| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Ninibini |
Posted - May 06 2012 : 09:33:11 AM
I have some really good news to share, girls!
Out here in these parts, family, friends and locals who know him affectionately refer to my husband as "Choo Choo Charlie." When our son was an infant, our best man gifted my husband with the train set they had played with as children. Since that time, my husband has dedicated most of his winter nights to attic seclusion, where he painstakingly and meticulously has built up the most amazing train set - the one world, as he describes it, that he can actually control. It takes up an entire room in our attic! He has just about everything in his set, including, but not limited to, an amazing custom designed and created (by him) replica of our home, a ball park and even a carnival. I love, love, love it, and so do all the children in our lives - of all ages. He's thoroughly enjoys it with his whole heart, and when he shares it with family and friends, you see his inner little boy's eyes light up and sparkle. All the kids of all ages just love to go up to the attic to wonder at and play with him and his train set. It's an amazing sight to behold.
Well, a couple of weeks ago, my husband's buddy met a retired couple who are preparing to relocate to Florida. The man, a train enthusiast, had this amazing O scale train set, but isn't able to take it with him when they move. LONG story short, this man was hoping to find a good home for his set, and, after meeting my husband, decided to GIFT it - not sell, but GIFT it - to him. All he asked was that my husband dismantle it himself, set it up to enjoy with others, and promise not to sell it. There are absolutely no words to describe this amazing gift. To give you an idea of the magnitude of this set, the man had brought in a professional carpenter to build the platform for him on casters. It's literally the size of my dining room! The set included MTH O-scale trains, engines and cars (pretty much all in original boxes), landscape, track, a rather expensive transformer, HO buildings and kits (expensive ones that my husband could only dream of owning one day - and yes, the buildings are HO scale... My husband didn't ask why the man bought HO instead of O, he is just thrilled to have them)... You name it, it's in there. When the man told my husband the value of the set, my husband just about fell over. So did I. Of course, we could never afford to repay him, so my husband offered to do work around their house or help them prepare for their move - whatever they need; but the gentleman didn't want anything in return. All he wanted was for the set to go somewhere where it would be used and appreciated. Believe me when I tell you, he couldn't have chosen a better man on whom to bestow such an amazing gift and responsibility! Girls, my husband is just blown away by this whole thing - he's grateful, overwhelmed, and soaking it all up like a kid in a candy shop! LOL!
Our neighbor is a HUGE O-scale train enthusiast and collector. He came by to check things out and the whole set literally blew his mind. I've never seen him so excited! He kept exclaiming, "Oh my WORD! Do you know how much this would cost? You've got a small fortune, here! This is unbelievable!!!" We could never have afforded to purchase something like this - ever. Even if we had the money to blow, we'd never treat ourselves to something so extravagant. This is truly a blessing. And I honestly don't think that over the rest of his lifetime my husband could ever have acquired such an amazing set. It's like God has been watching over him with a big smile and twinkling eyes, and suddenly decided to give him a HUGE Christmas morning experience that will last every day for the rest of his entire life! I'm so, so, SO happy for him - and deeply grateful!
He really hasn't had much time to play with it yet due to his work schedule. After hours, he has been helping me with the gardening, yard work, home repairs and getting the pool open for summer (man has it been hot these past few days!). But he's so funny - like a little kid, he just can't resist playing with his new toys. Almost every night, after all is said and done (even as late as 10:30 PM!), he has been setting up his new choo-choos and watching them go 'round and 'round the track. One of them even smokes, makes all the sounds, and has a conductor's voice hone in from time to time to shout out orders. It's so loud, it could wake up the whole neighborhood! LOL! But he doesn't care... he's having fun... SO much fun. My husband... Oh my gosh, he's just so happy.
Over the past few years we have been discussing and planning for his expanding HO scale set. NOW he has to figure out what to do with his O scale collection! LOL! All these years, I've asked him to please "finish" the basement for me for various reasons, but NOW he's actually GOING to do it - for his new trains, of course! The man has his priorities! LOL!
The funniest thing about all of this is, if my husband wasn't the most popular guy on the block because of his amazing train set already, this has definitely put him over the top! I swear, he has enough stuff now to open his own little train shop and museum! LOL! All our guy neighbors - old and young alike - are simply reeling over all of this. They all want to check out and play with his new toys, and quite a few are even talking about setting up their own train sets as well. Our next door neighbor has even asked my husband to keep his eyes peeled for a "garden set" to run throughout his yard! LOL! Too funny. Usually you see neighbors competing over Christmas decorations, but in our neighborhood, that just might become a thing of the past. At this rate, OUR neighborhood just might become famous as the choo-choo competition capital of the world! I can just imagine people piling in from all over for a "Holiday Tour of Trains!" LOL!
