Christmastide 2021/2022 - 10th Day of Christmas: Mom's Manger Scene

 Monday, January 3, 2022

Mom texted me this picture of her manger scene under her tree. She just bought a shepherd recently to add to it. 

Christmastide 2021/2022 - 6th Day of Christmas: Nesting Santas

 Thursday, December 30, 2021

Don't think I've displayed my nesting Santas for a couple of years and it's been even longer since I've opened them up. 

This one I have a hard time recalling where I got it although I think it may have been at the old Bibelot Shop. 

The nesting dolls upon which these are based are Russian in origin and are called Matryoshka. The following is from Wikipedia: "A set of matryoshkas consists of a wooden figure, which separates at the middle, top from bottom, to reveal a smaller figure of the same sort inside, which has, in turn, another figure inside of it, and so on."

Also from Wikipedia: "The first Russian nested doll set was made in 1890 by wood turning craftsman and wood carver Vasily Zvyozdochkin from a design by Sergey Malyutin, who was a folk crafts painter at Abramtsevo. Traditionally the outer layer is a woman, dressed in a sarafan, a long and shapeless traditional Russian peasant jumper dress. The figures inside may be of any gender; the smallest, innermost doll is typically a baby turned from a single piece of wood. Much of the artistry is in the painting of each doll, which can be very elaborate. The dolls often follow a theme; the themes may vary, from fairy tale characters to Soviet leaders. In the west, matryoshka dolls are often referred to as babushka dolls, babushka meaning "grandmother" or "old woman"." [Note: The above two photos are from Wikipedia.]

Recently I heard that the Unicode Consortium approved a Russian doll emoji in 2020. I typed in "nesting doll" in a text message to Dale and what you see in the above screenshot is what I got. 

Type in Matryoshka and you'll get the same thing. 

Christmastide 2021/2022 - 5th Day of Christmas: Finishing Up the Tree

 Wednesday, December 29, 2021

Today I finally got the star on the tree.

Also got the skirt under the tree and drank a little egg nog. 

Christmastide 2021/2022 - 4th Day of Christmas

 Tuesday, December 28, 2021

I put some finishing touches on the tree. Now I just need the star and to figure out where I stored the tree skirt last year. Maybe I'll have it all ready by New Year's Eve. 

Also got the angel display set up. According to something I found in House Beautiful magazine it's common to find an abundance of angels in German homes at Christmas. Sometimes they're on the tree but they're also displayed on sideboards. When I started this collection a number of years ago I didn't even know I was giving a nod to my German heritage. 

Christmastide 2021/2022 - 1st Day of Christmas: Adorable

Friday, December 25, 2021

What a cutie. The cat's not bad either. 

Christmastide 2021/2022 - Loving Pets

 Friday, December 24, 2021

Athena has been on my mind a lot the past few days. I'm missing her presence especially so due to the holiday. Alongside the sadness of missing Athena I'm feeling so much joy at the presence of Sylvester. This little one has really worked his way into my heart since he's been with us. Glad you're here, Sylvester. 

Christmastide 2021/2022 - The Curious Christmas Cat on Christmas Eve Day

Friday, December 4, 2021

No

No!

NO!

Okay fine. Just don't knock anything over.

Christmastide 2021/2022 - Kalle Anke

 Friday, December 24, 2021

The service we attended this afternoon was quiet short. It only lasted about 50 minutes and we were home not too long after 5:00. It was still somewhat light when we pulled into our driveway. Time for Kalle Anke! This year we watched Mickey's Christmas Carol.

Christmastide 2021/2022 - Christmas Eve Service

 Friday, December 24, 2021

Can't believe it was two years ago we went to a Christmas Eve service. Covid got in the way. It's the first time I've been to any church service since then. 

We went to the 4 pm service at St. Luke's and St. James over on Colfax Avenue. Dale said this particular church has only been back in-person since this past October.

It was a sweet service with a Christmas pageant which made me remember all the Christmas Eve pageants at Gethsemane. I really miss the place. Dale and I both mentioned afterward that it was nice to be back in church.