Christmas Is Always Filled With Magic

This is a photograph of the "N" Guage train that Gregory and I used to put up in the hutch in our home at Christmas time. When we moved to the condo, we decided that we did not have room to properly display it and gave it to Whitney, one of our God-Daughters. She was the eldest so that is why she got it and not Emily.

For a while, at Christmas time the train lived at the home of her parents, Cheryl and Larry, and therefore both Emily and she got to enjoy it. When Whitney got married, she took the train to live with her and Nick in Washington D.C.

Maybe when I am ready to pass on my new "Z" Guage train, I will give it to Emily so they are even when it comes to model trains!

While we love both Emily and Whitney, Whitney is significant to Gregory and me in one additional special way. Cheryl and Larry were trying to decide what to name her and it had to begin with "W" in memory of one of their parents. They were having a terrible time coming up with a name they both liked when Gregory piped in, "Whitney." They both loved the name and the rest, as they say, is history!

Whitney and Nick are visiting with their parents this holiday and this painting was dropped off for me at the condo's front desk. I am tickled to have it as a holiday gift. It is so significant in many fond memory ways of Gregory and my time together, of experiencing Cheryl and Larry's kids grow up, and more.

 

Latest Train Set Up

This looks like the final copy of my Christmas 2017 "Z Scale" train set up installation.

A Brief History of Michael's Christmas Trains I, II, and III

I have had three Christmas trains. The first was an "N Scale" train which Gregory and I purchased at a Flea Market and it served us well for many years. We used our antique brush trees, some antique miniature items, and purchased a number of "N Scale" buildings. It was first used at 2643 Poplar, the first house we purchased as well as at 2635, our second home.

When we decided to deaccession some of our Christmas "Stuff" we gave the train set to our God Neice Whitney. But sure enough the yearning for a Christmas Train returned and I purchased a new one as shown below. It first appeared in our third home, the condo, at 807 Davis.

Secretly, or not so secretly, I have always wanted a "Z Scale" train. This train is the smallest you can get and can fit into a briefcase if you so choose. I set up on my desk. For this setup, I had to use even smaller items from collections around the house. Here are photos are of my current Christmas Train, Number III. You cannot tell from the photos, but a "Z" is half the size of an "N."

Here is a video of the current train set. Merry Christmas one and all!