Christmas Trees....

 

 And The Nativity....

I Don't know about you, Dear Readers, but with Christmas falling on a Saturday this year, it somehow feels to me as though there aren't enough weekends before Christmas to get "everything" done! So I have been rushing around trying to make sure the Christmas Trees are all decorated in time. Over in the Lovely Old Dollhouse, Charles has managed to put up the "same old tree" in the same old corner of the living room. He knows what he is doing after all these years so it looks just as good as always. There was a brief moment of panic when the lights did not turn on right away...! But with a little jiggling of the wires and plug connections the lights flickered to life! Ahhh...! It is always such a satisfying thing to see the Tree lit with those beautiful lights!

Helen is so relieved that the lights still work!

 It would be terrible if they had to try to buy new

 ones with so little time left!

And shopping is still a "risky" thing... 

so ... she is very relieved!

"It looks wonderful, Darling," she says to Charles.

 

 

"I always feel so peaceful once the tree is up." she added.

"Now we are ready!"

 

And In the Shabby Sister House, 

Sally May and Chip have put up the Silver Glitter tree

 in the same corner of their living room. 

But Blanche and Ernie, Chip's parents, are the ones 

spending most of their time gazing at the beautiful lights.

Sally May is too busy baking for Christmas

 and Chip and Annabelle are "helping" her in the kitchen.

 

"Let me help you, sweetie," 

says Chip, reaching for a cupcake.

"I'll tell you if it needs anything...." he adds.

"Can I have one too?" asks Annabelle.

"Okay, just one...." says Sally May.

"But you have to eat all your supper too!" she added.

 

And the Cloud Palace gang had put up the Silver Tinsel Tree.... 

yes, it is also in the same place as always!

 

 All the Beareys had gathered around to see the beautiful tree!

Alas, nothing new had been added this year.... 

and there was even a suggestion that the lights

 were not at their brightest....!

 

 

"Nonsense," said Blue.

 "It is just that the sun has not gone down yet!

 They will shine perfectly at night!"

(Sir Orion thinks he will check on the batteries later!)

 

But meanwhile, back at the Lovely Old Dollhouse, Dear Readers,

 Pollyanna has been reminded that the Nativity has not been set up yet! 

"How could I forget...?" she wondered.

It didn't take long to put all the familiar figures

 into their accustomed places.

"Doesn't that look lovely?" she asks.

"Do you think the camel should go with the Donkey?" asks Charles.

"Well, he never seems to fit

 on the side with the Kings..." replied Pollyanna.

"Maybe the cow would be happier with the donkey..." suggested Charles.

"Well, I suppose we could give it a try..." says Pollyanna,

 moving the cow and the camel.

"But it means the cow is not showing her best side...." she adds.

"And the camel is looking a bit lost way back in the corner...." she says.

"But at least he is with the Kings.." said Charles decisively.

"Well, that settles it! " said Pollyanna happily.

(She was in no mood to argue with her Grandfather!)

Helen heaved a big sigh. 

"Now we really are ready!" she declared.

And I don't know about you, Dear Readers, 

but I am not yet ready for Christmas... but I am working on it!

The Annual Christmas Card will be late again...

As usual!

I hope you all are enjoying your Holiday preparations,

 whatever they are!

Ceiling Details....

 

 More Rocks...

You Might not have noticed, Dear Readers, but I have always felt the the arched ceiling "ribs" of the Castle Great Hall Ceiling were too skinny to adequately support such a vast ceiling! It has always been my intention to make them more robust, but the method of doing so has not always been clear. As I have worked on all the other parts of the Castle that needed strengthening, I have figured out the method I should use. I would just cut a whole bunch of those little "rocks" and apply them along each side of the existing arches! The problem being that the stores are having difficulty stocking the wood I had been using (a Pandemic problem, it seems) and so I had to use a slightly different stock. In any case, when I was originally painting the ceiling, I forgot to leave all the edges with an unpainted border that would get covered in the end, so in some places the rocks do intrude on the paintings! (But who is going to notice this except me?) Above you can see the very beginnings of adding these "rocks". I started in the center for symmetry's sake, and because the way the rocks need to be fitted at the ends where they meet the wall is going to be complicated.

Here you can see even closer, where the "rock" covers

 the top of the head of that angel who is peeking in through the gap....

But since the idea is that they are peeking in through a gap... 

they don't mind being partly covered!

Here you can see that I am leaving the very bottom ends

 without the "rocks" until I can fit them while the ceiling

 is in place in the Great Hall....

Like this!

The bottom ends on the front section are even less finished

 because the front wall connection is only partly designed...

and still could be changed.

Here is a slightly closer view of the ends where they join the wall...

I will fit them very carefully!

These strengthening "rocks" also needed to be added along

 the edges of the ceiling where it meets the end walls.

