Department 56 Villagers: Celebrating 20 Years with Cakes and Displays

Happy birthday to you!

Happy birthday to you!

Happy birthday, Dear Villagers,

Happy birthday to you!

Department 56 Villagers of Central Pennsylvania

Dept. 56 Villagers of Central Pennsylvania,
20th Anniversary Cake,
Created by Gina Aiello

The Dept. 56 Villagers of Central Pennsylvania are celebrating, as well they should:  Twenty years as a club, and they are going strong!  In fact, at every meeting this year the club is celebrating with special birthday cakes, like the one to the right, created by member Gina Aiello.  The cake's cottage, with its rough-hewn roof, paved path, and near-by doghouse is very appropriate for a village collecting club.

Created by Lottie Clinedinst

During the September meeting the club held a display contest that demonstrated the diversity and creativity of Department 56 collecting.  This display, created by Lottie Clinedinst, is a Halloween piece appropriately placed in a witch's cauldron.  Bubble, bubble, trouble.....  The display features the Dept. 56 Snow Village Halloween "Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow" (which can describe any number of us at our ages!)  Also included are Adams Family-like characters from "Bats in my Belfry," a delicious piece.  Note the lovely eyeball tree (all the better to see you with, my dear...) and the car with pumpkin hubcaps!

Created by Peg and Sam Samsak

The Department 56 Snow Village Halloween's "Haunted Mansion," introduced in  1998, anchors this halloween display, complete with a horseman carrying his pumpkin head.  Peg and Sam Samsak created this piece, which includes "A Vampire's Best Friend," who is walking his vamp, or is the vamp flying his crow?   The scene is set on a quilted pumpkin and another quilt provides the front-drop, while the candied corn invites the viewer in for a closer look.

"Auf zum Oktoberfest,"
Created by Margaret Grundig

Nothing says "autumn" like Oktoberfest, and nothing says "Oktoberfest" like this display created by Margaret Grundig!  The Kukuck Uhren, "Clock Shop," on the left, has such a distinctive Alpine roofline, steep and swooping so that snow slides off.  By the way, the name Kukuck is a play on the work Kuckucks, which means cuckoo in German.  So, change just a few letters, and  the building's name "Clock Shop" becomes "Cuckoo Clocks."  The building on the right is the Besson Bierkeller.  Note the regional flags over the Bierkeller's entrance.  The blue and white one is very similar to that of Zurich.  The scene is complete with an Oompapa band, steins of beer, and a stork on the roof!

Created by Mary Lou Evans

Mary Lou Evans was the creator of the festive "Pin Trader Shop," which is festooned with dozens of trading pins that lie on the table, flow up the steps, and spill into the floral arrangement behind.   Do you recognize any of the pins?  How about the Village Express Event Pin that is on the green bench?  Or the Nicholas Nickleby pin on the far right just above the date stamp?  One of my favorite parts of this arrangement is the fall floral spray that transforms a Christmas building into one for autumn.  The yellow berries in the flower arrangement pick up the yellow of the dormer windows, and the green in the arrangement picks up the pine swag draped on the second story of the building, along with the everygreen trees in the front.  Even the building's roof colors are picked up in the display.

Created by Gina Aiello

This Fall Scene, created by Gina Aiello, features the Dickens Village "Hedgerow Garden Cottage."  Fall is in the air, leaves are dropping from the trees, and pumpkins are ripe.  The city lamplighter is lighting the gas lamps earlier, since the days are shorter.  This is good, because whoever drives that good-looking car may need light to walk along the brick path, through the ornate wrought iron fence, past the dog, and onto the porch of this friendly cottage.




Thanks to Mary Lou Evans for providing me these wonderful pictures of the cakes and the displays, along with a list of  their creators.  We hope the Department 56 Villagers continue to have fabulous and tasty 20th anniversary celebrations!

