And finally!

The end!  The last nativity.  This one we picked up recently from a booth in Canada from the man that crafted it.  It is a flat piece of wood with cutouts that you push out to display.   Both nativities that we got from Canada were made from wood.  This one is very nice and simple.

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Gifted nativity

No wonder I waited to post these last.......I have no story and no memory.  This could be from the kids.......or it could be from Lincoln........I treasure it anyway as an addition to the collection.

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On the home stretch

Only two more nativities after this one!  It seems as if I've left the mystery ones to the last.......I believe this was a gift from one of my children.  

I think it tells something about myself to not remember where the gifts come from that I receive.  What it tells, I'm not sure I want to delve into.  As Scarlett O'Hara would say......"I'll think about that tomorrow."  

We all know tomorrow never comes.  :-)

As everyone says here in this great state:  I hope you have a "blessed day."

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A cute nativity

Another gift from my sister Trudy.  Thanks, Trude!

This one is actually a container.  It opens up and can be used to store something.  I don't know what to store in it, but it could be done!  :-)

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Sicilian nativity

This one is from Messina Italy.  I did get one in the Vatican that was very similar to this one.  I gave it away to a Catholic family that I know.  I've been teaching children in their family for over 10 years and I knew they would appreciate it more than I.

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Croatian nativity

I was in Croatia just last year and surprised myself when I turned this over and found the word "Croatia" on the bottom.  Oh, my poor family!  I hope they can handle taking care of me on my old age!  

I was joking about having Alzheimer's the other day and the person said they had "some"teimer's.  I like that!  I have it too!

I like the leaf on this nativity.  Creative!

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Mystery nativity

I thought when I bought these nativities that I would have no problem remembering where they came from.  As my memory started slipping I started writing the places on the bottom of them.  

This one has no writing and no memory on my mind associated with it. I guess I should give myself a break as it has been tens of years that I've Benn gathering them.  Maybe when I least expect it I'll remember!  Right now, it's still a mystery.

A day later . . . . my file cabinet in my mind opened up :)  I'm pretty sure this was a gift from Lincoln's Sister, Celesta.  Cool! 

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Costa Rica (final take)

I'm a little teapot ..........(singing)!

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Costa Rica (take four)

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Costa Rica (take 3)

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Costa Rica (take 2)

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Costa Rican nativity

Our trip to Costa Rica was unplanned and not even on our radar.  An invitation from Lincoln's brother made this trip possible.  We paid for transportation  (which was less than stateside travel plus free international baggage!) and some food and the rest of the bill (housing, rental car, food, and some recreation) was covered by Lincoln's brother's awesome boss.

There were MANY nativity scenes to be found in Costa Rica.  My next few posts will be those.  They are all little, but unique!

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Graceful nativity

I've missed a few days of posting nativity scenes and still have a bunch to do!  I guess I'll just keep plugging along!

This one was a gift from my husband Lincoln.  He knows I love the gracefulness of Lladro but can't afford that!  The tallness of these figurines is very nice! Kind-of Lladroesque!

Love it!

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A magnetic nativity

We picked up this nativity in North Carolina at the Biltmore estate.  I really liked the tree shape, and the fact that each one of the figurines in the tree can be removed and placed back in the tree like a puzzle.  Each piece is a magnet.  I think it is meant to be a children's toy.  I would have a hard time letting someone play with it though!  

At the Biltmore in April, there were a LOT of nativities to choose from!

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Puerto Rico

I have two nativity scenes from Puerto Rico and I've never been there!  Both of them are gifts. 

This one is from my sister and her husband.  She can tell some great stories of their visit........and she brought me home this goard, that when opened has a nice surprise.  

A very neat nativity, and all the more special because of the thought that went behind the gift.  Thanks again, Trudy and Steve!

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The most recent

A couple of presents from piano students of mine.  The first, a nativity!!!!!!! And the second, a Christmas twig for my piano.  So cute!

For the record, this is the first thing I have EVER set on my new piano for display.  This is a very privileged twig!

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Nativity, aye?

We got this one on our recent trip to Canada.

Hey, have you heard the joke about how they named Canada.

Well.........there was a group of men, and they were debating how to name their new country.  They couldn't agree and so they decided to draw letters out of a bowl and just name it randomly.  The first letter they drew was "c aye," the next was "n aye" and then "d aye."!!!!!!

My grandpa young told us that joke a loooooooooong time ago.  I'm not good with jokes but remember this one!  

I actually told this joke to a Canadian couple on our cruise. They hadn't ever heard this joke before.  She said " aye" after about every sentence.  I brought it to her attention and it must have bothered her because she stopped doing it.  Now I've noticed I say it a lot.  Phewy!

Anyhow, we bought this really cool nativity made out of wood from the artisan himself.  He broke it down flat for traveling and we put it back together for displaying.  Love it!

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A Mexican nativity

We picked up this nativity in Puerto Vallarta.  It is sometimes a challenge to find merchandise that is actually made in the country and not "made in China."  It is important (mostly) for me to find something actually made in the country.

I don't know if Mexico ever had elephants.......I know there are elephant bones that have been found in northern America......but one of the things I enjoy about this nativity is that one of the wisemen has an elephant that he journeyed on.  Cute!

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I worked for this one!

A little over a year ago my mother-in-law asked me to be her traveling companion on a Mediterranean cruise.  Of course I accepted her invitation!

Her top thing that she wanted to do was to climb Mt. Vesuvius.  I, myself don't like to hike.  My body just doesn't do well on a hike and my brain tells me it is a dumb thing to do!  But hey, she was 74 and I was 47, so I thought I might be able to keep up with her!  She is one go-getter and has walked the legs off of our family before so honestly I was a little scared she would leave me in the dust!  

We both did fine.  One of the things that was nice was that when we got to the top of Mount Vesuvius, there were little shops selling souvenirs for great prices.

I went on a quest to find a nativity scene.  Most of the vendors did not speak English and I had fun trying to explain what I wanted.  "Bambino, haysoos creestos (Jesus Christ :-) ) navidad?" I said, rocking an imaginary baby in my arms!

This, rustic old Italian gentleman figured out what I was trying to say and led me to some nativity scenes made out of lava.

I hope you can see this against the black background......... Mt. Vesuvius lava.  I also picked up a necklace made out of the same color lava.  A string of lava "pearls"!

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Sretan Bozic i Nova Godina

A Croation nativity.  I really thought in Croatia that I might not be able to find a Nativity. 

There were a lot of nick knacks with the theme of the last supper, but not Christ's birth.  Finally a young lady came up with this for me and I'm very happy she did.  This is very unusual and I love it!

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