What a fantastic idea, OA! Brilliant, actually. The large buttonhole in the tablecloth for access to the surge protector/outlets underneath is, too. I'd love to have something like that for our table. I'm going to show your picture to DH. Thanks!!!!!!!
Lynn

OA, this is brilliant! I wish I had known about this idea before I did my Blessings of Christmas table! I can't wait to show this to my husband.

Susan at Between Naps on the Porch did it.
Here's the link..

I don't have much of a collection of houses, and at this point don't plan on starting a new collection.
Hers looked beautiful though..I forget though, what about the backs of the houses, ?? Put the people you like best facing the fronts? LOL
Did you take a pic of yours, OA?

Here is a link that might be useful: Christmas houses as centerpiece

>>what about the backs of the houses, ??Looking closer it appears Susan used 2 sets of houses, a set facing one way and another set facing the other way. No one has to look at the back of the house. Very well thought out.
Kath
wishes she had a dining room

OA, I just dragged DH over to my PC to show him what you did. We both thought this was suich a brilliant idea.

As DH was looking at your picture, I could see all kinds of 'lightbulbs' going off in his head (as I looked at him). He said this is such a wonderful idea. He's thinking that he could make two sizes. One a full Leaf Size width... and the other he would only cut a piece wide enough to manage the hole to bring the wires through, and make it in the same manner as a full leaf insert.
Now, here's his question... once your wires are strung through the hole, where do you plug in to? Do you have a socket in the floor, or do you just run the wires along the floor to plug in?
We love this idea and are so happy you shared it here.
I would have loved to see one of your lighted centerpieces set up.
Thanks.

jane

I was joking, Kath..:)
I don't have nearly enough houses to do it...but I love how it looks!

I surely must have taken pictures, but I can't imagine where they are now. It was during the 35mm film era.

I do remember how I handled the back of the houses. I don't think my houses are as big as Susan's. I know they're not as wide. I use lots of trees in my set up, both evergreen and deciduous. I didn't put the houses directly back-to-back like she did and I didn't line them up side-by-side either. I remember having a little gap in the center where I put a very tall tree - sort of acting like the town square.

I am in the process of taking my village down today. I've removed the people and the trees and vacuumed up the snow. You can see how the houses are a little askew and on different levels (foam insulation).

{{gwi:1404269}}

The framed pictures that you see on the wall were obscured by evergreen trees that I shoved back of the houses. I used trees in front as well, but not as densely, of course. I covered up the back of the houses on the table in the same way, placing trees between the two rows of houses when I thought the cords showed. Remember, some parts of the backs are very interesting, so no need to cover it all up. If possible, add some street lights. I think they go along way to adding a bit of realism to the scene.

All the houses and street lights plug into the multi-socket surge protector that's mounted on the bottom side of the leaf. Then the surge protector plugs into an extension cord that runs along the underside of the table and down a table leg that is closest to a wall outlet. As for the outlet that supplies the electricity, I wish I had a clever answer, but I came up short. I wrestled and wrestled with how to hide the big fat extension cord. My friend has an outlet in the center of her dinning room floor. I've always thought that when I die and go to Heaven, God's going to give me a cloud with an outlet in the center of the floor. Oh dear, I'm wandering off topic.

OK. I'm back. Now, after trying to dream up some brilliant way to hide the cord, I couldn't come up with anything. So, I decided to play it up. The cord ran from the leg of the table to the wall, about 4 feet. I wrapped it up like a present. I took the roll from Christmas gift wrap (like the roll from toilet paper, only longer) and stuck the cord through it. Then I wrapped it up and tied it off with ribbon at both ends and just let it lie on the floor.

I do that same thing with the cord no matter what the theme is, as people must step over the cord to get to my buffet, and I don't want them to trip. I had it wrapped in black with silver ribbon this New Years.

I'm glad this has sparked some interest. Super idea concerning the two leaf sizes. Must say, I am a bit jealous of that one!

Thanks for all the helpful info OA.
I can understand how you would handle the backs of the houses by angeling them and using trees, etc.
The wires are the tricky part...You did come up with a clever idea though using the wrapping paper tube. I can see how that would work. My table is a distance from the socket..so I would have to work on that one. I am thinking about looking into those LED battery lights..they have different kinds. I'll have to do some research.
Funny, when we built this house, DH installed a floor socket in the FR floor. He did it right after we moved in, so I was SURE where I wanted it. He said 'it's now or never...so make up your mind where you want me to put it'... Now I'm thinking I could have had him do the DR too... lol
Anyway, I just love your idea, and am excited to do it .

Thanks again...

jane

I wonder if the little battery operated led lights wouldn't work ? Then there would be no ugly cords hanging down and you'd still have nice soft lights going down the center of the table. You could probably even hide the lights under a blanket of "snow" on the table or under "greenery".I was reading an article about a lady who makes gorgeous gingerbread houses and for her "shrubs,trees,etc.",she uses marshmallows,green food coloring and cornflakes.Very realistic looking.You could probably even hide lights under the shrubs. Or, maybe placing a nice large area rug under the table and running the extension cords up under the rug ?

Susan

I bought a set of those battery operated lights from QVC this year for a wreath at the end of the driveway. It is still working, so yes, I think they would work!

