11/29/2022
Part two of sharing memories. What do you remember? Please share with us.
๐ข๐๐ฟ ๐ช๐ถ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ช๐ผ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐น๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ
Well, eventually, our four little trees became over 30 trees, and our little shalom sign grew into the primary roof decoration, which declared boldly each year's theme, usually "given" to us the summer before. Our few lights grew to over 150,000, and it was amazing how much real garland made our display truly feel like Christmas. Each of the over 4,000 feet was handmade by four incredible women with cedar gathered from a different source each year that would be provided at the last minute (literally), then hung perfectly to make us all feel like we were at a destination in the "North Country!"
Just in time!
Remember those years when it would snow, and you would brave the roads just to see the lights in the snow? Were you one of those who could feel the "magic of falling snow" as they walked about? Were you one of the children of all ages who would try to catch snowflakes falling on their tongues? Remember those moments as the snow fell and your childhood dream to feel what it would be like if you could shrink down and be in your snow globe magically seemed to happen?
Aspen Meadow became a "snow globe of great joy and wonder."
Me and all the rest of the "kids" loved the display case, as it came to be known. It began as a simple front-viewed display with eight ceramic houses, a hand-painted backdrop, and of course, the very beginnings of trying to create a train and small town scene like many of our fathers built around the family tree after we went to bed on Christmas Eve. We all loved that Lionel train with the pills you could put in the smokestack to make the engine really smoke!
As the years went by, more teachers, artists, and designers committed their efforts to the display case. They gathered pieces from literally all over the world, eventually having a cataloged collection nearly filling their basement. Then the display case grew to be six-sided. It eventually included three trains, moving skiers and skaters, hundreds of animals, multiple towns, realistic landscapes, and collectible Dickens' buildings, and ultimately grew into 2,500 pieces. All hand placed, with yards of electrical wiring, bales of cotton for snow, and even a heater to keep the trains warm enough to run!
Do you remember how the display case would have a different theme each year? Remember when they added the hidden Star Wars characters? Remember how kids would line up to push the red button so the train horn would whistle? Remember wishing you could shrink down and walk on the snow-covered streets, meet the hundreds of people walking about, ride in the carriage, hike or ski on the so-realistic snow-covered mountains, or ride the train around the display like you were in a movie?
Do you remember the huge rainbow in the early days that was suspended over the lawn? It was a sign to all who stopped by that we need to share hope, peace, and goodwill and believe that we all have the ability to choose to make our world a better place. Little did we know that our rainbow would not only represent our purpose for existing, but like the first rainbow, it was a promise of how much our Aspen Meadow Lights would grow and become a true destination for families from all over the Northwest. A destination where folks would insist their visiting guests from literally all over the world would take an evening and stop by, that we would be on TV, be voted a top site to see during the holidays, and most of all, that we would enjoy sharing Christmas for 12 days with all of you!!
It truly has been a "Winter Wonderland!"
Aspen Meadow Band
Everyone . . . Please post for our Aspen Meadow family and friends what was your favorite display or what you enjoyed the most when you came out with family and friends.
It will bless all of our community all over the world!!!