Department 56 Villagers Birthday Cake,

Provided by Kathy and Jim Seker

A Great Halloween Pumpkin Stew Recipe--Enhanced with Images of Department 56 and Lemax Halloween

Lemax Collection,
"Broom Dealership," #14326

I admit it, right here, in the first sentence.  I do not display, nor do I collect, Halloween village pieces. (Storage issues!)  That does not mean, however, that I did not drop by Michaels on Saturday to see their Lemax Halloween display.  I did, and it tickled me green.  I liked several of the pieces, especially the Rest in Peace Railroad and the Broom Dealership. Broom Dealership

Lemax Collection,
"Broomstick Manor," #289284

What made me chuckle the most, however, was Broomstick Manor.  The house is suitably creepy with heavy stone construction, a warning to beware of witches landing, and crossed broomsticks and a candleabra above the dormer window.  But even better are the little details.  Instead of a welcome sign, tacked on the door is a warning:  A Curse on All Who Enter!  Next to the front stoop is another sign, hung with chains:  Beware of Kitty.  Good idea, that suggestion, because on the stoop is a kitty carnivorous with every hair standing out in ferociousness....a really kitty creature!  The best detail may be the green witch washing her cloths on top of the turret.  On the clothes line hang pants, red and white striped socks, and ....are those pink bloomers?  This witch wears pink bloomers!!!

Dept. 56, Snow Village Halloween,
"Jack's Pumpkin Carving Studio," 54600

Since I don't decorate for Halloween with villages, then what do I do for this holiday?  Well, almost every year, when the pumpkins are ripe, I put on my perpetually like-new apron and make a really delicious pumpkin stew, which I serve from the pumpkin itself, which I place in the middle of the table during dinner.

Here is the recipe!  Don't let the ingredients list put you off.  Nothing is exotic, and it makes a lot of stew that can be reheated or frozen.  The only hard part is cleaning out the pumpkin, but you do that for jack-o-lanterns!!

Dept. 56, Snow Village Halloween,
"1031 Trick-Or-Treat Drive," #55343

I think it would be really cute if you surrounded the pumpkin stew pumpkin with some of your Dept. 56 or Lemax Halloween buildings and accessories, nestled among red and orange and brown fall leaves.  I'll sprinkle some additional pictures of halloween pieces with the recipe, to give you inspiration.

Dept. 56, Snow Village Halloween,
"Pick Your Own Pumpkin," #55244

Pumpkin Stew
A 10-12 lb. pumpkin
¼ C butter
½ C brown sugar
3Tbl. cinnamon
2Tbl. olive oil
2 lbs. lean stew beef
3 Tbl. brandy
1 C onion, chopped
½ C green pepper, chopped
3 large cloves of garlic, minced
3 C beef stock
1 C sherry
3 medium tomatoes, chopped

Dept. 56, Snow Village Halloween,
"Preparing for Halloween," #54982

1 bay leaf

Salt and pepper to taste

½ tsp. oregano

1-1/2 lb. White potatoes, ½ inch cubes

1-1/2 lb. Sweet potatoes, ½ inch cubes

½ lb. zucchini, ¼ inch slice

3 ears corn, cut in 1-inch rounds

12-16 dried apricots

12-16 prunes, pitted

Dept. 56, Snow Village Halloween,
"Gross...Pumpkin Guts," #4020236

Directions

Prepare the Pumpkin:  About 4 inches down from the stem, slice pumpkin to form a lid about 6-7 inches in diameter.  Clean out inside of pumpkin.  Brush inside of shell with butter and sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon.  

Dept. 56, Snow Village Halloween,
"Harvest Mailbox," #53169

Replace lid on top, set on a baking sheet, and bake in preheated oven at 375 degrees for about 45 min., or until almost tender, but not too soft.  Reserve juices from pumpkin to add to the stew.  (I also scrape out some of the pumpkin meat to put in the stew.  Be careful you don't take too much from any one place, or the  pumpkin skin will become too thin and it will crumple during the final baking. Then you can't serve out of it!)

Dept. 56, Snow Village Halloween,
"Building the Scarecrow," #55203

Prepare the stew:  In large saucepan heat olive oil over medium heat.  Add beef cut into 1-inch cubes and brown on all sides.  Transfer to a bowl and pour off any fat.  Add brandy and bring to a boil.  

