To All People - Part 3

 Happy Christmas Eve!

    Here's the final part of the Christmas play story. I hope you enjoy it. The final line was from the one who played Tiny. He just said it on our last practice and we loved it so much we told him to say it for the performance. He did and the laughter from the audience was great!

To All People - Part 3

            Before the sun was fully up on Christmas Morning, Tiny came into town with a beautiful Christmas tree. Mrs. Crawford and Kate brought strands of popped corn, and Mr. Kockenbrock arrived with a star he had fashioned out of wood. Deputy Moreland and his wife appeared bringing some cookies to hang on the tree. And then, one by one, the other town-folk arrived.

            Sheriff Kassen opened his Bible and began to read. “And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.” He handed the Bible to Mrs. Stokes.

            “And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.” As she read, Mrs. Nelson handed Baby to Kate, and with Charlie standing with a stick in his hand as Joseph, they presented a lovely picture of that first Christmas. “And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.” She handed the Bible to Mrs. Crawford.

            “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.” With a smile at Tiny, she handed the Bible to him.

            “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” Wiping away a tear, the rough looking mountain man passed the Book to Mrs. Moreland.

            “And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

            Deputy Moreland took the Bible and finished the story. “And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.” Gently he closed the Book.

            For a moment no one moved. Then Tiny said slowly, “I thank ya folks fer lettin’ me be a part a this here Christmas service. I ain’t celebrated Christmas with other folks for nigh on to twenty years, an’ its done my heart right good ta do it this year.”

            “We’re glad you came and joined us,” Mrs. Crawford said.

            Mrs. Nelson took back her baby, and Kate rejoined her mother.

            Sheriff Kassen held out his hand to the man who had been a stranger. “Many of us had doubts about you, but our Lord offered His salvation to everyone, and we are not above our Lord. You are welcome to join us any Christmas.”

            Mr. Kockenbrock nodded. “Merry Christmas, everyone! Mrs. Fisher, will you have those flapjacks soon?”

            With a smile, Mrs. Fisher nodded. “How about right now and everyone is invited.”

            There were many smiles and Christmas greetings as the town folk began to make their way toward the boarding house taking time to stop and greet the mountain man who was no longer someone to be afraid of.

            As Tiny shook hands with Mr. Kockenbrock, he tipped his head and asked, “What’s a flapjack?”

 

And there you are.

Did you enjoy it?

Maybe I'll share a few other short stories soon.

Once I wrote and shared at KDWC.

To All People - Part 2

 Hello again!

    Here's the next part of the Christmas story I wrote for the church play. Enjoy!

To All People - Part 2

That evening the town-folk gathered around the sheriff with questions about the man.

            Lifting his hands, Sheriff Kassen quieted everyone. “Hold it! Just listen a minute. I wasn’t able to find out anything about that man. He didn’t leave tracks enough to follow. That could mean he’s just a mountain man who knows how to move without being followed, or–” He let his sentence hang unfinished in the air.

            Some of the women moved closer together.

            “Since most of our men are off getting supplies for the town, I think it would be best if we joined forces during the nights so that none of you ladies are alone without protection in case of . . . well, just in case. Mrs. Nelson, you stay with Deputy Moreland and his wife. Mrs. Fisher, do you have room in your boarding house for myself, Mrs. Stokes and Charlie, Mrs. Crawford and Miss Kate?”

            “Of course!”

            “Sheriff,” Mrs. Crawford protested. “I really think we are letting our imaginations run away with us. The man might just be looking to spend Christmas with someone, and–”

            “Or” Sheriff Kassen interrupted, “he might be the leader of a gang of outlaws I’ve heard about who come into town on Christmas Day and rob it.”

            Many of the ladies gasped.

            “Wherever did you hear that?” Mrs. Crawford asked.

            “Newspaper. Back east. Now as I was saying–”

            “Well, Sheriff,” Kockenbrock remarked, “tomorrow ain’t Christmas.”

