Christmas Back In Time

Saturday evening my husband and I invited our neighbors to go on the "old Fogey bus" and tour Greenfield Village by night. This is in Dearborn, Michigan and it is a place of many recreated shops and venues, some actually taken apart and shipped there. There is also a Henry Ford Museum attached to it, but that wasn't included.

So, the four of us arrived at the bus in time to get great seats. I was able to catch up with all sorts of stories about my friend's doings and found out a lot more about her.

When we arrived it was chilly, but we were all bundled up. The lights on trees and buildings were lovely. Every so often, a pyre let out its warmth and light. Carolers roamed the facility, some in Dickensian outfits.

We waited in a line similar to the twisty ones at Disneyland and were able to have a Model T ride around the area. These cars are authentic and they sure looked and ran great.

I saw the chapel that I remembered seeing when I was a little girl. It was so gorgeous all lit up. It was just a great nostalgia trip for me. Also felt that way when I saw the Wright Brothers Cycle shop and a jewelry store where two figures gong the bell on the hour.

We wandered into a glassblowers. It was all dark except for the fires. The young men were pulling a length of glass candy cane material the length of the room. We were just in time to see them finish the process. Then it cools and they cut up for canes.

We heard a tinsmith tell all about pierced lanterns and watched him solder a small ring for a project. The people in the buildings were very knowledgeable about their subjects.

At the end, we went to the gift shop and were able to purchase "whatever" with our "fun money" that was given to us on the bus. I got a coin necklace and teeny tiny copper penny earrings. They are too cute. Then it was off to the bus so we could all sit down and wait for departure. We had one more surprise: fireworks. I went out to see them, but a mist was coming so I went back in the bus and we all saw and heard a great show right there through the windows.

I thing it is great that the facility puts this on every year. Every one who worked there was so full of holiday cheer. It truly set the scene for a very Merry Christmas.