My WORD for 2026.

My WORD for 2026. 

I know quite a few bloggers, well and 'normal' people who don't lay their lives out on pages online, who pick a word to concentrate on for the coming year. 

Since I have never make resolutions or for that matter given up anything up for Lent, I've always thought such 'business' is really no one-elses' 'BusYness' and shouldn't need to be shared.

After this year I am definitely angst-ing for some actual ENDURANCE. 

I think there might be a few others out there 'Up to their eyeballs' in wishing for Endurance.

Yes, Endurance... a loaded historical word for sure.

WWII Phillipines, Borneo or New Guinea?? Dad couldn't remember.

Defintion: AI overview- Endurance is the ability to withstand hardship, stress, or fatique and continue a difficult activity or situation over a long period essentially meaning the power to last or keep going despite challenges.

Challenges, enduring personal challenges yes, but THIS?

Now, since I'm not a runner, distance walker, or even exerciser, I'm simply a doer. I DO my own chores: cut grass, trim bushes, garden, shop for groceries, plant, paint, scrape, shovel, reuse, recycle, shop in thrift stores, run a little business and more, etc. When you do all those things you don't need to exercise. \

I even clean my own house, do my own windows (inside anyway)-we popped for exterior washers this year for the first time, because of ladders. And, this year we are going to paint the inside of our home.

So I don't really have to worry about physical endurance, I just take on everything carefully.

So endurance for or from what: Yep, what we don't talk about in blogging world. Enduring the big fricking Elephant disrupting the planet. Yes, our country disrupting ourselves and the entire planet.

And, I'm not talking about global warming...crap maybe I should, it's going to be in the 70-80's this week for half the country---and it's January?????Yes, global warming IS REAL. Endure it!

How about our current Global Standing...? 

Lokken Denmark pre-1920.

    My Norwegian and Danish relatives are laughing at us, daily. They certainly have been given enough material every single day. 

How about the source? It's our dysfunctional Democracy...? If we can still call this a Democracy?

And the victims, what about all our marginalized citizens scrambling to figure out how they are going to afford health care, food, and housing? 

Never in my almost 79 years have I ever lived in a country totally falling apart...and no one doing nothing to stop it. 

My gosh, I lived through the Vietnam war protests of the 60's..., the oil crunches in the 70's, later with inflation twice, three or more times the cost of living. 

(My hubby was a teacher with 29 credits toward his Masters's and our kids were eligible for free lunches in 1977-1978.) Talk about enduring...but never was it as stressful as it is today.

Talk about enduring...but never was it as stressful as it is today.

We all have heard, "This too shall pass"... I just don't think I will live long enough for the current damage to really pass or resolve itself.

Princely Youth and Dervish, by Riza Abbasi; Isfahan, Iran, Safavid period.

The 'Shall pass' phrase has historical origins in medieval Persian Sufi Poetry. 

Also as a recurring theme in Jewish folklore, and the stories of King Solomon. Even, Second Corinthians  4:17-18 Paul rumbles on about this too shall pass...promising the suffering-- everlasting life, if they endure. 

Even Abraham Lincoln used 'it shall pass' in a lengthy speech when he lost an early political race.

Personally, since I 'm such a history nut, such phrases, teachings, as well as scriptures were designed to convince those on the bottom of the 'food chains'...that their was hope for their pitiful futures. Giving them 'blessings' and even 'more promises' that to endure their misery long enough they would either survive or die and be better off then.

So here we are, collectively enduring? Normally I like to do things with a modicum of Grace...but enduring with one's teeth clenched shut is really the worst, and kinda gives you a miserable outlook on life, also not too good for one's health or State of Mind. 

Not only that, everyday there is a NEW 

SOMETHING to ENDURE. 

So teeth clamped shut, hissing, choking on it, ...I will try and practice ENDURANCE!

We could all hope it ENDS sooner than later.

Maybe my second word should be 

HOPE!

Thanks for visiting, all conversation and comments are welcomed. If we don't solve this together soon where will we be...?

I will post at the following Link Parties, I hope you visit them.

Thanks so much for visiting,

  

 Please do not use photos without linking back to this blog without my permission. 