            With a thoughtful frown, the sheriff stroked his mustache. “True,” he admitted at last. “If any of you ladies wish to remain in your own homes tonight, you may do so, but if something happens, don’t say I didn’t try to warn you.”

            As Mrs. Crawford and her daughter walked away to their own home, Kate asked, “Mama, are you sure it’s safe to stay home alone?”

            “We won’t be alone, Kate,” Mrs. Crawford said, putting an arm around her daughter. “Remember, our Heavenly Father has promised to never leave us nor forsake us. Besides, I don’t think that man would have said he had come down for Christmas if he was an outlaw, do you?”

 

*

 

            The sun rose in a clear sky, offering hope and joy for Christmas Eve day, but Sheriff Kassen didn’t notice. He stood on the street with one hand on his six-shooter and a stern look on his face.

            “Mornin’, Sheriff!” Deputy Moreland greeted him as he strolled up. “Fine day, isn’t it?”

            The sheriff grunted what might have been “good morning” or might have been something else.

            Deputy Moreland went on. “All was quiet last night like Mrs. Crawford thought. How’d you sleep?”

            “I didn’t,” Sheriff Kassen growled. “I found the man’s campsite and kept watch.”

            “What did you find out?

            A cheery whistle sounded before the sheriff could reply, and Mr. Kockenbrock strolled by, pausing to remark, “Mrs. Fisher said she’d make flapjacks tomorrow! Nothing like flapjacks on Christmas morning.” Giving a sigh that changed to a whistle, the man wandered off.

            Deputy Moreland turned back to the sheriff, “And you found out what?”

            Sheriff Kassen opened his mouth to answer but was interrupted again. This time by Mrs. Crawford and Kate.

            “Good morning, Sheriff, Deputy Moreland. It’s a lovely morning, isn’t it?”

            “It sure is,” Deputy Moreland said, nodding with a smile.

            “Oh, Deputy Moreland, do you know if your wife still wants that sugar? And Sheriff, do you think we could ask Mr. Kockenbrock about getting a Christmas tree this year, or were you or Deputy Moreland planning on getting one?”

            “Mrs. Crawford, please!” Sheriff Kassen exclaimed. “We have a situation on our hands. Now is not the time to be thinking about things like Christmas trees!”

            “What situation is that, Sheriff? Tomorrow is Christmas, you remember.”

            “Of course I do, but that man is still around!”

            Kate turned to her mother. “Mama, do you think he’d like some cookies too?”

            “I’m sure he would, Kate.” Mrs. Crawford turned to the sheriff. “Do you know where he stayed? Perhaps Kate and I could–”

            “Ma’am, this is a highly sensitive situation. It would be best if you left all things regarding this stranger in the hands of the law.”

            Mrs. Crawford smiled sweetly. “I’m not trying to do your job for you, Sheriff, but just remember that the angels did announce good tidings of great joy to all people. Come along, Kate, I see Mrs. Stokes. Perhaps she has come for those buttons.”

            With a nod to the sheriff and his deputy, Mrs. Crawford and her daughter hurried away to the store.

            Deputy Moreland turned once more to the sheriff. “DID you find anything out?”

            “Nothing much. He kept his fire going all night.”

            “It was cold out last night.”

            The sheriff grunted.

            Just then the mountain man appeared in the streets.

            “We could be in for trouble,” Sheriff Kassen muttered to his deputy. “Keep your eyes open.”

            “Yes, sir.” Then, with a sigh, Deputy Moreland pushed back his hat and scratched his head.

 

*

 

            “I tell you,” Mrs. Stokes exclaimed, “I hardly slept a wink last night!”

            “Me either,” Mrs. Fisher agreed.

            The little general store had once again become the meeting place for the women of Western, and there they gathered to compare thoughts and voice their opinions of the stranger who had arrived.

            “I don’t think my husband was worried,” Mrs. Moreland said, “I could hear him snoring in the front room. Of course he wakes right up if so much as the cat enters the room, but still–” She shook her head.

            Mrs. Nelson said nothing but shifted her baby and patted his back.

