Cutting the Ice

Dear Diary,

This year I've focused on the village pond in my setup.  Each year I do something different.  I didn't use the pond last year and I used some different houses.  This keeps the whole enterprise more interesting and creative.  I've added a photo of the whole village in the extras. I will post a video "tour" later.  I was up late finishing the construction and didn't have time to do it..  Someone asked me if my village has a name, knowing how I like to name things.  Of course!  It is the village of Crum Elbow and before you laugh and I certainly did as a child when I learned of it, that is actually the name of a place in Dutchess County, New York where my grandfather grew up.  It is a precinct of Hyde Park and is named after a bend in the Hudson River, an elbow.  Back in the 18th and 19th centuries, people designate areas of towns by unique names.  I grew up near a village called Gleasondale which was part of the larger official town of Stow. So, welcome to the little village of Crum Elbow!