Thank you for your cooperation, 

Sandi 

oldnewgreenredo

Christmas Outing to Antioch's Kringle's Christmas Village

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Wow, my 'Whose turn is it' senior game day group decided to put the cards and game pieces down and do something fun for the holidays. 

We drove up to Antioch, Illinois to attend a community program supported by the Chamber of Commerce, businesses, civic groups, families and individuals.

The Kringle's Village is 6' tall box cars full of Holiday scenes with dolls, teddy bears, moving figures, elves...you name it. It it is about the holidays and what it  represents. Another added attraction were Christmas Trees decorated by civic groups and businesses. 

This was the exhibit in the front window of the store housing the entire exhibit which was HUGE.

Santa at his Tailor's and all the laundry done by little critters to the right.

As our eyes adjusted to the darkness of the huge store, all the displays (boxcars) were lined up on street pathways with decorated Trees between them. 

This is Elmo's Icicle Street Ice Cream Shoppe. 

We pressed our noses to the glass to read all the fantasy ice cream flavors...so cute, and everything was staged perfectly and in-scale with the cute Elmo. So much wonderful craftsmanship.

At the end of the Icicle Bar were more goodies.

Love those miniature waffle cones (about 5-6") and all the other items to scale. Look at those swee sunday dishes, maybe once were votive holders?

The community also runs a contest and all visitors vote for their favorite Holiday tree.

I didn't count how many scenes, but it took a good hour and half to view everything.

Here are puppies under the Christmas tree. What a great surprise for the kids in the morning.

A North woods cabin, these dolls were about 18" tall. And that is real stones on the fireplace...so many details.

This was one of my favorites, a photographer (snowman) taking a holiday photo of a

Bear Family.... 

This was titled December 26th...where the Elves all let loose and party. The were all Elf on the shelf size...12" or so...and all the miniature food, hootch, and pizzas were hand made....too-o cute!

This seems to be the naughtiest part of the group...LOL, don't miss the guitar player.

Another box car held Santa's workshop...everyone is busy.

And another car with a baking station for Mrs. Claus!

Of course the elves help with the oven and goodies.

Mrs. Claus showing off her wares.

there was so much detail in her Bakery Shop.

The Boy Scout tree was full of wood, leather and childhood projects, it was adorable. Badges were also described, and "A Boyscout is Brave!" My husband was a Scout Leader and this was so reminiscent of all the boys banging away on leather in the basement.

Wood Burning and constructions...loved the rope stars on wood.

Two quilting organizations had trees and we were so enamored with the patchwork ornaments I forgot to take photos...so special all the handwork and love in their designs.

The next car held a family scene of Teddy Bears and miniature furniture.

These look like Boyd's Bears if you remember those, about 8-9" tall.

Just like a many a kitchen before Christmas. Wonderful stove in the corner...and a Mom with her glasses.

A Playroom ready for Christmas...with a Victorian theme.

Many handmade pieces in here and a perfect stenciled floor!

One of our favorites was the Bear Victorian Hat Shop...so full of delightful ribbons, gloves, pearls, and foo-foo...and just all decked out in finery.

this little corner had a perfume display. And this car display had windows on the sides to peek in.

My friend and I were peering into the scene at the same time!

Another tree was by the Historical society and ornaments made from old Christmas photos hanging with popcorn and cranberries...simply charming and we stood and viewed so many of the  sweet photos some going back to the late 1800's.

I'd date this one to the turn of the century or early 1900's. Look at the baby in the small pram. and those cute faces.

Another Santa display called "Checking the List"...a gazillion names some with naughty and more with nice checked off!

An Elves Food  SNOWAY SANDWICH shop...(suspiciously looking like part of the 7-DWARFS.

Again the Snoway Sub Shop...was all inclusive and just adorable.

This was fun....Elves again, busy repairing Sleighs and Bobsleds!

An Alpine village with all the critters you might see.

Yes that is Marley reflected in the glass, my photo of him didn't turn out...but he was there in the Dickens Villager display, chains and all.

Another village scene...so much detail and built on hills, loved the background and starry lights.