            Mrs. Stokes spoke again. “I think something should be done. The man is obviously not to be trusted, and I’m sure I won’t have a moment’s rest until he is gone.”

            “Now really,” Mrs. Crawford began.

            “I agree,” Mrs. Moreland said, “we don’t want an outlaw lurking around our town during Christmas.”

            “Perhaps we can get Sheriff Kassen to–” Mrs. Fisher broke off as the stranger appeared in the street before the store.

            He paused, hesitated, and then walked to the door, opened it and stepped inside. As though parted by an invisible force, the ladies moved to either side of the store and almost held their breath.

            “Good morning,” Mrs. Crawford greeted the man with a smile. “Merry Christmas Eve. What can I get for you today?”

            “Cinnamon sticks.”

            “Of course. How many would you like?”

            “Jest two. Ain’t had none fer nigh on seven years.”

            Mrs. Crawford pulled out the spicy rolls of cinnamon bark. “What brings you to our little town?”

            “Christmas.” The man paid for his cinnamon.

            “How nice.”

            The man nodded then coughed a little and shifted.

            “Is there something else I can help you with?” Mrs. Crawford inquired.

            “I reckon maybe. Do ya folks have yer Christmas readin’ this evenin’ or in the mornin’?”

            “Oh, we have it on Christmas morning. I do hope you plan to be there.” There was no mistaking the earnestness of Mrs. Crawford’s voice.

            “I reckon I will.” Then, without another word, the man turned and left the shop.

            Hardly had he gone when Sheriff Kassen rushed in. “Are you ladies all right? Did he try to steal anything, Mrs. Crawford?”

            “What? Of course not!”

            Mrs. Stokes hurried over. “Sheriff, you must do something and get rid of that man! I’m sure he’s an outlaw!”

            “We heard he killed a few men up in Canada,” Mrs. Fisher put in, “and escaped to these mountains.”

            “And,” Mrs. Moreland added, “he’s the leader of a band of outlaws who have robbed stagecoaches and banks.”

            “Please, Sheriff,” Mrs. Nelson begged, “he frightens me!”

            “I suppose I could tell him he wasn’t welcome here any longer,” Sheriff Kassen began. “But that might make him angry enough to do more than rob us tomorrow.”

            “Sheriff Kassen!” Mrs. Crawford marched around the counter her hands on her hips. “I can’t believe you! What proof do any of you have that the man who was just in here is a murderer, thief, outlaw, or has plans to rob us on Christmas morning?”     

            Silence answered her.

            “None of you have any sort of proof. It’s all just wild imaginations, speculations, and prejudice. Why, he as much as said he was planning on coming to the Christmas service in the morning. And didn’t God send His angels to proclaim the good news and the great joy to ALL men when Jesus was born? Didn’t that mean everyone? And didn’t the angels also proclaim peace on earth and good will toward men?”

            “But,” Mrs. Nelson said, “he doesn’t talk like we do.”

            “And he looks dirty,” Mrs. Moreland put in.

            “And he’s so tall,” Mrs. Fisher added.

            “And he has a bad reputation,” Mrs. Stokes reminded them.

            “Does John 3:16 say that God loves those who have good reputations?” Mrs. Crawford shook her head, and her voice grew gentler. “I know he’s different, but don’t you think the shepherds were dirty, and maybe talked differently, or looked differently? Did that stop the good news of our Savior’s birth from being shared with them?” She looked around the store, but no one would meet her eyes. “Kate, mind the store for me a few minutes please.”

            “Yes, ma’am.”

            “Mrs. Crawford,” Sheriff Kassen asked, “where are you going?”

            “To ask Mr. Tiny if he would bring us a Christmas tree to decorate for tomorrow. If I can find him.”

            “He’s right over there, ma’am,” Deputy Moreland pointed from the open door.

            With only a nod to him, Mrs. Crawford hurried away.

            Sheriff Kassen stepped from the shop and frowned at his deputy. “I thought I ordered you to keep an eye on that man.”

