The Nativity....

 

 Lest We Forget....

Is it Already Almost Christmas, Dear Readers? How does the Time pass so quickly and at the same time seem to crawl along? Well, I suppose that is a question that always stumps the Philosophers themselves, so we are unlikely to find a good reason on our own! But never mind, however the Time passes, Pass it does, and here we are almost late to set up the Nativities! Pollyanna has declared it time for the Holy Family to find their way to the Lowly Inn that has no room left to host them and hence they must bide with the beasts themselves in the stables. At least that was a roof over their heads and straw at their feet rather than nothing but Stars and wind above and rocks underfoot. They were grateful for somewhere sheltered to lay their heads.

 

"I think this is ready" said Pollyanna at last.

 She had moved and shuffled the characters into

 several arrangements before settling on this one. 

(There is always the concern of the best placement for the camel!) 

Oh, can't you see the camel...? 

He is over in the back behind Mary....

 

Can you see his nose sticking out 

from behind Mary... way in the back......? 

No?

 (I'm not sure we should tell Pollyanna....!)

 

"I think it looks perfect, my dear!" said Charles happily.

 (He can see the camel from where he stands...)

"Now we are truly ready for Christmas whether it snows or not!" he declared.

 

Yes, I think it looks right, thought Pollyanna....

wondering idly why there was no stable with this creche. 

Would it make the pieces easier to place if there was one she wondered?

 

Just then Arthur showed up to check on how the arranging was going...

 "Looks good, Hon" he said, "But where's the camel...?" he added

 

"Can't you see him?" asked Pollyanna, surprised.

 "He's right over there behind Mary.... 

with the Kings which only makes sense..." she added."

 

"Oh, sure, I see him now", said Arthur peeking around Mary 

"but it looks a bit like he's hiding back there".... he added honestly. 

"Well, I can't put him in front of the Kings..." said Pollyanna, 

"that just doesn't look right... as if the camel is first in line....!" she declared.

"Ah, I do see what you mean," said Arthur diplomatically.

 

 

"But I have wondered why there is no stable with this creche..." said Pollyanna.

 "I wonder if it would make fitting the characters easier....?"

 "I think it would be lovely to have a stable again..." said Helen wistfully.

"There was one originally but it was a bit fragile

 and fell apart... I can't remember how long ago!" 

 

Pollyanna glanced over at Arthur and could see 

he was thinking the same thing she was... 

"We could build something...." he said quietly... 

"not for this year.... but maybe by next year...?" 

'Pollyanna just smiled her happiest smile...! 

 

Meanwhile, Dear Readers, over at The Folly Dollhouse

 there are no such questions and no such discussions.

 There is no need for them at all.

 Will and Gabrielle are in Perfect Agreement every year

 that the tiny Nativity goes in the window 

of the Living Room just as it always has!

 

Yes, it is already evening (since it arrives so early these days) 

but they are enjoying their coffee and bread and cheese 

by the light of the fire and the little glowing ceramic Christmas Tree.

 There is nothing to argue about, 

the Holy Family alone with the angel above... 

anything more is superfluous and distracting even! 

This is Christmas at it's most elemental. 

Family, shelter and Blessings from above!

 

Who need ask for more?

 

Well, Dear Readers, I hope that as the Day approaches 

you are able to celebrate with Family and loved ones.

 And that whatever Holiday you celebrate, 

that you have shelter and Blessings from above!

 

Happy Holidays To All! 

 

 

 

And The Nativity....

 

You Know How It Goes...

Well, Dear Readers, I don't know where the Time has flown off to, but here we are suddenly almost at Christmas... and I am never quite ready! When last we peeked into The Folly Living Room to see Gabrielle's new Lighted Tree, it was too gloomy and dark to be able to see the Nativity she had set up in the window sill. It is much brighter today, but still a little dark for photos... but never mind... we have seen it before, this simple gathering of Mary Joseph and the Child with an Angel hovering overhead. It is just perfect in it's simplicity.... for who else was there when the babe was born that Dark midwinter night? And even though we have not Quite arrived to that moment this year... we still can treasure the Story we know so well. And if you were passing by from outside in that Wintry Wonderland, you could just spot it if you glanced the right way...

along with the glowing fire in the hearth and Gabrielle's little tree!

 

And Meanwhile, over at The Lovely Old Dollhouse,

 Pollyanna has remembered to set up the family Nativity

 in it's spot on the sideboard in the living room.

 

As we know, it is always

 a little bit of a Last Minute Thing...

After all, Mary could not predict

 when exactly the babe would arrive.

And Pollyanna would not have her sitting

 waiting week after week...!

And suddenly it is here... 

Time draws short....

all the players have been assembled...

"It looks lovely as always, Dear" says Helen happily.

"I think it looks so peaceful...." added Charles.

 

"Hmmm...." said Pollyanna, not quite sure she agreed.

"I am not sure the camel should be over here..." she added,

pointing to the right side of the arrangement.

"But it never seems to fit on the other side with the Kings...!"

 

"Well..." said Helen..."maybe the Kings and the Camel

 should just arrive later.... they didn't actually arrive

 until Twelve days later, after all!" she added.