Big stuffed animals in the background...so cute.

A Swedish tradition of Sankta Lucia (Saint Lucy's Day), celebrated on December 13, where a girl, often the eldest daughter, wears a white gown and a crown of candles (real or electric) in her hair to bring light and warmth during the dark winter, leading a procession of attendants.

Many of the surrounding farms in the Antioch area were Scandinavian and German settlers. 

Uh, OH! I saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus ...Victorian style...so cute.

A Victorian girl maybe 28" tall or so was the keeper of this lovely jewelry shop..

All Sorts of miniature and antique jewelry pieces...spilling out of displays.

This was quite luxurious and so bright with all the twinkle lights and glass, mirrors,...just Delightful!

Carolers out in the snow singing Holiday Joy!

So what does Santa do on his Day Off???

Teach Mrs. Claus Golf...? Of course the greens don't have snow on them at the North Pole...lol.

Another store...the shelves were full of everything imaginable and all sorts of fresh goods on the cabinet. A Mrs. Grinch is the storekeeper.

One of my favorites a delightful flower shop all miniatures and a lit up greenhouse...this was so cute.

A holiday wedding chapel... and Merry 'I Do' to you too!

Another busy baker with many miniatures and antiques in this display.

That was the biggest iron play stove I have ever seen..and the "Kittens who have lost their mittens" which were sprinkled throughout Mama Kits kitchen.

One of the backs of a boxcar in the middle of the room had this 4 x 8' glass display after Van Gogh's starry night or maybe Sunny day...it was glass glued on one piece of large glass, no maker listed, but stunning.

This was a reindeer beauty Shop....so cute...and some stunning reindeer.

This reading material for the waiting Reindeer customers, was a stitch....'Keep Your Antlers Looking Young, and Get Rudolphs Look & Shine...

GRINS!

Toward the back of the room were the Historical societies Dickens Characters all hand made by the local art society. Much of the clothing was original here is Bob Cratchett and Tiny Tim.

In the middle of the building was a 12 foot or more tall Victorian house. This is the front side of the house(back of the displays) So cute

Everything inside the house display was quite large and this was a baking scene.

Upstairs the daughter in her Victorian Bedroom...

The Parlor...the whole building was adorable.

More Dickens characters...real fur and velvet everywhere. 

Another favorite display was the Shoe Shop...

Look at all those miniature shoes...the Lady is tall with  with that piled high hair. 

A festive Snow scene....love the Frosty treat stand

St. Nicholas and some German and  Scandinavian traditions here again. Fruit left on St. Nicholas Day, December 5.

The Bank and Post office...Santa is busy finishing his packages.

So much baking going on in the Village!

A real Antique Doll house 1:12 regular scale...very sweet and looked to be all hand crafted.

A huge Dickens Village Collection was donated...the display spanned over 30 feet long...all set behind glass and simply amazing.

I didn't realize they made so many different ones.

Charming.

Famous London Buildings a perfect way to end 

our wonderful 

Kringle Dickens CHRISTMAS OUTING! 

If you live in SE Wisconsin or NE Illinois this is a must for all ages, indoors from Thankgiving to January.

Free with Donations only, and totally charming nestled in the quaint Antioch village 2 blocks off of Hwy 45 on Orchard Street. 

Thank You Antioch Merchants, Historical Society, and Community for sharing this wonderful treat. 

HOPE YOU have a Happy Holiday 

and the Merriest of Christmases! 

Thanks so much for visiting,

 I will post at the following Link Parties, I hope you visit them.

Metamorphosis Monday

Craftastic Monday

 Please do not use photos without linking back to this blog without my permission. 

OldNewGreenRedo, is an ad-free blog.  

I do not endorse or receive any $$ for any products I may use. I enjoy showing how I use products, 

but I do not receive any $$ from anywhere I shop.

However, the link to my BarberryLane Etsy shop

on the right hand side if you choose to visit for a

Antiques, Craft Supplies, Vintage, Dolls, Mini's, and more. I will be opening an Ebay shop in the New Year. Stay tuned...

  

Thank you for your cooperation, 

Sandi 

oldnewgreenredo