The white orchid in my bedroom window has opened up its first bloom for 2nd Advent.
And on a small shelf on the wall in my study, I have set up this nativity scene as usual.
(I see it "at the corner of my eye" wheneven I'm using my computer.)
The original set consisted only of the stable, Jesus, Mary and Joseph, and thre three wise men. I have added the other other pieces later from different sources. The oldest one is the camel - I think I got that one in my early childhood from the same old ladies (cousins of my grandmother) who gave me the small nativity scene that I showed in a post last weekend.
Matthew 2 (NIV)
2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
- - -
9 ... and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
The orchis is beautiful! But I think my favorite is the gorgeous birch tree painting! I believe I have seen it before, but it was a long time ago. Maybe your mom painted it? But maybe I am remembering it all wrong, who knows at my age...
ReplyDeleteGinny, the picture is not a painting but a photo, taken by me. It's from the woods near my parents' house, which we sold in the autumn of 2014 - so before that.
DeleteYour nativity scene is beautiful and the shelf is an ideal way to display it. I love orchids too. One of mine has been blooming for a month, they are amazing. Yours is such an amazing pure white. I will mail your Christmas card tomorrow, the first one of the season.
ReplyDeleteThanks Terra. Setting up that nativity scene on that shelf for Christmas has been my tradition for as long as I've lived in this apartment, I think :)
DeleteWhat a lovely nativity scene, love the animals especially! Yay for blossoms in wintertime! Your orchid will stay in bloom for quite a while, I'd imagine.
ReplyDeleteBarbara, the two sheep + goat originally belonged in some set of farm animals, I think... ;)
DeleteYour nativity set, enriched piece by piece across a lifetime, feels like a quiet constellation of memories surrounding a story of wonder and guiding light.
ReplyDeleteRo, I do enjoy setting it up for a few weeks around Christmas each year.
DeleteThe orchid is stunning, and I love the figures in the nativity scene.
ReplyDeleteThanks Carol.
DeleteThe little nativity scene is touching, and I love it that you have "cobbled it together", so to speak - it captures the spirit of Christmas all the better for it.
ReplyDeleteHab einen schönen Zweiten Advent, liebe Monica!
Thanks Meike. I didn't come across and buy this set until well into adulthood, but I have enjoyed adding to it when I've found additional pieces that might fit.
DeleteI love the miniature nativity and mine is the same, pieces added here and there. the orchid is perfect
ReplyDeleteThanks Sandra. It wasn't until I re-arranged that window, setting up the electric candle-holder, that I discovered that the orchid had buds. It had stood hidden behind a curtain for a while...
DeleteThe orchid displayed perfect timing. Your Nativity scene is very evocative - it's good to have a reminder of the true spirit of Christmas.
ReplyDeleteJanice, I'm especially happy with timing of that orchid as I haven't been able to get to a florist shop. :)
ReplyDeleteSuch a pretty orchid, for some reason I can't grow them or Begonias but can grow pretty much everything else.
ReplyDeleteAmy, this orchid was last in bloom in January this year and then read somewhere to not cut off the flower stem when it was done but leave it... because it might produce more flowers later. So I followed that piece of advice - and evidently it paid off.
DeleteFamily traditions are to be savoured, we have many and I enjoy watching them evolve.
ReplyDeleteCK, Christmas is a time of year when one tends to at least get aware of and remember the family traditions - whether one follows them or not!
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