The Day After

Christmas is over and the gingerbread Candy Shoppe's busiest season is at its end. The kids had a ball eating all the sweet treats. Their parents are reminded of the day after Halloween -- the last time their kids had to be tethered to the ground so the kids wouldn't fly away on their sugar high.

The owners decorated the Shoppe in an extra special way this year. The theme? Candy Cane Christmas, of course!

The snowmen down at the pond were dressed in their finest red-and-white attire.

The "Rockefeller Center-sized Tree" was bedazzled with red and pink pompoms, and gifts wrapped in candy cane print paper.

Now, on Boxing Day, something is afoot! Customers have been spotted running down the sugar sidewalk with candy cane decorations over their shoulders!

Kids have scaled the tree to abscond with the glittery star! Is there looting afoot?

It certainly seems like this tot is trying to unwrap a present that's much bigger than he is.

Oh, dear! Or should I cry, "Hey Goat!" It looks like the fence came down at the neighbor's farm and the animals have escaped into Candyland. Look who hopped up onto the roof's ridgepole.

I suppose the goat wanted to lick the peppermint roof tiles above, just as the horse took a chunk out of the roof's eave.

The wooly sheep is sniffing at the Kiss bush by the front door

while Mr. Porky plopped his piggy bottom down and started chomping away.

Where are the adults? Aren't they paying attention? If the animals and kids have their way, the Candy Shoppe will be gone!

--

But oh. 

That just might be the plan. 

I see the owners down at the pond with businessmen in suits. It appears negotiations are in the works. Throughout December, rumors wafted through the air like steam off a cup of hot peppermint chocolate: the owners may be retiring in January. 

It appears to be the sad truth. The Candy Cane Christmas fun is, indeed, over.

But no fears. My eldest kid and I love to build these gingerbread scenes. 

2013: Gingerbread House

2014: Gingerbread Village

2015: The Gingerbread Train Station

2018: The Caroling Peanuts Gang 

This year Jeanne helped build the shoppe and landscape. Dale helped come up with the story and place the characters. We'll likely be back in the wintertime with another sticky adventure.