Friend Tender Tales

Channeling Uncle Ted

Many years ago when I was a child my Uncle Ted and Aunt Evelyn Slowinski out of all the large family always had the best Christmas tree and wondrous village and train set underneath it.

I was mesmerized looking at the miniature houses lit up with soft light, the skating ponds and bridges and the tiny folks and animals that inhabited the make-believe town. My Uncle Ted built these houses and churches by hand and when it was time to build a new set he gave the old set to some lucky recipient in the family. My Mom was happy to get one of them. We put it up many times and it was handed down to me. Rick and I would put it up occasionally when one of our pets wasn't in the puppy stage to bother it.

We have a cool lodge theme going on in our basement and this year I decided early enough to do something about it that our very old houses looked tired, worn and old-fashioned glittery. I took on the job of stripping off the old paint, taking off the chimneys for repainting and sanding them smooth.

I redid them in soft earth tone colors with gray textured roofs and made little signs for the "main street" stores and B&B's. We built up hills, made a tunnel for the train loop and added more rustic folks and mountain dwelling animals.

Rick cut out a background of mountain shapes and I went wild in the garage one warm afternoon with gray, black and white paints, my brushes and texturing tools. I have to admit they really added depth to the whole set-up.

Throw in snow blanket, lots of miniature spruce and pines, a skating pond, a horse stable, a newly painted and rock steeple textured church that Uncle Ted had lovingly even put a bell in the tower of and we made some Christmas magic of our own this year.

It was fun "channeling" Uncle Ted while I worked and I think he heartily approved as he watched from Heaven. I put one of Aunt Evelyn's crocheted angel ornaments on the tree looking down at the village square.

Rick's Dad, Jim passed away around Christmas so it was a hard time getting through the holidays but Uncle Ted's handmade and rejuvenated creations really brightened up our days.

Thanks for the memories, Uncle Ted and Aunt Evelyn.

Your Loving Niece,

Sue