60th Anniversary

Mom and Dad are surprised with a new 40" flat screen TV for their 60th anniversary.

Christmas Gift

My sister-in-law gave Mom who now lives in Nashville, (and Dad) this collage of photos she took of sunflowers from Mom's garden in VT. What a beautiful gift.

P.S. My cousin Rick got married today.

Daybreak

I saw a great sunrise today as I flew out of Chicago. Actually, it was the plane that rose above clouds, but the effect was beautiful. Once again, God the Artist displayed His creation in splendor.

Stocking

I don't have a fireplace so this Christmas stocking from Guatemala hangs on the bookshelf.

From Peru

An Andean Crèche

Another Nativity

December 26, 2011

A 1/2 hour after midnight I realized I'd forgotten to take a photo. So this is the make-up picture.

Jesus

Today we celebrate the birth of the Savior of the world. 

Peace on Earth.

Danada House

The simple elegance of a wreath.

God the Artist

I came out of the grocery store and there was a beautiful winter sunset.

Santa

My neighbor has gone all out this year decorating the yard. 

Around the World

I have numerous ornaments on my tree from around the world. Some were given to me and others I purchased during my travels.

A hand crafted caroler made from a gourd (USA), a beaded Ball from Guatemala and a ceramic Angel from Peru.

Wooden Pinata, Poinsettia and Wiseman from Mexico.

Painted wooden Russian ornaments

A Sheep from France and a hand-blown glass Bell from Mexico

Wooden ornaments from Asia.

Wooden Nativity

I got this nativity in Argentina in 2009.

Broken Bow

This nativity has a story. It was given to me in 1991 by my friend Roxy Schlonecker. It comes from the studio Loma Roja in La Costa, Quibor, Estado Lara, Venezuela. Somehow the nativity fell and the arms of the violin player and his bow broke off. The arms could be glued back in place but the bow shattered. Roxy went to colleague Dallas Engel, a gifted woodworker and he crafted a bow out of wood. I love this nativity both for it's artistic detail but also because it came from Roxy and was repaired so beautifully by Dallas.

See http://wyser-photos.blogspot.com/2011/10/church.html for a link to more info about the artist.

Ornament

This nativity features a wisemen worshipping the baby Jesus. The figures are set inside a large open pod or husk. 

Christmas Market

17 December 2011*
Chicago has an amazing Christkindlmarkt. Today is was very crowded but the artisans had beautiful crafts and came from France, Germany, Poland, Ukraine, Peru, Ecuador and Nepal.

* Photo taken 12/17/2011 but not posted until 12/18/2011


A few more photos of items in the stalls.

Nacimiento

I purchased this nativity on a visit to Loma Roja the studio and home of world renowned artist Miguel Ángel Peraza of Quibor, Venezuela. It's one of my favorites.

See http://wyser-photos.blogspot.com/2011/10/church.html for more info about the artist.

City Christmas Tree

The City of Warrenville has lit up four trees near city hall. This one is near the intersection of Batavia and Butterfield Rds.

Hand carved Nativity

This was my first nativity, purchased in Costa Rica in 1982 when I lived there for a year to learn Spanish. Costa Ricans are wonderful artisans, especially with wood and I think this is carved from coffee tree wood.

Lit up

This is one of the biggest light displays in the neighborhood.

Peruvian Nativity

This nativity from the Andes reflects the native population before Europeans arrived.

Don't you love their faces? and the gifts they bring to Jesus?

Live Nativity

Each year the Trinity Lutheran Church of Warrenville does a live nativity. The story is narrated as church members play the roles and a choir sings appropriate carols. The live animals add to the real-ness.

A wiseman joins the shepherds and angels in worshipping Jesus.

 The angel choir sings "Glory to God in the highest."

 Shepherds watching the sheep.

A young shepherd feeds a sheep.

 Llamas were there too.

After the performance a small guest gets to sit on the donkey.

Christmas Tree

I finally found a tree last night and decorated it. Now it seems like the Christmas Season is in full force.

Snow Biker

I woke up this morning to the first snow of the season. This dedicated commuter didn't let that stop him. He emerged from the Illinois Prairie Path through Winfield Mounds Forest Preserve. On the way home (after dark) I saw another committed bike commuter. I love to ride but I'm not that committed.

Pesebre

This is a nativity set that I found in Mexico City a few years back on one of my annual Christmas shopping vacations. 

In the background are some typical houses from Venezuela.

Neighborhood

I came home from a week of vacation to Christmas lights everywhere. This photo  shows just one unit in the building next to mine. Even in a bad economy there are many lights.