Tunnel at Bryce /  by Dave Hileman

Walking the trails at Bryce, or at least some of the trails, will take you through tunnels. This trail had three and one was curved. There are simply no other reasonable ways for the trails to be designed. They are very cool. 

Creche III /  by Dave Hileman

This one is from my family. I do not know who purchased it but it shows up in photos in our house in 1950 or 51. It is labeled "made in West Germany." That designation began in 1946, so post war. This one has had a minor repair too. It once had a foreground that folded up to make a sort of case but the hinge wore and the screws no longer would hold so I removed it. Also I had to make a new ear for the donkey and a new horn for the cow. (Who, of course, should not be there at all.) Once again, set design by Ellary Bee. 

Creche /  by Dave Hileman

Yesterday I posted a more modern interpretation of the birth story creche. It was purchased at a consignment store in Williamsburg a couple of years ago. I really like it but know nothing about it. There are no markings on the pieces. 

Not true of today's post. This was Cindy's since she was a little girl. It was a gift from her parents. We are not sure when the three Swiss shepherds, nearly giant status, arrived but we have had them for a long time. The shed has had some repair and we think baby Jesus arrived from another set. That is not a theological point. I really like the camel and his holder. This years' setting was by designer Ellary Bee - first time in decades I did not arrange the figures. Good job Ellary. 

Tree Facsimile /  by Dave Hileman

It is a real tree, as in it has weight and occupies space, it is just not a natural tree. We gave up on that a few years ago and I will admit this is less mess and quite nice to look at but no pine scent. It is already lite and it drops no needles. Also it does not tend to fall over or need water. I still miss the misshapen, too large or lopsided trees that we gathered. They were usually from Lowes, not some romantic trudging-through-the-snow to select and cut one from the forest. One year, okay more than one year, I had to secure the tree with some fishing line to keep it in place. But I liked the challenge. Perhaps from the two years I sold them at Glen's Custard stand when it was still in Cheswick, PA. 

Still this is a pretty neat touch to have up for three whole weeks without needed extra fire insurance. 

 

Family /  by Dave Hileman

This is the centerpiece Cindy arranged this year. It has a large glass plate that belonged to her Aunt B. She took care of Cindy after her parents died when Cindy was but eight. The three jello molds were from Cindy's mom. She has a bag of them and we even use them on rare occasions. The candle is on a small plate we gave my mother on her 90th birthday. The cloth was given to Cindy by a close friend's mother that reflects her Swedish heritage. So, bits and pieces of others and far away places find their way to our table at Christmas. And we value the memories they hold. 

Camping in the Tree /  by Dave Hileman

Our granddaughter, Ellary, saw the trailer ornament on the right in Michaels and "had to get it for granddad." So she did! Then a couple of days ago a package arrived from Florida containing the one on the left. It was from our friends, camping and otherwise, Janet and Rusty. (Who are also experts on Walmart overnights!) So I set them up on an appropriate background and... 

There will be a different photo in a few days. Stay tuned.

Day Six of Twelve /  by Dave Hileman

This is our newest Christmas tree ornament. (More about gift ornaments later.) It was given to us by a dear friend who is a history buff. It is one of a series by the White House Historical Association. Here is why it is a fire truck. "The ornament honors 31st U.S. President Herbert Hoover and is inspired by the fire engines that responded to the 1929 Christmas Eve fire at the White House and the toy trucks presented to children by the Hoovers the following Christmas." The next year President Hoover gave out toy fire trucks to the children. Thanks, Becky. 

Day Five of Twelve /  by Dave Hileman

This is a new photo of an old ornament. It and the snowman were purchased by my aunt who traveled in the early 1950's to Nova Scotia. It was a much more arduous trip back then in a 1951 Chevy. These were hand-carved and were sold by the side of the road. I don't know anything else about them but that they have endured for nearly 70 years and are hung up each Christmas.. 

"Remember the days of long ago; think about the generations past." Deuteronomy 32:7 NLT

Day Four of Twelve /  by Dave Hileman

This wreath is sans chill but includes cotton along with traditional elements. Cotton is grown just a bit south of WIlliamsburg on the other side of the James River toward Suffolk and Surry. It is cool to see the fields just before they have been picked on bright moonlit nights. Some say the blues were birthed on the cotton and tobacco plantations, (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origins_of_the_blues). If you had lost a sheep it might even be a blue Christmas without ewe

One last Colonial Williamsburg door.

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Day Three of Twelve /  by Dave Hileman

This is an over-the-door decoration, transom in another time. You can see wheat, dried flowers, pears and the ubiquitous chili in the photo. And you can be sure there is an angry partridge somewhere. 

Day Two of Twelve /  by Dave Hileman

OK, so yesterday the post was on a door and I found some obscure carol to attach it to, "Here We Come A-wassailing." Today I was going to post a line from a carol done by the Red Hot Chili Peppers and then I came to mu senses. Or at least a temporary restraint. 

This is a section of another wreath at Colonial Williamsburg with orange rind, lichen, pine cones, pomagranates and Ret Hot Chili Peppers who sang "Deck the Hall" poorly. Not the decor the song. .

Birch and Ferns /  by Dave Hileman

Along the Gale River, near Franconia in New Hampshire. We camped nearby and walked along the river for a couple of miles. It was a beautiful afternoon and the colors were nice. We passed a sign, rough and simple in the middle of the woods that said the first ski jump in the US was constructed here by high school students in the 1930s.

Marble Gash /  by Dave Hileman

Just a short walk from the World War II Memorial brings you to the Vietnam Memorial. It is a marble vee set into the earth that reflects everyone as they look at it. There are more than 50,000 names on the memorial. There are also two statues as part of the memorial added later. One is for the nurses who served and another represents the common solider. 

Resolve /  by Dave Hileman

On December 8th 1941 FDR gave his short "Day of Infamy" speech and Congress declared war on Japan. On December 9th Roosevelt outlined a more comprehensive view of the new war and reasons for the actions taken so far. The US was attacked on several fronts in the Pacific and FDR knew that conflict in Europe will follow suit against Germany and its allies. This is another perspective of the World War II Memorial in Washington DC. The flag is at half mast because I visited on September 11. 

FDR's speech can be read here: http://docs.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/120941.HTML