Well... I just had to share the joy with all of you! Like I said, I'm just so thrilled for my husband. He works so hard and does so many selfless, good, kind, generous and thoughtful things for so many people without even batting an eye. I can't think of a better man to receive such a wonderful gift. God is good. It makes me giggle to see the little boy in him living out his dreams! Our many thanks to the Lord for such a wonderful blessing. I haven't seen my husband so excited and enthusiastic in such a long time. I'm just so, so happy for him. God bless the wonderful gentleman who has so generously blessed him with this amazing gift. I hope he really will get the basement finished and his train set up in time for the holidays. When he does, I'll definitely post pictures for all of you to see!!! I'll have virtual cookies and cider waiting for you, too!! :)
Hugs -
Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
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| 17 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| FieldsofThyme |
Posted - May 08 2012 : 04:11:34 AM
Amazing!!
Farmgirl #800
http://pioneerwomanatheart.blogspot.com/
http://scrapreusedandrecycledartprojects.blogspot.com/
From my hands: http://pioneerpatchworkhomespun.blogspot.com/
From my Camera: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pioneerwomanatheart/
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| jan49829 |
Posted - May 07 2012 : 6:50:13 PM
How delightful!!!! It is so wonderful!!!! I love the carnival rides, and those houses are great. Must have a fortune into that one himself. He should be proud of himself.
Janet
Farmgirl Sister #3340
http://hardatworkcrafts.blogspot.com
http://Jan49829.etsy.com
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| Penny Wise |
Posted - May 07 2012 : 5:03:01 PM
absolutely awesome! before my parents divorced, my dad had a wonderful set in out basement and i remember helping build houses, etc...we had little "pills" that we would drop in the smoke stack to make steam engines!
thank you for sharing all of this wonder with us!!!!
Farmgirl # 2139
proud member of the Farmgirls of the Southwest Henhouse
~*~ counting my pennies and biding my time; my dreams are adding up!~*~ |
| nubidane |
Posted - May 07 2012 : 4:28:45 PM
Oh Nini!!!!!!
That my dear is simply magical! I want to move into that town! |
| rough start farmgirl |
Posted - May 07 2012 : 4:13:48 PM
Truly awesome. I really enjoyed your sharing this. Please let your husband know how much I admire his work and talent. I am sure everyone who gets to see this in person has a huge smile on their face!
marianne |
| Ninibini |
Posted - May 07 2012 : 4:04:35 PM
Awww... thanks, Marly! :) It's his pride and joy... uh... er... after his son, that is! I love that the whole thing lights up... You see the baseball field? He actually made a field light for it out of Christmas tree lights. You can't tell by the picture, but it makes everyone "oooo" and "aaaah" when it's lit up - it looks like the real deal! :) The entire carnival works, too. And our house is my favorite - it's pretty exact. He's a pretty amazing guy - very creative! :) But, as you can see, it's really outgrowing its room. He will probably move it to another bigger attic room next winter, after, of course, he finishes the basement and gets his O scale set up and running! :)
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
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| Bear5 |
Posted - May 07 2012 : 2:53:41 PM
NINI!!!! I am overwhelmed at the pictures!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wow!!!!!!!!! So beautiful. This should be in some kind of magazine. Breath-taking. Thank you so much for sharing. What a wonderful job your hubby has done. Bravo to him.
Marly
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." Elisabeth Kurler-Ross |
| Ninibini |
Posted - May 07 2012 : 2:30:15 PM
Okay... Here you go! Here are pics of my hubby's HO set. Please ignore any dust or disarray - until adding his new buildings, he hasn't had much time to play with it since January. The really nice, newer looking buildings are the ones this kind gentleman gave him. They're not the best pictures, but I tried to get some of the special buildings. The bright red house is ours - my husband designed and created it all himself, right down to the pool and deck in the backyard and stained glass in the windows (color needs to be toned down a bit). He also hand painted every figure on the set! Enjoy!
What can I say? It makes him happy, keeps him out of trouble, and wins him brownie points with everyone who enjoys it! It's a good thing! :)
- Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
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| Ninibini |
Posted - May 07 2012 : 11:26:22 AM
Oh! I'm so glad you all are as excited about this as I am! It really is one of those "pinch yourself this cannot be happening" things! LOL!
