Come one, come all - step right up!
My husband’s grandfather was a talented woodcarver. One of his most beautiful creations is a nativity set that my in-laws always display at Christmas time. When our kids were little, they couldn’t resist handling the smooth, wooden figures. Being a wise woman and a thoughtful grandma, my mother-in-law put the heirloom set up high and bought a cheery, chubby little plastic set. She put it on a low table so the kids felt free to interact with these vital characters of the Christmas story.
My daughter Gwen was playing at her grandparents’ house when she was about 3-years-old. After she left, my mother-in-law found she had set all the little figures of the nativity scene in a line. Mary, Joseph, the wise men, all the other animals, even the Baby Jesus were all lined up, single-file, facing the donkey. I asked Gwen what was going on.
“They’re waiting their turn” she said solemnly, “to ride the donkey.”
Best wishes to you and your families for a joyful & blessed Christmas.
The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel—which means, God with us.
Peg-o-Leg's Ramblings 
Well, you know what’s what they did in the manger, while they waited for the baby to arrive. That donkey was getting tired, too.
Peg-o-Leg, those carvings are gorgeous! The urge to feel the smooth wood is strong. What a wonderful heirloom. Merry Christmas!
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It is a very special heirloom. Merry Christmas to you and yours!
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‘that’s what’ not ‘what’s what’. Though – that’s what’s what.
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I’ve always thought you knew what’s what.
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Love this story and the wooden figures! You know, if it was a little boy, he would’ve turned the donkey into a gun and started shooting bad guys.
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Ain’t that the truth!
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Dead Wise Men all over the place. And fried donkey for supper!
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My, what a lovely holiday picture you paint. 🙂
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Too funny! Thanks for sharing!
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Your mom was always smarter with my kids than I was.
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Nice, Peg. I remember seeing those beautiful wooden figures on your piano years ago – the same ones or is there another set?
Merry Christmas to all! See you Saturday!
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There are a couple of sets, thank goodness, along with lots of very detailed birds.
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I hope Jesus got his turn to ride the donkey.
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He didn’t meet the minimum height requirement.
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And congrats on Freshly Pressed!
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And thanks!
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How wonderful you have one of his sets. These are smooth in craftsmanship, and smooth from carefully handling over the years I’m sure. My grandmother gifted us a “plastic” set too. I was not so wise and have had to glue heads back on my clay wisemen and sheep, but that’s ok.
I love this story! One of the precious lines that a mother remembers. Great imagination your Gwen has.
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Our set when I was a kid was equal parts plaster and glue I think. Thanks, and Merry Christmas, Georgette!
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Well, isn’t that a hoot! My little nativity set only has the central 3 characters. I wonder if the donkey got tired and left…
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PETA staged a protest and he was released to a free-range donkey sanctuary.
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Love this, Peg!
Your husband’s grandfather was indeed talented!
Wendy
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You should see his bird carvings – very fine details and painting. Thanks, Wendy.
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What a great story! Merry Christmas to you, Peg!
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Merry Christmas, Darla – hope it’s very happy.
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hahah how adorable!
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Thanks so much – kids DO say the darnedest things, don’t they?
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They sure do!
On a side not, that nativity set is absolutely fabulous!
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Peg, the Nativity set is beautiful… very Henry Moore-esk. What a wonderful family treasure!
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It is, isn’t it? Merry Christmas to you and yours, Carol!
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Those carvings are lovely…my boys used any kind of figurine for “army guys” so that is probably where some of my nativity peeps went.
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Ha ha! Sounds like my brothers – must be a trait that goes along with the testosterone.
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That is a beautiful nativity set! And duh, of course they were waiting for donkey rides – they’re only 5 cents! 😉 Merry Christmas, Peg!
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Merry Christmas to you, Jules!
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So you are saying it could be a while…
because I was thinking about grabbing some nachos…
🙂
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May I suggest you try the Tilt-A-Whirl?
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just found you and glad I did! Merry Christmas to you and yours!
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Well thank you, and Merry Christmas to you!
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How cute. I love the verse below the photo as well… Merry Christmas!
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Thank you so much. Merry Christmas!
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My favorite nativity story is from my youth… my brother, Jim, always had a great sense of humor like our sister, Peg (O-Leg, that is!!). Jim and I couldn’t have been more than 6-8 yrs. at the time, when he and I were marveling at our parents’ nativity set on the fireplace mantle. Without warning, Jim took one of the shepherds at the scene, and set him on the “back” of the angel Gabriel, who proceeded to take the shepherd for a ride in the sky. After the dude got the ride of his life, Gabriel set him back down, at which time the shepherd (Jim) replied in a high-pitched voice “thanks for the lift, Gabe”! To this day, it’s one of my favorite Jim-and-me stories, and 30+ years later, we still laugh over it!
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I never heard that story! What a hoot, Libby-dibby!
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Let’s face it, they would have had to walk everywhere back then, so of course they wouldn’t want to miss an opportunity to ride the donkey! Thanks Peg, I’ll be back often to see what new gem you’ve posted. Merry Christmas!
http://anngraham.wordpress.com/
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Well thank you very much, and Merry Christmas to you and yours.
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What a treasure to have and share every year…ENJOY!
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It is a treasure – thanks Lorna!
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I love this so much, I had to share it! Unfortunately, Facebook didn’t populate any pictures, which (a) it likes to do when I’m trying to post blog entries by you and (b) sucks especially, because I love your pictures so much!. Merry Christmas! I hope it is full of blessings like this one.
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Thanks Deborah. Sorry the technology isn’t working – that’s often the case for me. Happy Hanukkha to you and your wonderful little family.
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Gorgeous Nativity set! What an heirloom! My sister has my parents’ Nativity set. I have some cast off of theirs, but it’s made of wood so it’s still lovely. My sister has almost a complete set of characters – one year my dog Stella chewed the face off one of the wise men. It was quite devastating for all of us. We thought we’d have to cancel Christmas that year. I have the face still – it’s lying upon some snow in my Nativity scene gazing out with recrimination.
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Funny how many families celebrate Christmas with recrimination as part of the decor. Hope that’s at a minimum for you and your family this year!
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Great story. I love how children are so free and honest with their thinking. Beautiful Nativity set. Like another commenter said, the smooth wood is so touchable. What a treasure.
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Great opening graphic!
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Thanks – it was fun to make!
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Great story!
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Thanks so much!
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Thanks for the laugh. Kids are the best entertainment money can’t buy. I guess we do pay dearly for them though, don’t we? That’s a lovely Nativity set, a real treasure.
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Ha ha – yes, we pay dearly for the little dears.
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The nativity carvings are beautiful!
and your daughter’s comment made me smile 🙂
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Thank you. We cherish those carvings and display them proudly every year.
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