And in order to get them to be positioned correctly, 

the ceiling needed to be in place while gluing them.

This meant that I needed to get the arched sections of the ceiling

 to curve properly before I could add the "rocks".

(This has been a complicated process!)

And once all those "rocks" were added, Dear Readers, 

the "ribs" all needed to be repainted!

Because I had already painted the "darker" edging

 of all those new rocks where they abut the ceiling,

 I didn't need to worry about getting paint on the ceiling part.

Only the old part of the ribs needed repainting.

And because all those new "rocks" were so symmetrical,

 I could easily repaint the ribs with an alternating "stone"

 pattern of dark and light stone...

creating a wonderfully dramatic effect!

(If you can see it in that dark old Great Hall....)

Above it is mostly painted.

Here you can see it from a slightly different angle.

I also needed to repaint the end wall "arches" 

so they would match the vaulted ribs.

(Sorry for the dark photo...)

This is testing it in place before I painted the grout lines...

That very necessary step!

Starting the process.... slow and steady...

And on the end wall arches too.... 

partly done so you can see the difference it makes!

And here we are testing it in place again with the grout lines done!

You can also see I have fitted the end "rocks" 

where the ribs join the back wall.

The front wall ones are still not finished.

That wall is a whole other chapter still to construct!

 

And now, Dear Readers,

 after adding all those "rock" details

 I think the ribs finally look strong enough

 to hold up this ceiling!

Progress....

 

 The Saints Again...

I had some Extra time off from work last week, Dear Readers, and was able to give the Saints my undivided attention for a couple of days! Above you can see the last two on the front half of the ceiling looking just as they have been for years. They both looked "almost" done, but in fact needed a great deal of work. I began with Luke because I was copying him from a Medieval original, and therefore it was easier to know what was needed. His paintbrush, the portrait of Mary he is painting, his robe, his halo, all needed work. The most obvious part was his arm which holds the picture frame, it was not bending in a natural enough manner... so I started there....

 

In order to make the wrist and arm align in a more natural way, I had to shift the outer edge of his "stole" so it fell closer to his body.

Then I repainted the robe and elbow. Of course, I neglected to take a lot of pictures.

Here you can see I have started to paint the floor under Bridget's feet.

I felt she needed to be better "grounded".

There had always been a need to make Bridget look more "medieval".

 She was one of the Saints that had no original painting to copy.

Even though she looks lovely as she is, 

I needed to make changes to her face in particular.

 

I changed the shape of her head covering and added heavier outlines.

One of the things to remember is that these paintings

 are hard to see in place... subtlety is lost completely! 

But meanwhile, I had also added more details to the other Saints...

Saint Lucia and Saint Nicholas still had many details to complete.

I got carried away with embellishing the floors...

I indulged my love of patterns.

Not that you can really see it when it is in place... 

but I will know it is there!

And the ground under Saint Cecilia

 also needed some softening with details...

So I painted blossoms...

Which you can see here.

And along the way I also completed Saint Nicholas' Croizier,

 and added layers to the Hunters in the border.

And I suppose you want to see it in place in the Castle Great Hall...

 

 It is really difficult, even with the flash,

 to get a picture of the entire ceiling in place!

At least this one sort of shows the floor details!

Well, Dear Readers, I made a lot of Progress

 painting the Saints.

And they might even be nearly Finished!

Talking Turkey....

 

 

 Thanksgiving At Last...

I Hope you are not surprised, Dear Readers, to learn that Sally May is thinking about Thanksgiving dinner. She is determined to gather with her loved ones this year, and she has been baking pies. "The pies are almost done, Annabelle," she says, "and as soon as they cool enough we will go over to see Gramma and Grampa and Great-grandma and Great-grandpa and have a feast!"

 

 Everyone in her immediate family was vaccinated, so it should be safe enough to get together. Well, almost everybody, she reminded herself. Annabelle was too young to get the vaccine. And her in-laws, Chip's parents had refused to be vaccinated. Yes, they are that sort of independent crusty old New Englanders. And I hope you will not be too surprised to learn that Chip was not entirely sure they should go. He wasn't sure his folks would be welcome, and didn't want to leave them home by themselves.

"Are you sure about this, Hon?" he asks Sally May,

 (not for the first time!)

"Darling," said Sally May in her sweetest voice, "we've been over this already.

You know what I think , and why. I'm not changing my mind."

"Even if my folks can't come too?" he asked.

"Whether your Folks come or not is up to them." said Sally May bluntly.

"Just like whether or not to get the vaccine is up to them." 

she added with just a touch of annoyance.

"I am taking Annabelle to Feast with her other relatives,

 and I hope you will come too." she said quietly.

 

Meanwhile, over at The Lovely Old Dollhouse, 

Joanna has learned that Chip's parents are not vaccinated

 and she is sharing this news with Helen and Charles.