My dh made a small leaf for my nook table to fill the space when I pulled it completely open.
It gives me another 8 in for when there are more guests, but I don't want to use the dining room.
It helps.
He stained it to match, but I cover it with a tablecloth anyway.
Now I am thinking of looking for some of those houses to do a table next year. The ones I have are smallish!

If I remember correctly, Susan at Between Naps on the Porch said she just left one of the table sections slightly pulled apart so that an extension cord could fit through for the houses. You could always just use a fairly heavy weight rug over the portion of the cord from the table to the wall--or buy those cord covers like the ones used in businesses. She had allot of house so set them up back to back like a rectangle shape. I like OA's idea of using some trees and such in the middle too. And I really think using a power strip is a good idea if you're lighting several houses at one time. I think the houses make a wonderful centerpiece idea and am looking forward to seeing more of them. Luvs

I mentioned to OA about looking into those battery LED lights.
Kathleen, I saw them on QVC too and thought about those.
So now that you're saying you have them and they work fine, I think that's the route I'll take. DH also made a portable extension for our farm table that's off the kitchen and family room... I use it the same way Kathleen, when we don't want to use the DR....especially when the kids come over. I just use a tablecloth to cover it up too.

jane

Jane, I was leery of them, and they aren't cheap..but they remained lit ..haven't made my way down there in the ice to retrieve them. You just set the timer to how long you want them on.
Susan's lights look very bright..these are LED..so I don't know in comparison how they would look..but worth a try.

Some people even have those Easter villages too..

I kept a set handy in case I want to use them for a centerpiece or something. If I pack them away I will never find them!

Jane did you see those very thin fiber optic ones QVC had..they were adorable..but by they sold out before I could get to the computer to buy them.
They suggested them for centerpieces..very light..no pun intended! :)

I wonder how tall those houses are..you would have to be able to see over them if you used them down the middle of a table. They look large in the pic, but maybe it is just the angle of the camera.
I will ask Susan. The few that I have are low..but really only one is a Dept 56, which was a gift...
I just looked on line and even after Cmas they are still pricey..and then I would have to find room to store them...
I am talking myself out of it..but Jane, you already have them..so I will wait for you to do it! LOL

I did see the ones on QVC Kathleen. Did they have them on
'wait list' ? Some things they sell have that option if you miss it. It's then shipped out at a later date. I've done that, only if it's something I don't need right away.

I think the largest house DH has is about 9-10 inches, and not too high for a centerpiece.
There's a shop in the next town from us, that we go to every so often, that carries a huge selection of Dept 56.
DH likes to go there to see what's retired and gets it at a discount. They're not supposed to discount Dept 56 unless it's something retired.
This year, however, she had all Christmas Buildings and figures 50% off. We asked Why, because that's unusual. She said she's not going to carry it any longer because there's less and less interest. That was surprising...also we noticed that in Cape Cod too...the places there have cut back on their inventory. I guess the 'younger generation' are not into anything that's not 'electronic' !! lol
Kathleen, that would be nice to set up an Easter table with a few buildings and such...got me thinking about that.
I think if the lights are too bright, there's a way to disfuse them by adding gauze around them.

jane

If you do not want to go out and purchase bigger houses just elevate the center of the table with some 2 X 4's cut down to what ever length you want. Put them under the table cloth. Cover with cotton batting and put the houses on top. Then add the ebson salts, glitter, or faux snow. You can add an instant 4" to the height. This will give the terrain some varience.

OA, this is quite the tread and I bought DGD a few houses this year so it will be fun to set them out next year for her. I have a light up house that says the Night Before Christmas Story and it's electric too so your idea is great.

It may be worth ones time that likes to YS to watch for table leaves to use for this. Are all tables leaves pretty standard and would they interchange with other tables?

Susie do you or others use epsom salts for snow in your village set ups? I must of missed this if it's ever come up before.

Punk

I've enjoyed reading all the posts and Betty's fantastic idea. I noticed some of you mentioned the QVC lights, I'd just ordered a set last week! My BFF, who lives in Oklahoma and isn't on any Forums, has bought the QVC -pre-lit stuff for years and absolutely LOVES it. She has wreaths, garland, trees, holiday plants, etc. Its pricey but she swears its worth every penny. The lights are called Bethleham lights and the batteries last all season easily. You can set the timer to blinking or reg. The big wreath I made last year doesn't have lights on it, and where I hang it I can't run a cord to add lights. So that's why I broke and down and ordered a string of the Bethleham lights. They were on sale too, which helped.

hugs, K

What a fantastic idea! I'm going to adopt it! Thank, OA!

Jane, I'll go look and see if I can find them.
I will email you..
Amazing about the Dept 56..they are so pretty. Like I said I only have one, and it shines next to the other cheaper ones I bought.
I may try a table next year just for fun with what I have..It won't be like Susan's..
Susie, I do that now, put books, or slim boxes under the Buffalo Snow to make them at different levels.
Mine is a simple display compared to some, like our Jane here! Hers is a masterpiece!

I learned of the Epson Salts (as snow and ice) this year while reading a Blog. It is cheap and you can buy it in various sized boxes. I am not sure if it can be put directly on wood. I use a sheet of quilt batting and then add the crystals, glitter, salts, etc. on top. The salts looks really good in domed glass arrangements too.