More Buyer Beware

Second Post of the Day

I ran into another case of buyer beware last week. And I fell for it completely.

Look at this horsey Lego set.

Honoring the Budweiser Clydesdales, it came across my Facebook feed. I immediately took a screen shot and sent it to our family GroupMe chat.

"Please, please, PLEASE someone get this for me!! My birthday is coming up." (Not until the end of August, but still...)

And then, I got the bad news. It was not an official Lego set. 

It was the 5 digit number on the box that was the definitive proof. Even though the set had the official red Lego label on it, it was not a Lego product, it was an imitation. 

I am disappointed, but I'm also glad Kyle checked it out for me. Yet another case of buyer beware raising its ugly head.

And then, look what appeared in my social media feed yesterday.

I'd get that in a heartbeat for several family members! But no number appears to check for authenticity, and, even more telling, there is no red Lego sign on the box.

It's a fake!

And fakes can be hard to tell.

Some more so than others.

Stay 'tooned!

The Advent of the Advent Calendar

Second Post of the Day

Tomorrow is December 1 and that means I can begin opening my Breyer Advent Calendar! I may be rather "long in the tooth" and I may not collect Mini Whinnies, but that doesn't matter. I am excited to open those doors!

I will clear the the box, Stablemates, and inkwell off from the shelf today and then I will be ready for tomorrow. 

Our family has a history of using advent calendars. Beach Son Kyle helped me do a little decorating yesterday and we both were delighted to pull these out of a tub.

Talk about family memories!

There are four rows of six pouches on this calendar, perfect for a family of six kids. We went in age order and so everyone knew their column. That worked well in helping us all know just whose turn it was for that daily piece of candy.

I've used the green calendar with the Pony Pals and Cowpokes, too, and I may hang it for them this this year.

This one not only has memories of my children attached to it, it also makes me think of my father.

He loved decorating for Christmas, and would shop for things to give his adult children  to use in their homes.

This advent calendar was a gift from him and not a candy calendar - the ornaments were hung on the tree day by day. 

With two calendars, that meant that every three days each one of our kids had a chance to interact with our advent calendars.

Lisa sent this picture recently to our family chat. 

The red calendar was listed at $185 while the green one was $175. No matter what I might get for them, there is no way I'd sell either of them!

Some of my children continue the advent calendar tradition - with Legos!

Pony Pals Susan, Julie and Kate recently got this Lego advent calendar.

Doors to open are on the back and I think there is a Lego figure or piece inside. (I'll ask.) My guess would be that a Lego piece is inside and as the holidays progress, you create a figure of Santa or something.

Beach Son Kyle and his kids also enjoy Legos and many years ago I got this Lego advent candle for them.

You remove a brick every day and as the season progresses, the candle "melts."

I thought it might be fun to get one for our home, 

but after a little research, I decided to save my money for something else.

I'm toying with making my own advent calendar using blackened beeswax ornaments.

399 and her cubs, a set I made for Hawkeye Sarah.

I have enough different ornaments to put 24 on the tree, and little boxes I could put them in and then number 1 - 24. 

Problem is, I don't have my tree up yet! But I may still go for it.

Stay 'tooned!

Cole's 2021 Christmas Village

Music City Son Cole is a Lego lover and he and his family have a fun holiday tradition - they make a Lego Christmas village!

They set villages up for Easter, Thanksgiving, and other holidays, too. When the holiday is over, each piece is dismantled and put into individual plastic bags for storage. 

Cole uses these books for patterns. Bricks are bought at garage sales, on eBay, and from other sources. He resells what he doesn't need.

Here's another video (this one has sound) with Emily and Susie briefly sharing what they worked on and then Cole speeds up the train to Susie's delight. (Did you know that there is a robot in Santa's village? Neither did I, until Susie made one. Reminds me of the unicorn that showed up in our Nativity re-enactment last Christmas Eve.)

Christmas Card of the Day

This card is popular - I bought a set and sent them out to a few friends, and I have now received two from other folks that I know! I send and receive a lot of cards, but that's a first!