The year Ends!

It's been quite a year, 2010 has.  And tonight it all draws to an end.  It seems to me we began this year with an almost daily report for several days on a "blizzard" that turned out the way almost all hyped storms turn out out.  I remember making daily updates for three or four days as Jan. 1st, 2010 rolled in. 

I guess this year tried to end the same way.  I have read reports of blizzard conditions in some areas and even my Frearless Friend said he had gotten nine or ten inches in his nearby town.  The Gator Swamp, however, missed a lot of that hyped storm.

Can you believe last evening's weather forecast?  WCSH meteorologist Keith Carson said our temperatures could reach into the 50s in at least parts of Maine tomorrow.  He also said the temperatures tonight will make for a very nice time out celebrating the arrival of the New Year.  And Keith's forecast was confirmed this morning by the same station's Kevin Mannix.

So, once again, the entire Gator Clan wishes you a Most Happy New Year.

GiM

Happy New Year

It's a little early to say what weather we here in Southern Maine are in for Sunday night into Monday, but the weather folk on Saturday had posted a Blizzard Watch for a possible 12-18 inches of snow.  We've learned in the past that it's the unexpected storm that leaves us the most snow, but every now and then they hit it right on.  We'll see what happens with this one; meanwhile, we'll make the necessary preparation just in case the forecast is correct.  (Edited Mon. mid-day:  And those past lessons continued to be proven in this storm.)

And now it's a week of ending and then a new beginning!  Christmas is behind us for 2010, and I truly hope each of you had a super one.  It surely was for the Gator Clan.  And now we're in for a week of the endless "The Best of . . . 2010" (you fill in the blank). 

Maine has already celebrated a portion of the beginning of a new year, and, potentially, a new ideal in the way the State conducts itself.  The Legislature has already been sworn in and we'll get a new governor in just a few weeks.  For the first time in about 40 years, Replublicans will lead us in both houses of the state legislature and in the governor's office.  Those elected individuals have a daunting task facing them in making changes to our economy that will slow down our rapid slide into socialism in our state and allow the business community to grow and create jobs.

Can, will, they achieve success?  Only time can answer that, but it will take bold courage to do it.  The big, unanswered question is do they have the courage?

I guess there's one negative for the outgoing year.  I didn't lose as much weight as I had hoped.

Well, perhaps two.  I'm a big guy and I surely do love cake.  I've been watching a commercial on TV for the last few weeks about a company that makes spices and things for cooking.  It featured a red velvet cake.  That cake sure did look good and even though I don't remember ever having one, I seemed like one I'd like.  Guess what?  Cakes don't taste too good made with packaged turkey gravy.

Changing the topic back to what it was for the past several weeks, the Gator Clan Village.  It'll survive for another week or two before the many pieces are put back in their boxes and packed away for another long eleven months sleep.

I think I have one thing for which to be grateful this week.  The Clan doesn't have any reason to fight the crowds at the return counters at the many stores.  On the other hand, this is the last week of the month and normally a group of us meet for lunch on the last Wednesday.  Annually, however, and this year was no exception, we cancel the December session just for the that "fighting the mob," mostly parking in our position in life, reason.

So, as this 2010 races to its close, the entire Gator Clan takes this opportunity to wish you a Most Happy New Year!

GiM

Merry Christmas!

The entire Gator in Maine clan join this day in wishing you and yours
The Merriest of Christmases.

May this day bring you peace, joy, and happiness.

GiM

A Final Look at our Christmas Village 2010

Edited Thursday night for a final update:  We did end up with enough snow that should have given us a White Christmas, but we won't know the final outcome until after a mostly sunny day Friday with temperatures in the low to mid 30s if that "should have been" will end up being "did give."  The Thursday sunny afternoon did melt quite a lot of snow, and even though most of our yard is still sort of white, it may still be a little iffy for enough remaining Saturday to truly call it "A White Christmas."  In any case, the Gator Clan wishes you a Merry Christmas.  (This entire post will end sometime tonight.)

Edited Wednesday night for another update:  We had what I guess was light snow all day today, but the temperature melted it as it landed.  Tonight we in for relatively several hours of more snow and the forecasters say we could get from one to four inches by morning.  If that does happen, then the Old Gator Dude's hopes will again be up a bit hoping for a White Christmas.  With two sunny days before Christmas, though, it could be dicey. 

Edited Tuesday night for weather update:  We did have some non-accumulating light snow on the swamp today, but the "white" in "white Chistmas" is disappearing.  The weather folk are trying to convince us we could get some more snow late tomorrow which could help.  Meanwhile the Old Gator Dude's 'hopes' for a White Christmas continue to diminish.