"It seems that they refuse to get the vaccine!" declared Joanna.

 

 

"Sally May says she is not sure if they will come to dinner," she added.

 

"Well," said Helen, cautiously, "We have all been vaccinated... 

so it shouldn't matter to us. Should it?" she added uncertainly.

"Well," said Charles, "The medical advice is

 to be careful even if you have been vaccinated! 

But, I think it is unlikely that we would

 catch the covid virus from them..." he added hopefully.

"We will only be together for a short while."

"And they have been careful."

 

And way up in the attic of The Lovely Old Dollhouse, 

Arthur and Pollyanna have been doing their favorite thing.

 Some call it hanging out while being creative,

 and some call it hiding from the Family.

"I think we will need to go downstairs soon," said Arthur. 

"I hear the dogs barking. Somebody must have arrived" he added.

"And I should be helping with the dinner," added Pollyanna,

 even though cooking was not her favorite activity.

 

Sure enough, the barking dogs heralded the arrival of the Pies!

 

"Goodness!" declared Joanna. "Those pies look wonderful!"

"Bring them on in here!" she added.

 

"I see the main course is here!" declared Victor, laughing!

"They look fabulous, Sweetie" he said to Sally May.

"I'm ready to start eating..." he chuckled.

 

 "You're just in time to help us with peeling

 the squash and potatoes!" said Joanna cheerfully,

 indicating a large basket full of vegetables.

"Uh, sure..." said Chip cautiously,

 "Let me just go greet the 'Grands' first" he added, 

and made his getaway.

 

"I hear your folks didn't get vaccinated!" said Helen right away.

"Will they come to dinner anyway?" she added.

"Well," said Chip, feeling a little defensive, 

"I think they'll come just for the meal. 

They won't stay too long." he added.

"Well, I'm just glad you got the vaccine!" declared Helen. 

"That's one less thing to worry about!"

 

 "I am so glad you came!" said Joanna to Sally May and Annabelle.

"We just don't get to see enough of you!"

"And here's Pollyanna, just in time!" Joanna cried.

"It feels just like old times... I have both my girls here!"

"It does seem so strange" said Pollyanna, 

"to be so near and yet spend so little time together!"

It didn't take Arthur long to join the folks in the Living Room.

Helen was enjoying all the attention of

 her Son-in-law and Grandsons-in-law!

The time flew by and before anybody knew it,

  Pollyanna was calling them to come eat!

Sally May and Joanna spread the food on the table.

They would have to eat buffet style... 

there wasn't room for everybody around the one table.

"Do we have everything...?" asks Joanna.

"I do hope Chip's folks get here soon.." said Sally May. 

"I will feel awful if they don't come after all!" she added.

"Well," said Joanna, "It's up to them. So don't feel badly."

 "I'm just so grateful you are here!"

 she said smiling at her younger daughter.

"And here comes the crowd!"

"Oh, My!" declared Helen, leaning close. 

"That has to be the biggest and best Turkey ever!"

"Do you see it Charles?" she added. 

"I don't think we've ever had such a grand turkey before!"

"Great job, Ladies!" Charles replied enthusiastically.

"You've outdone yourselves this time!" he added.

 "We'll all be as fat and round as that Turkey

 before too much longer!" he said with glee.

Just then there was a sound of voices in the Hallway.

"Halooo there!" called Blanche. 

"Anybody here...?" she added hopefully.

Chip came to greet them.

"Did we miss anything..?" asked Blanche.

"I hope we're not too late for the Turkey! declared Ernie.

"Nah, you're right on time!" said Chip.

"Come on in!" he added.

"Come right on in!" said Victor, making room.

"Now we're all here!" said Helen with relief.

"Let's get started" she added. 

"I am So Thankful for all this food!" she declared.

"I am Thankful we have such talented Cooks in the family!" declared Charles.

"I am Thankful we have a Turkey to eat" said Arthur.

"I am Thankful my sister loves to cook!" said Pollyanna smiling at Sally May.

"I am thankful we are all here and healthy!" said Joanna.

"I am Thankful we are hungry, but not too hungry!" declared Victor.

"I am Thankful we have roofs over our heads." said Ernie.

"I am Thankful our son married such a 

wonderful Family!" said Blanche, blushing a little.

"I am Thankful for my wonderful Family" said Chip, feeling very self-conscious.

"I am Thankful," said Sally May... spreading her hands with no words.

"I am thankful for Everybody!" shouted Annabelle excitedly.

"Can we eat now?" she asked.

Everybody laughed and Ernie said "Amen!"

And Victor sliced the Turkey...

Well, Dear Readers, I hope you are all

 enjoying a wonderful Thanksgiving Feast
 if you celebrate the Holiday.

And if you don't celebrate the Holiday, 

I hope you have much to be Thankful For

 and find time to give Thanks!

Happy Thanksgiving!