The only pics I have of his current train set are from a couple of years ago - they just won't do. So, when he gets home from work, we'll take some new snapshots to post for all of you - hopefully later tonight! As far as the new set, though, most of it is still in boxes or dismantled in my garage. He did put a few of the new buildings on his current set, though, so we'll be able to share some of the new stuff with you! When he gets his new set put together, I'll definitely post those for you, too - it just may take a little while! :)
Hey - and PLEASE: I'd love to see YOUR train collections, too! Woo Woo!!!! ;)
Hugs -
Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
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| laurentany |
Posted - May 06 2012 : 6:04:05 PM
Nini-
What a wonderful, sweet "real life" story to read/hear. I echo what Marly said- it warms the heart to hear of such a sense of community, respect and sharing.
Thank you for sharing, and please do post some pictures when you can.
Hugs,
~Laurie
"Little Hen House on the Island"
Farmgirl Sister#1403
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.. |
| prariehawk |
Posted - May 06 2012 : 5:49:56 PM
That is really neat that this man found a home for his trains and it was YOU! I remember a local bank had a train lay-out in its lobby when I was young. And I used to play on a real train (it was stationary) at a park as a kid. Trains are just so cool--and so American. It used to be the only way to cross the continent. I know a man who has outdoor trains that run around his gardens. I've always been fascinated with miniatures. Hope your husband enjoys his new toy!
Cindy
"Vast floods can't quench love, no matter what love did/ Rivers can't drown love, no matter where love's hid"--Sinead O'Connor
"In many ways, you don't just live in the country, it lives inside you"--Ellen Eilers
Visit my blog at http://www.farmerinthebelle.blogspot.com/ |
| nubidane |
Posted - May 06 2012 : 5:02:23 PM
Nini
That is a wonderful tribute to humanity on a Sunday. What a sweet blessing.
Of course, tell hubs we farmgirls need pics, & IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE PERFECT!
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| FieldsofThyme |
Posted - May 06 2012 : 3:26:12 PM
What a joyous post Nini. So happy for all of you.
Farmgirl #800
http://pioneerwomanatheart.blogspot.com/
http://scrapreusedandrecycledartprojects.blogspot.com/
From my hands: http://pioneerpatchworkhomespun.blogspot.com/
From my Camera: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pioneerwomanatheart/
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| jan49829 |
Posted - May 06 2012 : 1:42:57 PM
Nini, that is wonderful!!! I used to belong to the train club here, the only woman club member, but I had to quit when I got so ill, and now that we have moved a few years ago, I do not have my 3 train sets anymore, but I do know that a train lover is a true lover of that hobby. I would love to see pictures. Sounds like a gift of a lifetime, for sure. Good for your hubby!!!!!
Janet
Farmgirl Sister #3340
http://hardatworkcrafts.blogspot.com
http://Jan49829.etsy.com
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| Bear5 |
Posted - May 06 2012 : 12:19:23 PM
Thanks, Annika. It really nothing. Just too many irons in the fire. I know things will settle down, but I'm impatient.
Marly
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." Elisabeth Kurler-Ross |
| Annika |
Posted - May 06 2012 : 12:08:57 PM
Oh Nini! I love trains! What a wonderful gift to all of you! When I was a little girl I asked for a train set every single birthday and Christmas but my family wanted me to be less of a tomboy so I got dolls instead =p. I would love to see photos if you are ever so inclined to share some =) Thank you for such a lovely story <3!
Marly, what ever you are going through, I am sending a big sister hug to you!
Hugs all!
Annika
Farmgirl & sister #13
http://thegimpyfarmgirl.blogspot.com/
http://pinterest.com/annikaloveshats/
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| Bear5 |
Posted - May 06 2012 : 10:08:53 AM
Nini, first let me say: I needed to read/hear the kind of words you shared with us today. I have been trying to find my center and to calm down my soul. You have done that for me with this lovely, wonderful, heartfelt real story. Thank you. To be given such a wonderful gift, for your husband to offer to help the couple before their move, to read such praise and respect for a husband. to think of the children and the neighborhood enjoying the trains; how wonderful! You have painted us such a great picture here. I can't wait to see pictures. And- I do think a museum would be wonderful. Hugs.
Marly
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." Elisabeth Kurler-Ross |
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