            “I have been. He hasn’t gone very far.” He pointed to the tall man Mrs. Crawford was now talking to before the next shop.

            With a sigh, the sheriff shook his head. “Do I trust the rumors, Moreland, or try to believe the best of him?”

            “Let’s believe the best, sir,” Deputy Moreland suggested. “Since we can’t prove the rumors are anything except stories.”

 

 The final part will be posted tomorrow.

Are you ready for Christmas?

I can't seem to realize it's coming so soon!

To All People - Part 1

 Good morning!

    I thought you all might enjoy reading the story that I turned into this year's Christmas play for church.

To All People

 

            The sun was just coming up and kissing the peaks of the western mountains with a soft halo of light. The cold morning air spoke of winter, and the faint breeze stirred a scent of pine and whispered of Christmas. Far up on the rocky mountain where towering trees and large rocks guarded a sheer drop into the valley below, a man appeared. He was silent and rugged like the mountains he lived in, and his face was kept warm by a shaggy beard while a hat was pulled down low over his head.

            For a minute he stood, his gaze sweeping the still dark valley that the sun hadn’t yet awakened, and seeming to take in every detail of the little town below him. Then he glanced up at the sky, and without a sound, he disappeared behind the rocks and trees.

 

            As the sun climbed higher, chasing away the last few stars and tinging the sky with pink and orange, gold and purple, the town of Western awoke. Who could sleep when Christmas Eve was the next day?

            The blacksmith, whistling as he strode across the street, lifted a hand in greeting to Sheriff Kassen and nodded to Mrs. Crawford and her daughter.

            “Good morning, Sheriff,” Mrs. Crawford said with a smile.

            “Mornin’, ma’am, Miss Kate. I reckon it will be a fine day today.”

            “It sure is looking that way with the beautiful sunrise. A perfect morning for almost Christmas.”

            Deputy Moreland, his rifle cradled in one arm and his wife’s hand resting on his other arm, joined them. “Morning, Sheriff. Ladies.” Deputy Moreland nodded his head.

            “Mrs. Crawford,” Mrs. Moreland said, “do you have some sugar still? I thought I’d bake some cookies since it’s almost Christmas.”

            Mrs. Crawford nodded. “I do. Kate and I were unpacking the last boxes yesterday. Would you like to get some now?”

            “Yes, I would.”

            As the ladies turned toward the general store, Mrs. Nelson with her baby in her arms, and Mrs. Stokes came down the street.

            “Oh, Mrs. Crawford!” Mrs. Stokes called, hurrying forward.

            Stopping, Mrs. Crawford, Kate, and Mrs. Moreland waited.

            “Good morning, Sheriff, Deputy Moreland,” Mrs. Stokes said quickly. “Mrs. Crawford, I need some buttons. Charlie has lost two off his shirt just this week. Boys are so hard on their clothes. I was hoping you would have something so that he could have a whole shirt for Christmas.”

            Mrs. Crawford looked thoughtful. “Well . . .”

            “Oh, Mama,” Kate broke in, “remember that bag of buttons I discovered under the counter last week? I’m sure there will be something in there.”

            “I had forgotten that. Mrs. Stokes, I’m sure we have some.” And Mrs. Crawford looked relieved. “Mrs. Nelson, how is Baby doing?”

            “He is fine.” Mrs. Nelson pulled back the blanket a little as the ladies gathered to look. “I just wish Husband was home.”

            “I know,” Mrs. Crawford said gently. “It is hard to celebrate Christmas with the men folk being gone. But they will be back with more supplies in only a few more weeks, I’m quite sure.”

            Still talking, the ladies wandered down the street toward the general store leaving Sheriff Kassen and his deputy together.

            “Well, Sheriff,” Deputy Moreland said, “I suppose it will be another slow day for us.”

            “I reckon.”

            The quiet of the morning was interrupted by an excited shout, and Charlie rushed up. “Sheriff! Sheriff!”