Edited Monday night:  Wow!  Plowable snow!  It was beautiful.  Now the big question:  Will it last at least through Saturday to give us a White Christmas?  The Old Gator Dude surely does hope so, but has his doubts.

And now, back to the final look at our Chistmas Village:

The Gator Clan's annual Christmas Village was completed right on schedule. As you know, we begin assembling our collection of Department 56 village pieces on Veteran's Day with the goal of completing the display during the Thanksgiving Weekend each year. Our collection includes structures and accessories from the Victorian Village Series and the Dickens Village Series. It was officially "Lit" for the season on Saturday, Nov. 27th.

Here is a final look at just some representative pictures of the final display (click the picture for a larger view, then use the back arrow to return here or you'll leave the site):

Our, and many of our visitors', favorite scene is the Dickens Village Series which we use as a depiction of Charles Dickens' immortal A Christmas Carol, the story of Ebenezer Scrooge and Tiny Tim.  At the rear center here and on the right edge of the display is our version of the cemetery where Scrooge began his final transformation into a "nice guy."  The cemetery is not Department 56, but was created several years ago by Anne at Romard's Hallmark Store in Portland.

In the middle of the Dickens' scene is the Village Center.  Here Charles Dickens is depicted on a small stage reading his famous story as much celebratory activity takes place around him.

What we call the main village is in the forefront as it looks across to the Dickens' section.

As we memorialized this year's Village, our regular Christmas Tree had not yet been placed.  But the Village display has its own Christmas Tree which we put in its own scene next to our fireplace.

And finally, if you glance back while leaving the living room heading to the eating area, you get a nice look at the transformation of the room into Christmas Village 2010.  The room will be returned to normalcy early in January.

We do not include all our pieces each year so that we can vary the village from time to time. This concludes this year's presentation of the Gator Clan's Christmas Village 2010 and this series will disappear sometime Christmas Eve.  If you missed them, you can see the earlier blog looks by selecting the appropriate title in the Archives on the right.

All the pieces in our collection including the villages' names, except the skating pond, bonfire, cemetery and base materials, are registered trademarks or copyrighted by Department 56, a division on Enesco, LLC.

GiM

A Third Look at the Finished Village 2010

The Gator Clan's annual Christmas Village was completed right on schedule. As you know, we begin assembling our collection of Department 56 village pieces on Veteran's Day with the goal of completing the display during the Thanksgiving Weekend each year. Our collection includes structures and accessories from the Victorian Village Series and the Dickens Village Series. It was officially "Lit" for the season on Saturday, Nov. 27th.

Here are some representative pictures of the final display (click the picture for a larger view, then use the back arrow to return here or you'll leave the site):

Here is a closeup look at one area of the display behind the sectional sofa.

The town's fire station is left center rear.  If you look closely, you'll see a fire brigade heading off on a mission.

The gentleman is watching the action in the Village Square.  (We'll show you that action next time.)

None of the display highlighted with a string of lights above the fireplace is Department 56.  On the entertainment center in the far left is our Department 56 Christmas Tree.  (That'll be highlighted next time, too.)

I'll change some of these pictures from time to time in the coming weeks so you can see more of the old Gator in Maine Village 2010. The village will be dismantled for another year in January.

We do not include all our pieces each year so that we can vary the village from time to time. All the pieces in our collection including the villages' names, except the skating pond, bonfire, cemetery and base materials, are registered trademarks or copyrighted by Department 56, a division on Enesco, LLC.

GiM

More Village 2010

The Gator Clan's annual Christmas Village was completed right on schedule. As you know, we begin assembling our collection of Department 56 village pieces on Veteran's Day with the goal of completing the display during the Thanksgiving Weekend each year. Our collection includes structures and accessories from the Victorian Village Series and the Dickens Village Series. It was officially "Lit" for the season on Saturday, Nov. 27th.

Here are some representative pictures of the final display (click the picture for a larger view, then use the back arrow to return here or you'll leave the site):

Let's begin with the foreman of the project sitting in her chair making sure we're putting the pieces in the right places.

As one enters our living room from the dining area, the first to part of the display to be seen is on a section behind one side of our sectional sofa.

Although we like to think the whole Village is rather impressive, the Dickens' portion remains one of our, and most visitors', favorites.

We have two small mountain scenes in the village.  One of them is in the front corner of the room behind the curve on the sectional sofa.

I'll change some of these pictures from time to time in the coming weeks so you can see more of the old Gator in Maine Village 2010. The village will be dismantled for another year in January.

We do not include all our pieces each year so that we can vary the village from time to time. All the pieces in our collection including the villages' names, except the skating pond, bonfire, cemetary and base materials, are registered trademarks or copyrighted by Department 56, a division on Enesco, LLC.

GiM