 

Just then Arthur looked into the room...

"Ah, I see you have assembled the Nativity!" he said.

 

"But.... " said Pollyanna... 

"I am just not sure the camel should sit over here... 

when the Kings are all over there..." she said

 pointing to the other end of the sideboard.

"Ah.... I see what you mean...." said Arthur diplomatically.

 

 

"Perhaps he is just happier over here 

with the other ruminants?" he added tactfully.

"Well.... I suppose there is that...." 

said Pollyanna thoughtfully.

 "I still think it looks so peaceful as it is..." declared Charles!

"Well..." said Pollyanna... 

"I suppose it will have to do!"

"We can't, after all... actually ask the camel...!" she muttered.

 

 

"But I do think he looks happy over here..." 

she added, smiling at Arthur.

 

Well, Dear Readers, You know how it goes...

The Nativity is always a last minute thing...  

and the camel is notoriously difficult to order about...

But the Eve will come and the Babe will be born

 and the World keeps spinning on!

 

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate and 

Happy Holidays to those who celebrate other traditions.

 

(And I could almost swear I saw the camel wink at Arthur!)

Oh, Yes.....

 

 The Nativity....

It is That Time of year, Dear Readers, when we are all so busy running around with last minute everything, that we almost forget to set up the Nativity! But Pollyanna remembered at last and has just set out all the Traditional figurines in the usual spot, the sideboard in The Lovely Old Dollhouse living room. She thinks she has got it right this time and is admiring the arrangement.

Arthur has come to see how the arrangement is progressing.

"What do you think?" asks Pollyanna.

"It looks great, Hon" says Arthur, 

"but I don't see the camel!" he added.

(The camel is always a subject of confusion!)

 

 

"I put him over there," said Pollyanna, "behind the Kings."

"Ah!" said Arthur. "Good choice!"

 

"As long as he's with the Kings, I'm happy!" exclaimed Charles.

"The Kings don't actually arrive until later anyway," said Helen...

 "I don't know why they should be included so soon..."

 she added thoughtfully.

"Well, I can't think where else we could put them," said Pollyanna.... 

"and then we might forget to add them later..." she added.

"I think it looks just right" Dear, said Charles.

 "And this way nobody has to remember about later!" he declared.

"Then it's settled!" said Pollyanna.

"Heaven knows, we can't have Christmas

 without the Creche!" she added.

And in case you were wondering, Dear Readers,

 Gabrielle and Will have set up the small Nativity

 over at The Folly too!

They are happily sharing a snack by the Fire

 on this cold First day of Winter!

And because it is impossible to get close enough

 to photograph from inside the room.... 

(my messy workroom!)

We can only get a glimpse of it from outside the window!

But now you will know it is there!

 

And I hope, Dear Readers, that you are all enjoying

 your last minute preparations, whatever they are,

And that you don't forget The Nativity.

Because Heaven knows,

 It would not be Christmas without The Nativity!

 

 

 

The Nativity.....

Oh! The Nativities....!

I Hope you will Understand, Dear Readers, when I tell you that I almost forgot to set up the Nativities in the mini houses! It has been that sort of Year... Season.... Month....Week....Not enough time for everything on the list! But I hurried around and Found the little pieces and reminded Pollyanna, because she really likes to set up the creche in the Lovely Old Dollhouse. She thinks the pieces are all where they belong...and as usual, she can't remember if the Camel goes on this side or that..., but no matter which it looks lovely and always inspires that deep feeling of Reverence. There is the Baby in his manger..... (I know he seems to have arrived a day too early!)... but there he is! And the Angel is singing Gloria! And the shepherd is looking on...

Oh, and Arthur has come to look too....!

"Isn't it lovely...?" asks Pollyanna.

"Very lovely," he says, not even looking at the Creche...

(Because he thinks his Wife is lovely...)

"Oh, you mean the creche...?" he adds with a smile.

"I think the sheep is too far back... " he adds

 as he pulled the sheep forward.

"There. Like that!"

 

"That does look better" agrees Pollyanna, smiling back.

Meanwhile, over at The Folly, 

Will has set up the tiny Nativity in the window.

It is getting dark and is really hard to see...

The lights are not on in The Folly....

But there.... the light is shining on the baby in his manger...!

And the Angel is singing Allelulia!

I am afraid Will and Gabrielle are not paying attention.... 

to anything but each other.

(They might be a match made in Heaven...!)

 

Back at The Lovely Old Dollhouse

Victor and Joanna are getting out the cookies...

And the Gingerbread too!

"Do we have to share the Gingerbread....?" asks Victor.

(His Wife is thinking the same thing...!)

Helen and Charles have been enjoying the Setting up of the Nativity....

Every year it is different... but the same...

 which gives them Great comfort.

"It looks perfect from here..." says Helen.

"I lost track of Time...." explains Pollyanna.

"I almost forgot to set them up in time!"

"But now we're ready!" she declared.

Well, Dear Readers, I hope you are ready....

 it is almost Time!

May you all have a Wonderful Holiday.... 

and may you Not forget the Nativity!