            “Charlie!” Mrs. Stokes exclaimed, as the ladies turned and quickly rejoined the two representatives of the law. “What is going on? What is wrong?”

            “Did you see a bear?” Mrs. Moreland asked with a smile.

            Charlie shook his head and gasped out, “A . . . giant! . . . From the . . . mountain!”

            “A giant?” Deputy Moreland echoed with raised eyebrows and a skeptical look.

            “Take a breath, Charlie,” Sheriff Kassen ordered. “Now, what exactly did you see?”

            Drawing a deep breath, Charlie let it out with a flood of words. “I saw the man of the mountain! He’s a giant, and he’s coming here!”

            “Are you making this up, Charlie?” Sheriff Kassen demanded sternly.

            “No, sir!”

            Before anyone else could say a word, Mrs. Fisher rushed up. “Sheriff, you’ll have to do something! I saw him, and he is a giant! I thought he was a bear at first, but he’s a man. At least I think he is. And he’s coming here!”

            “The mountain man?” Sheriff Kassen asked, reaching for his six-gun while his deputy shifted his rifle to his hands.

            Mrs. Fisher nodded, clinging to Mrs. Moreland.

            “Ladies, if you would clear the streets, we’ll handle things. Charlie, go along too.”

            “Come along to the store,” Mrs. Crawford offered and led the way.

            When the ladies had disappeared, Deputy Moreland turned to the sheriff, “Should we get Kockenbrock to join us?”

            “What for?”

            “Well–”

            There was no time for Deputy Moreland to finish his thought, for just then a large person clad in the garb of a man used to living alone in the mountains, and with a bushy beard and shaggy hair, appeared. He stopped short when he saw Sheriff Kassen and his deputy, but he didn’t speak.

            There was a long silence as the three men seemed to size each other up.

            A cheerful whistle broke the silence and Mr. Kockenbrock strolled casually up. “Need some water. Forgot to get some this morning.” He looked over at the stranger. “Mornin’. Have you tried Mrs. Fisher’s flapjacks?” Without waiting for an answer, the absentminded blacksmith continued on.

            The interruption seemed to rouse the sheriff, for he demanded, “What’s your name? And what brings you to our town?”

            “Tiny. Christmas.” The stranger’s words were rather quiet.

            “You came here for Christmas?” Sheriff Kassen questioned.

            The man gave a slight nod but said nothing.

            “Humph,” the sheriff grunted as he stared at the giant of a man. “Where are you from?”

            “Up yonder,” and the man jerked a thumb over his shoulder.

            “You come alone?”

            “Yep.”

            Sheriff Kassen took a few steps closer and stared up into the man’s face. “Well now, you listen to me. I want no trouble from you, ya hear me? You come into my town, you got to behave yerself. Understand?”

            The man gave a short nod and then walked past the lawmen and continued down the road, pausing now and then to peer at a sign above a building or gaze into a shop window.

            Sheriff Kassen frowned after him. “I don’t like this, Moreland. I don’t like this one bit.”

            “Do you know anything about him, Sheriff?”

            “No. But I aim to find out what he’s up to.”

            “He said he came down for Christmas.”

            The sheriff grunted. “A likely story. Keep an eye on him, Deputy.”

            “Sure thing. But where are you going, Sheriff?”

            After a quick glance around, the sheriff said, “I reckon I’ll jest take a look from where he came from. Don’t want to be surprised if’n he’s got friends.” With a firm slap on his holstered gun, Sheriff Kassen hurried off in the direction the mountain man had come from.

            Alone, Deputy Moreland shook his head. “I wonder what’s going to happen.” With a sigh, he cradled his rifle again and set off after the strange man from the mountains.

 

*

 

            Inside the general store, the ladies were gathered near the window hoping, yet dreading, to catch a glimpse of the stranger Charlie and Mrs. Fisher had seen.

            “I’ve heard of the man in the mountains before,” Mrs. Moreland remarked. “Some say he’s got a gold mine up there, but he doesn’t mine it and shoots anyone who comes near.”

