Monday, December 15, 2008

Christmas Tour of Homes

Welcome! Thank you for taking the time to come by my home. I am thrilled to be a part of the 2008 CHRISTMAS TOUR OF HOMES! and Kimba's Holiday Open House Party. Be sure to visit the other homes as well.
So, come on in and I'll show you around. No need to wipe your feet. That fluffy white stuff is no where to be found here in Phoenix. But snow or no snow, I am always in the mood to decorate every nook 'n cranny in my home for Christmas. I'm originally from Wisconsin, so my Scandinavian roots are everywhere. Let me show you just a few of my many collections.

Many years ago my sister-in-law Carol started giving me a lighted church every year for Christmas. My husband's a pastor now, but at the time he had his own ministry traveling around the country doing concerts and each church reminded us of the various denominations that he sang to. I think we have every denomination represented in our village. One church looks just like the little Baptist church Randy grew up attending. And one resembles the little Lutheran church I attended. So, we're thinking we may have the only Church Village known to man!


Before my daughter Miranda can set up the village each year, my husband has to set up his beloved N-gauge train that he purchased almost 40 years ago. Then we build the church village around the train tracks. And yes, our little granddaughter Emolyn saw the train going around the village for the first time on Saturday and she got so excited! (See below)


Ok, so I suppose you noticed the coffee shop. Hey, every church village needs a coffee shop! How else do they stay awake during those long sermons!
Oh and umm, you should also know that there is a haunted mansion on a hill, overlooking the church village. (enlarge top pic) I know, kinda creepy. But hey, my husband and kids insisted. So, for me, it represents how the Enemy is lurking around every corner... or hill... ready to devour us. So be alert! (1 Peter 5:8)


I started collecting homemade mittens many years ago because my Mom had knitted each of my kids mittens and I wanted to preserve them in some way. So I decided to hang them over our picture window at Christmas. They each tell a story... like how I knitted a pair while snowed in my senior year of high school... the many pairs my Mom knitted for our family... or the homemade mittens I found at thrift stores. I keep the mitten garland up through January cuz it reminds me of winters in Wisconsin.


Thanks again for stopping by. I will be posting more of my collections in the days leading up to Christmas. Seriously, you have to come back to see my Lego Santa collection! It's always a crowd pleaser!

Uffda! Now where are my manners! Here ya go, help yourself to some Swedish meatballs wrapped in Norwegian Lefse. My very favorite Christmas tradition. This is what my Mom made us on Christmas Eve growing up on the farm in Wisconsin. Of course we also had Lutefisk... but we won't talk about that.
And for dessert, sprinkle cinnamon & sugar on buttered Lefse. Mmm, yummy goodness, don'tcha know.

Oh my gosh, more Home Tours! Check out Hooked on Homes and Deck the Halls! I can't take all this holiday inspiration!

25 comments:

Julie said...

I just love your mitten-trimmed window. Adorable idea. The pictures of your church village are wonderful. Merry Christmas.

Carol said...

Your village is awesome! And I love all the mittens hung in the window. Very cool!

Merry Christmas!

Lora @ my blessed life said...

Hi! Thanks for dropping by! I've enjoyed my visit here!

Your lighted churches are just beautiful and I love your mitten collection!

Merry Christmas!

Heather said...

Your village looks great!! Your home looks so warm and inviting! Merry Christmas!!

Angela said...

i am seeing so many beautifully decorated homes. i have to step up my effort.

Leslie said...

I love the mittens.. I usually do my archway with mittens but I am waiting till xmas is over.

Happy Birthday ~ from one sagitarius to another.

Shara said...

I love your Church VIllage. I have an all Grocery/General Store village. DH and I met working in a grocery store, so the collection began. It's fun to look for a new one every year, isn't it?

*Happy belated birthday!

One More Equals Four said...

I love your home, especialy the mitten garland--how creative! I enjoyed dropping in and checking out some of your other posts, hopefully I will be back soon!

Kether said...

I loved the mittens, too. Such a sweet story with them...

Anonymous said...

Your collections are awesome...and I couldn't agree more that every village needs a coffee shop. I checked out your lego santas, wow..., back in the days, growing up in Switzerland, legos were what I played with. Merry Christmas!

dmvoccola said...

Fun collections! And the snack at the end was a real treat! Maybe you should include the recipes! Thanks for posting and visiting my site as well!

Julia @ Hooked on Houses said...

I've never seen a mitten garland before, and I just think that is so neat! Especially since there are happy memories associated with them.

I also got a big smile out of the village with the haunted mansion overlooking the church. :-)

Thanks for joining my blog party and inviting us into your home! -Julia

Anonymous said...

Linda,
You are such a great story teller, of course I love the picture or the babe with her grandpa!
beckie

Decor To Adore said...

Hi Linda,

I love your village! I am not sure if you read a few post back where I talked about my village. It's so fun isn't it?
I hope you'll visit soon, I will have my last giveaway of December this Friday.

Joanne : The Simple Wife said...

I love your mitten garland!

JudyBug said...

Love your village. I love churches, pics of old white churches, etc. The mittens on the window are adorable!

Heather said...

Oh, your meatballs and Lefse are making me hungry! Your church village is adorable, and I love the idea of the mitten garland. Merry Christmas!

Kim @ Forever Wherever said...

The hanging mittens are so cute! Merry Christmas!

Keetha Broyles said...

Your smile is AWESOME!!

I love the mittens hanging in a row on the curtain rod.

I KNOW WHAT LEFSA is!!!! I grew up in the northwoods of WI where the Norske traditions are alive and well.

There's this GREAT little chain of Norwegian restaurants up there called "Norske Nook." They make the BEST EVER Denver Lefse Wraps!

Merry Christmas and THANKS for the tour.

Anonymous said...

Your village is beautiful and I really love the mitten idea. Nicely done!

Unknown said...

I love the mitten idea. Thanks for sharing your home and Christmas traditions.

pcb said...

The mittens! Unique, adorable, and best of all, sentimental for you. Great combination. Thanks for sharing.

KarenB said...

I am a knitter and absolutely love your mitten garland! I had a friend whose Mom always made mittens and hats every Christmas for her children. It's one of the reasons I started knitting. Merry Christmas and God bless!

Anonymous said...

Not sure how I missed it but I love your mittens! That's such a fabulous idea! Everything looks great, so glad I went back to check out the tours I missed, I'm happy to have found you!

Lara Jane said...

Your church village is amazing and I lovelovelove the mitten "garland!" Those are the kinds of "decorations" that melt my "heart." (Just kidding, I do have an actual heart. I got a bit carried away with the ""!)