Kara Louise: Christmas in Her Old English Village

Kara Louise: 
Christmas in Her Old English Village

(Today Kara Louise Continues the Darcyholic Diversions Christmas Celebration with her guest post and Give Away!  Many books available for give away before the holiday!  Comment on all December posts today!)

Every Christmas I step into an old English Village. Carriages convey people to their destination; carolers gather and sing; children are sledding and building snowmen; and couples snuggle together. This village has several charming shops, a church, a school, an inn, homes, and even an old farm house.

I set up my Christmas village every year the day after Thanksgiving, buying a new piece or two to add to it. In the evening we turn on the lights and sit back and enjoy.

I began to collect these over twelve years ago, before I stepped into the English villages and towns of Jane Austen. My husband had actually begun buying me the small (unlightable) David Winter villages, which I keep in a curio cabinet. A few years later I began buying the larger (not David Winter) pieces that light up. I currently have about 14 different pieces, plus all the people and other extras.

Even though these are more Victorian than Regency, I can’t help but think of Jane Austen when I look at the different scenes. Then, of course, my thoughts go to Darcy and Elizabeth. Unfortunately, I don’t have a ‘Pemberley’ amongst my pieces, but I think I have spotted the Darcys riding in one of the carriages! I wonder how the Darcys would have celebrated Christmas after they were married. Did they decorate Pemberley with garlands and mistletoe? Did they begin some traditions on that first Christmas? What presents did they give each other? Did they celebrate with any other family?

Last year I published a book, "Pemberley Celebrations - The First Year” that addresses some of those musings. The book is actually a collection of short stories that follows the newly married Darcys as they celebrate the different holidays and special events that first year. I begin, of course, with Christmas (there are three Christmas stories), and go on to New Years, Valentines Day, Easter, May Day, Midsummer Day, Michaelmas, All Hallows Eve, and the birth of their baby.

Now, back to my village. My husband loves it, too, and this year he moved a nice set of bookshelves into the living from his outdoor office so I would have more space for my growing collection. But he said there was one stipulation to moving the bookcase there: that I leave the village up until at least March! (I might just decide to leave it up all year!)

But this new piece of furniture in the house presented a problem. Our cats love the shelves and they immediately began to jump in and hunker down behind a carriage or next to one of the buildings. I am so afraid they will get caught in the cords and bring some of my village pieces crashing to the ground! And, of course, one of our cats has decided he likes to jump from the top of the chair onto the top of the bookcase! At least they are sturdy, and I hope the cats will soon become distracted by something else!

As part of Barbara’s celebration of Christmas I am giving away a copy of “Pemberley Celebrations” to those in US and Canada. All you have to do is comment here.

I want to thank Barbara for inviting me here today as part of her Christmas celebration. And I’d like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas! 

EXCITING NEWS FROM KARA LOUISE!
My current work in progress is a pirate adventure. Darcy as a pirate? Well, you'll just have to wait and see! I hope to have it available this spring or early summer!