            “If that were the case,” Mrs. Crawford replied calmly, “why would he leave it and come down to town?”

            “I heard,” Mrs. Fisher said, “that he came down from Canada to escape the law up there.”

            “Is he an outlaw?” asked Mrs. Nelson, backing away from the window and holding her baby closer.

            “If he is wanted by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, he must be!” And Mrs. Stokes shook her head. “I wonder if he’s a member of that band of outlaws who were terrorizing the West a number of years ago. I don’t think they ever caught them all.”

            Mrs. Fisher turned from the window to look at her friend. “Were they from Canada?”

            “I don’t know, but they might have been. There are hundreds of miles between the two countries, and they can’t all be watched at once.”

            Mrs. Crawford tried to protest. “Ladies, we don’t know anything about the man.”

            “I overheard my husband and the sheriff talking one night,” Mrs. Moreland said, ignoring Mrs. Crawford. “They were talking about some outlaw leader who must be nearly seven feet tall, and he always goes into a town alone first before the rest of his gang come in and rob it.”

            Mrs. Nelson and Kate gasped.

            “I . . . I . . .” Kate stamKated, “I don’t think I like that man.”

            “And I heard–” Mrs. Fisher began.

            “Ladies!” Mrs. Crawford exclaimed more loudly this time. “Tomorrow is Christmas Eve. Shouldn’t we–” She got no farther.

            Mrs. Stokes’s exclamation sent everyone crowding around the windows. “There he is!”

            Even Mrs. Crawford, though she was not suspicious, was curious about the man who had so suddenly appeared in their midst.

            Sure enough, the mountain man came slowly down the street, gazing at the buildings, and now and then stepping up on the boardwalk before returning to the street again. He didn’t seem to notice the faces of the women peering out the store windows at him. Now and then he would nod and look up at the sky.

            “Oh, there’s your husband, Mrs. Moreland,” Mrs. Fisher said.

            “Maybe he can tell us who the man is,” Mrs. Stokes hinted. “Perhaps you should ask him.”

            Mrs. Moreland, after making sure the mountain man wouldn’t notice, opened the door and beckoned her husband over. “Who is he?” she asked.

            With a shrug, Deputy Moreland shook his head. “Says his name is Tiny and he’s from the mountains. Says he’s come for Christmas.” The deputy looked at the ladies. “I think you’ll be safe if you go home today. Sheriff Kassen is doing some checking. I had better be going. I need to keep my eye on our friend.” With that he hurried away.

            The ladies looked at each other.

            “I don’t think I’ll feel safe at home with just Baby,” Mrs. Nelson said.

            “Come along with me for the day,” Mrs. Stokes offered. “Charlie can shoot straight.” She looked around. “I’ll have to find him though. Maybe he went to visit Mr. Kockenbrock.”

            Mrs. Fisher turned to Mrs. Moreland as Mrs. Stokes walked away with Mrs. Nelson. “May I come home with you? The boardinghouse is all fine and good at night when Mr. Kockenbrock is there because even if he is a bit absentminded at times, he’s big and strong. But in the daytime . . .”

            “Of course.”

            After the ladies left the store, Kate turned to her mother. “Mama, they didn’t purchase their sugar or buttons!”

Next part coming tomorrow..

Did you enjoy the first part of it?

A Visit to Frosted Pines

 Welcome back to this little blog! It's been a long time since I last posted. I thought I'd have posted a story before this, but that didn't happen. Life has been a whirl. But I just had to post today. Some of you might remember (if you've been here long enough) the posts I've done about our Christmas village, Garlandsburg. Well, this year, we didn't put that village up.

Instead, my nieces and nephews decided they wanted to build a lego village for me to put up. So, after two days of legos all over the living room plus teens with long legs, and lots of work, we have a village! So, come join me in a quick tour of

Frosted Pines

[Note: Some of these buildings were from sets and they will be marked with * so you know. But even the sets got altered some to make them more wintery or Christmasy.]

We'll start our visit up on the top of the mountain at the ski lodge*. 