Add and simmer onion, green onion, green pepper, and garlic about 5 min.  Pour in beef stock and sherry and boil briskly, scraping up the cooked bits on the bottom.  Return meat and pumpkin juices to the pan and stir in tomatoes, bay leaf, salt, oregano, and pepper.  Cover pan and simmer over low heat for 15 min.  

Dept. 56, Snow Village Halloween,
"Gathering the Pumpkins," #55200

Add white and sweet potatoes cut into ½ inch cubes.  Cook for 15 min. more.  

Stir in Zucchini and cook add’l 10 min. (This is when I add the pumpkin “meat’ with potatoes,etc.  It provides a nice flavor and thickens the stew.)  

Add corn, dried apricots, and prunes.  Cook covered for 5 min. Place pumpkin shell on an oven-proof platter.  Spoon stew into pumpkin shell, replace lid and bake 15 min. Serve the stew from the pumpkin.  Everyone will love it.

Dept. 56, Snow Village Halloween,
"Halloween Pumpkin Stand," # 52956

Vegetarian Option--I have made this stew without meat as often as with meat.  I just substitute 2 pounds of additional vegetables for the 2 pounds of stew beef.  If you use zucchini or other "soft" veggies, be sure and add them just before you add the apricots and prunes, so they don't wilt.  If you use additional white or sweet potatoes or carrots, of course, you add them when potatoes are called for in the recipe.

Dept. 56, Snow Village Halloween,
"Spooky Farmhouse," #55315

Many Thanks to Nancy Allen, who shared this recipe with the PEO Chapter OY, who published it in their unbelievably fabulous cookbook, Stars...Stellar Recipes.  In the book Nancy recounts a dinner party, which I attended, where the pumpkin theme was complemented by white chocolate Cinderella slippers for dessert, filled with champagne. What a event dinner event that was. Unfortunately for cooks, gourmet and those like me, the book is no longer in print.  If you can't find it, keep looking. If you would like a copy of the Pumpkin Stew recipe in a Word document, please email me. 

SECOND LIST of Ten Best Puns in Department 56 Snow Village Halloween

I had so much fun with my previous post, Best 10 Belly-Laugh-Inducing Puns in Department 56 Snow Village Halloween Series, that I vowed to inflict upon you my second list...which, honestly, contains some items that probably should have been on my first list.  All college football scouts know that sometimes their top drafts are overshadowed by walk-ons....

Therefore, please enjoy my Second Best 10 "Walk-On" Puns in Department 56 Snow Village Halloween Series!

Depat. 56, Snow Village Halloween,
"Lady and the Vamp," #809390

#10:  "Lady and the Vamp", #809390 As far as I can make out, this vignette combines three stories:  Lady and the Tramp, because of its name only; Dracula, because that is what he looks like in every Halloween costume and bad horror movie made; and Cinderella, with her long blond hair, baby blue dress, and association with going to sleep....but will she wake up to a kiss...or a bite....tee hee. Department 56 Original Snow Village Halloween Lady and the Vamp Accessory Figurine

Bela Lugosi as Dracula,
Image from
www.draculas.info/gallery

Nice details include the bat hovering in front of the motorcycle, the Transylvania rode marker, the sidecar oozing blood, and oh, yes, it is very politically correct that maybe-Mina is wearing a leather helmut!

Dept. 56, Snow Village Halloween,
"Hanging Around," #53214

#9:  "Hanging Around", #53214:  This old fella is getting ready to climb on the rickety picket fence and just hang around on Halloween night. This guy's got a noose loose, though.  His friend, the hissing black cat, is warning us to just leave him alone--he wants to make it back up on his own.  Department 56 Hanging Around

Dept. 56, Snow Village Halloween,
"Made to Be Wild," #809381

#8:  "Made to the Wild", #809381:  The pun "Made to the Wild..." doesn't really flow, but it's a nice piece.  The Frankenstein Monster, made, not born, is straddling the motorcycle, presumably his bride riding second.  The motorcycle's light is in the mouth of a skull, and the steeing mechanism is structured from chains.  It's amazing how friendly the monster looks, and his gal is having a lot of fun. Department 56 Original Snow Village Halloween Made to be Wild Accessory Figurine

1931 movie poster,
owned by Stephen Fishler,
image source:
www,universalmonstersblog.tumblr.com/

By the way, this is a copy of the only extant full-color, 6-sheet movie poster of the 1931 film.  It is the most valuable movie poster in existence, and is owned by Stephen Fishler, a New York poster Collector.

