For those of you looking for new ideas to spruce up your next Christmas Village, consider adding landscaping detail to your shoreline or streamside in the form of reeds that populate these areas in real landscapes. Here's a photo I took just yesterday along a creek showing what I'm referring to.

Heartland Valley Water Mill is Back

Villagescape showing Heartland Valley Village Water Mill

It's back. We're so happy to see that Ace Hardware has contracted once again to carry the Heartland Valley Village Water Mill during the holiday season.  This was hard to find anywhere previously.  We have since painted the wheel of our only working model in a dark brown for a more realistic appearance.

You'd be hard-pressed to find another miniature mill anywhere that has a working wheel that uses real water.

A Bit of History on Villages

Thought this was a pretty good article for those who just want a brief capsule of information on the history of villageing.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_village

Wonderland of Noble Firs on Display and Sale at Riley's Farm

A trip back in time to colonial America, a stimulating and invigorating experience that brings smiles and appreciation of a simpler time in our country's history.  At Riley's Farm in the historical Southern California apple town of Oak Glen, you can not only enjoy reenactments and hands on activities that hark back to our country's roots, but you can also buy #1 grade Noble Firs like these cheap, enjoy live music, fresh ground wheat bread, a tavern fireplace, and Adventures in the Old World? Make plans!

Linda and I at Riley's Farm-circa 2009(love that word 'circa', sounds so historical)

Thanksgiving Music Anyone??

We were just wondering if anyone had any favorite background music that they liked to listen to during the Thanskgiving holiday.  We yearly hear the Christmas tunes playing over the airwaves, but why aren't there any recognizable Thanksgiving tunes?

Christmas and Harvest Villages - A New Horizon

I was asked recently why I discontinued the main Village Fantasies website, even though it had risen to the top of the second page of Google and Yahoo alike under "Christmas Villages" and "Christmas village displays". It was a really popular site, but took too much work, and we felt it wasn't serving the purpose intended. We're hoping the blog and this fan page will rise to that same level of entertainment and following. Thank you everyone.

Great display photo

A very simple display without much creativity, but a wonderful photo as a result of the correct camera angle, and the depth of the photo with the hilltop buildings in the background.  Nice work.

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Christmas Villages in Medical Offices?

Here's an idea to consider: Doesn't it make sense that the sheer presence of a Village Fantasies Villagescape located within the lobby of a medical or dental practice or hospital would add a relaxing effect to what is normally a somewhat stressful environment? Be it pediatrics or general medicine, all can benefit from the soothing effects of a harvest or Christmas village display. It would help take a patient's mind off, if only temporarily, the negative aspect of their medical visit.

Hummingbird Guarding its Nest

Took several great photos of this hummingbird outside the front of the house today. It had made a nest in our Leyland Cypress tree. A tiny bird, making a tiny nest, for its tiny two eggs. Check out our photo tab on Facebook for the rest of the photos.

This is new inspiration for our Villagescapes. How to incorporate examples like these of nature's beauty within our Villagescapes?.