppermint bark looks lovely! Happy Holidays.

[Karin]

That is too funny! I really thought I was going to scroll down and read that the houses were actually on fire! The peppermint bark looks delicious! The homemade granola sounds good, too. I hope everyone is feeling better :)

[tea time and roses]

Hi Toni, I sure hope you are feeling better. Yummy, the peppermint looks so delicious, and what a wonderful gift to receive. You and the family enjoy your trip. Wishing all of a Merry Christmas!

Smiles..

Beverly