From the Editor (me, Karen): November 15, 2016

RWR

Christmas 2016 Display of 
The Township of Christmas

Imagined, Titled, and Developed by Richard & Karen

Designed & Constructed by RWR 
Photographed by RWR & KMR

To Family & Friends,                                         

Two years back (and for the love of Christmas), I gave Richard an O Gauge Lionel Polar Express Locomotive and Tender with three Passenger Cars (below).

Something he had always wanted, he immediately fell to dreaming up possibilities for the Express.  January 2015, he shared his thoughts with me. Since then and out of our delighted collaboration has come The Township of Christmas (below).

Pictured Here: 

Toy Factory, center

Christmas Hall/Clock Tower, right.

In the manner of the classical Architect, Richard created and hand-built everything you see in the photo: the foundation from plywood and 1x2’s, the structures from balsa wood, Strathmore Board and Elmer’s glue.  He hand-carved glaciers from Closed Cell Styrofoam Board, painted and decorated buildings and built scaled furniture. He iced ground and cliffs with glitter, designed and laid track for three trains to run concurrently, and landscaped and themed it all. He ran wire for central control, built a Remote Control Panel, and studied and positioned an array of lighting. And at the heart of it all, he placed The Nativity of Jesus Christ.

Out of all this industry, energy and vigorous good will came the stunning vision of pageantry, light, and love that so defines Christmas. Yet this beckoning Christian hamlet, this beautiful place where a community of believers and their varied journeys of faith can all joyfully come together, is not done . . . not yet! You see, he’s still dreaming.

Yes, indeed . . . And it is with that understanding that we invite you to share in the story of the birth, growth and ongoing development of our Christian village of good will and joy. and we hope you will love the compiling of this record of the creation of The Township. Beginning next posting, the story begins back in January 2015.

Richard and I both wish you all a Classical Merry Christmas this year of 2016 and all year round, and for many years to come; and look forward to all--young or not so young--spending time with us for the raising of The Township of Christmas!