Part of our anniversary tradition is that Katr gives me a new piece from the Department 56 Dicken's Village collection so that I can officially kick off village season in my two municipalities - Wintersea and Rosewood Cross. To be clear, these pieces are new TO ME, not the latest pieces in the collection. Because the great thing about Dicken's Village stuff is that people are always selling theirs so that they can BUY MOAR VILLAGE and Katr know how to find the best things on the internet.
For weeks, we've had a a large box marked "Fragile", which we named "FraGEElay", in the corner of the dining room, just taunting me with its existence. More than once, Katr caught me in an unguarded moment, leaning over the box and whispering "Not long now, Frageelay."
It turns out that Frageelay contained TWO items this year: Howard St. Row Houses and Mulberrie Court, two stunning, yet VERY DIFFERENT residential structures. PLUS, there were also a few accessories, including the CUTEST THING EVER.
A LITTLE FREE LIBRARY!!!!! OMG YOU GUYZ!
I DIED.
I had not one, not two, but THREE village locations this year - a bookshelf in the living area, a windowsill and the top of the filing cabinet in the office and, because I cleaned my fucking desk, I had space for one little vignette on the corner.
To the planning department!
Mulberrie Court was very large and grand, so I gave it pride of place on the bookshelf. If you look closely, you can see the teeeeeny tiiiiiiny little potted trees that come with it.
In front of Mulberrie Court, we have the Ladies' Auxiliary Brass Band, blowing their freaking hearts out.
Probably because they're trying to drown out this blowhard who's REALLY milking his solo, like he's Cam from Modern Family. Dude, just...we get it.
Sometimes you need a little something to get you through these endless carol singing performances. And in Rosewood Cross, that something is hot nuts. Hot chestnuts, that is. This is a new piece and it fucking FLICKERS you guys.
This lady came to hear the Ladies' Auxiliary Brass Band but she decided to grab some fish and chips while Fucko the Singer does his thing. "It's been like this all day," the fish n' chips vendor tells her, "this guy will not shut it!"
Potter and Yang's tea shop just opened on the corner and they're already regretting putting that bench outside, because people keep leaving greasy, wadded up fish and chip paper on it.
And here's the full scene from Rosewood Cross. So much bustling!
Now, I shared my Howard row house vignette yesterday, but here is the main drag of Wintersea, in all of its shitty photo glory!
Of course, the centre of village life - the Staghorn Lodge pub! I got this piece for Christmas last year, but since it was no longer NaBloPoMo, I failed to blog about it. I love the antler accents and the totally wasted couple out front, who are toasting their anniversary.
Down the street from the pub is Lomas Molasses and Treacle. That's Mrs. Lomas out front, selling "figgy pudding to go" to Mrs. Crawford and her weasle-y son, Milton. Notice Mr. Crawford is holding the pud, as Mrs. Crawford and Milton have tied one on at the Staghorn Lodge.
Steve the Holly Salesman is trying to play it cool while the Crawfords buy pudding, but you know he's going to hit them with the hard sell as soon as they start for home.
Steve's wife Cathy is mad because he keeps making a joke about how "Holly is 2P and my wife's name is Holly!", a joke that is not funny. "Fuck you Steve," thinks Cathy.
But don't feel too bad for Cathy. She's getting some on the side with Josh the Pie Man, from Stratford Pies and Tarts. Josh is always telling Cathy that she's sweet as treacle tart, which she loves. Plus, Josh has a great moustache and a really big schlong.
Up in the less seedy part of town, Lily Bros. Gazing Balls, the Navigational Devices store and the Oyster bar attract a more sober clientele. The kind who buy birds from randos on the street.
Meanwhile, back at the Howard row houses, Steve has worked his mistletoe magic and this young man, Patrick, is putting the moves on his lady friend Violet. Violet is not sure she's into Patrick but don't worry about Violet - if Patrick gets fresh, she WILL kick him in the chestnuts.
I cannot tell you how much joy I get from creating these amateurish vignettes, but I DO, you guys, I LOVE IT. Thanks to Katr, who keeps Rosewood Cross and Wintersea full of fresh new citizens and urban development. I'm seriously already planning for next year. Definitely time to get the Naval Academy out again - those dudes are horny as hell and the women of the Ladies Auxiliary Brass Band are fuckin' DOWN TO CLOWN.