Dept. 56, Snow Village Halloween,
"Bone to Be Wild," #53221

#7. Bone to be Wild, #53221  Another take-off on the same pun, but this is cuter. This "Bone" is clearly at the other end of life than "Born!"  In fact, he's at a "dead end."   Our rider's skeletal frame shows through his torn pantleg, and his boney hands grip the horns of the rams-head handlebars. (Georgia O-Keefe would have loved this!)  Even the steering mechanism is composted of stainless skeletal arms, and the tires have spider webs.  I wonder what is under the back wheel of this the devil-may-(not)-care rider!  I also wonder if this is a nod to a Halloween Hog, but I'm not operating on enough cylinders to know. Department 56 Bone To Be Wild

Dept. 56, Snow Village Halloween,
"Lazy Bones," #810634

#6. "Lazy Bones," #810634:  Apparently mowing the lawn made our good friend Bones dead tired.  He may be dead to the world for the moment, but he may also be at a dead end if the vulture perched at the foot thinks he's really dead in his tracks.  Dead as a doornail, that one.  And I'm dead serious that I'm dead certain about this. Department 56 Lazy Bones

Dept. 56, Snow Village Halloween,
"Killing Time," #53164

#5.  Killing Time, #53164:  More Bones. This time the gent is hung up on Halloween....tee hee.....and he's hung up in a bat-tree sort of way.  Bones' body is trying to get a head if the noose makes him lose his own, and the bodiless jack-o-lantern above is the perfect replacement if his own cranium is caput !  Just lovely, that gnarly tree. Department 56 Killing Time

Dept 56, Snow Village Halloween,
"Graveyard Shift," #810637

#4.  "Graveyard Shift," #810637  These two guys don't have to work at night to work the graveyard shift. And in this case, they have gotten a head on the job. Again, no poetic 'Oh, Yorick, I knew thee...."  But in this case, the sitting grave digger is scared to death, or maybe sick to death, of skulls.  At least he isn't bored stiff like those he's planting. Department 56 Graveyard Shift

Dept. 56, Snow Village Halloween,
"Halloween Rat Race," #53226

#3. "Halloween Rat Race," #53226:  Three rats are in the race of their lives this halloween, and hot on their tail is a broom-wielding witch and her hungry cat.  Of course, the cat's ahead of the witch.  He's more motivated, because if he loses the race, the rats go in the brew and the cat's lost both the race and the prize.  What both the wtich and the cat are missing is the spectator rat who is peeping out his hole, watching the live action. Department 56 Halloween Rat Race

Dept. 56, Snow Village Halloween,
"Chilled to the Bone," #809380

#2.  "Chilled to the Bone," #809380:  Of course our character is Chilled to the Bones.  He's standing in a frozen puddle and his umbrella is so shredded it offers no protection.  And he has no clothes on; it's a bare bones situation. The cat's concerned, and the crow has a feeling in HIS bones that this is going to work out A-OK. I have no bone to pick with this piece. Chilled To The Bone

....And #1 on my SECOND BEST LIST OF "WALKD ON" PUNS...

Dept. 56, Snow Village Halloween,
"Skeleton Crew,"  #53243

"Skeleton Crew," #53243  Our fella is certainly a skeleton crew, all alone out there in the boat, except for the vulture who might have picked him clean.  And the way tires are biting, our thin lad may not put any weight on, for all his fishing.  But don't give up on him.  He has all the accouterments for a fine fishing trip, nice hat with flies hooked into it, a bobber on his line, and a boat named SnowVillageHalloween10(Oct.)31.  And best of all, replacements are the way to relieve our skeleton crew.... why else would a bony hand be holding on to the anchor?  And why would the vulture be so interested? Department 56 Skeleton Crew