The ski lodge is run by Krista, and there she is, getting the mail. But it was built by Goofball. He also built the first-aid station, fixed the helicopter, and got the quad ready for any rescues.

Take a look at that ski hill! Now you understand why we might need some rescue workers and a first-aid station. That cliff is pretty high. And I'm not sure if you can see him or not, but Nathaniel is standing at the top of the slope near the trees with his dog ready to ski to the rescue of anyone. He's wearing a red coat and his dog is white.

At the bottom of the slope, we have Drew's home*. It looks like Braydn and his two friends are there to sing. They have good voices if you want to stop and listen. And Drew's dog is listening too.

 

Here we are at Frosted Pines' church. It's it pretty? Pickle Puss designed and built it.

And look at the windows! Yes, there are lights inside. And there's Papa heading in to get his sermon ready for Christmas.

 

 This is the house that Pickle Puss built.  I just love the porch with the chairs. Grace and her daughter, Kinsley, are on the porch in shocked surprise to see her husband, Richard, coming home in time for Christmas! Richard was a POW and got exchanged and sent home. It will be a happy Christmas for them this year!

Normally this is a small pond in the middle of town, but in the winter, it freezes over and becomes a place to skate. But who is skating? Perhaps you'll remember the boy, Andrew, who was such a good skater in Garlandsburg. Well, he grew up, and here he is, still skating! (This was built by Pickle Puss and Doodle Bug.)

This is the City Cafe* even if it is in Frosted Pines and not in a city. That is Grant standing on the balcony and looking out. He owns the place (built by Busters), and look, Jimmy & Megan are having a special date on that other balcony.
 

 

Here's the town's music store designed and built by me. I have no idea who lives above the shop or who is going inside, but notice the grand piano in the window and the other instruments in the other window.

 

Here's the library built by Pickle Puss. And yes, inside are shelves of books, a rack of newspapers and even a comfortable chair to read in. Grammy runs the library and is the one standing outside talking books no doubt with some random boy.

Here's a wider glimpse of a street in Frosted Pines. The blue building is a little restaurant built by Ti-K. Sarah works in the restaurant with Joy.

 

The little building the front is the post office built by Doodle Bug. You can see the mailman starting off on his rounds. The buildings behind* are being built by Busters, but he hasn't gotten them finished yet.

 

And here we have a house built by Ti-K with a roof by me. I guess a roofer's daughter can build a roof for a lego house. :) And yes, there is a cat on the roof after the bird who is on the top of the roof. Kailyn lives here with her sister, Joy.

 

And here is the high school gym! And look, there's a basketball game going on tonight. The Wildcats are playing someone. James is the police officer on duty holding the door open for the players. That first one to the door is Douglas. And there's Danielle and her twin standing in blue on the side. I can't tell them apart. I think they are here to cheer on their team. Go Wildcats! 

 

And now, let's head out of town.

This is Joel's farm. There he is cutting some logs. Horses are in the pasture, and his dog is on the porch. Looks like he's got a nice fire going out there. I build the house* but we altered it some and Funny Boy set up the whole farm.

 

This is the train* museum that Buddy built. There are lights that turn on, but I didn't get a picture of the lights. Goosey loves this train and wants to make sure the baby and her bottle are in the train with her driver daddy.

And now we come to the Christmas Tree farm. That barn is being built by Funny Boy. But you can see Tom in the gray hat talking to someone about a tree. Tom works on the tree farm.

The Christmas Tree Farm is a busy place! BehBeh is driving the sleigh to take a man and his tree to the parking lot. Her dog, Archie, is riding beside her. There are people picking trees, and some are cutting them down.

If you get cold or hungry at the tree farm, you can stop by the little stands and buy some hot drinks or something to eat. Lucas is manning the drink booth right now. Do you see the little rabbit hiding under a tree?

And this is my, I mean BehBeh's house* and her little red truck at the edge of the farm.

And that's the end of our little tour of Frosted Pines. I hope you enjoyed it!