Farewell 2009... and Happy Happy

Chrsirtmas Creche Week- Redux

This is my smallest Creche.

It is the second oldest creche I have.
It is from my four babies.

From the 1980's.

It hangs on my tree each year.



Technically it's not a "creche" because the Blessed Mother and Saint Joseph aren't there. But I am thinking they are just off to the side greeting the Three Wise Men.
I just love my babies Creche.

Chrsirtmas Creche Week- Redux

This creche is soo unique.I've never seen anything like it..


This one is from my sister friend Teresa.I think it is from the 1950's. It is a light! How beautiful. The colors jump out at you.


It is on my mantlepiece in my living room-the centerpiece of my Shiny Bright Village- but it fits right in.

Chrsitmas Creche Week -Redux

Happy Chrsitmas One and All...




What is it do you say?

It is a calabash.

Carved on the outside with a master's hands.


You open it up and....

There's the Creche.
It is exquisite.

Tinsel crowns adorn the Three Wise Men.

The figures are made out of corn husks.
This woven hat for the shepherd is so tiny but perfect.


The detail work is extraordinary.
This was made lovingly by a very talented Kenyan artist.

It was presented to me this year by Kate Fletcher, founder of Hekima Place and the young ladies from Hekima that she brought along with her for a visit- Leah and Beatrice.

There are no words to describe what this Creche means to me.

Merry Christmas one and all....

Christmas Creche Week

Christmas has always been special to my husband and me. He presented me with my engagement ring on Christmas Eve.

This is my very first creche.
It was a wedding gift from my oldest friend Cate and her parents. They bought it in Germany. It is Lladro.
You can tell it has been loved. The stick from the Shepherd is now missing. It needs a good cleaning from little finger prints touching the figures over the years. Do I dare wash off those prints?



Here is baby Jesus. I took him out of his hiding place for the shot. As you can see the Creche is not completely together- because it is not yet Christmas Day.


I added this Precious Moments angel
to the creche in 1991 when my oldest gave it to me as a Christmas present saying- "from your little angel" . It is one of my most cherished possessions. The angel holds court behind the manger- standing guard over the baby Jesus's place till he arrives on Christmas Day.

Christmas Creche Week

This week I will be re-publishing some of my blog posts from last year's Christmas Creche Week.

ENJOY!



Out of the eight creches that I own- I have bought not a one!Lucky me.It makes them all that much more special.

This Creche was given to me by Anne.

From County Sligo.

She lived with us and helped me raise my babies. She is part of the family and always will be .

She was my friend, my sister, my life support.

We do not see each other very often-she has her own babies now that are growing big and strong.But she is always in my heart.

I love this creche.

It is very delicate.

And when you put a tea light behind it - it gives off a holy glow- like a halo. Just like the one above Anne's head.

Team.......

Sunday Afternoon at the Movies

2005's Joyeux Noel...



Rent it, buy it...
SEE IT.

THANK YOU!!!

I wanted to THANK  all of you, my faithful readers,  for spreading the word about the Faces of Kibera auctions this year..

We were thrilled with the results and made well over $40,000.

This is our major fundraiser of the year and how we get the money to do what we do to help the kids in Kibera.


FACES OF KIBERA


photo courtesy of FLICKR

You Raise Me Up

 2 SPECIAL  Experiences, will  STILL  be ongoing till TUES at 9:45AM... Dream Day with the Radio Team for the Giants Eagles Game and VIP Day at Training Camp 2010 with the NY GIANTS.

Please stop by and take one more look HERE



Your generosity.. in bidding, looking,donating and spreading the word does just that...




THANK YOU

Martha Martha Martha!!

A few days ago, I told you about what a beautiful morning I had riding with some special gorgeous friends...

I am STILL hobbling around.

Friends whom I didn't mention by name...


Well, she has mentioned mine so now I'll mention hers... Martha..

Yes, that Martha!

You can click HERE to read all about it and see pics of the absolutely PERFECT day.. She was the BEST hostess of course and soooo fun to be with. It was a truly "Good Thing".

My truly SuperCalaFranchaListicExbeAlaDocious day was all due to my effervescent friend Muffin. She's the best!


Speaking of Good Things...
Please check out the Faces of Kibera auction on eBay.. There are only 3 days left! Need a signed ball taken right from the locker room  or a signed GAME READY jersey for that football fan in your life? Click HERE. Want to see Catherine Zeta Jones and Angela Lansbury on Broadway in A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC ( I do!) Click HERE.

So much to buy.. and all for a wonderful cause- helping the children of Kibera, the largest slum in Kenya.

And don't forget the Private Auction... with experiences involving Eli, Justin and Freddy.. Email facesofkibera.auction@gmail.com to get the link.

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like....

CHRISTMAS....
Which means so much to do, so little time...
For those of you that live in the New York Suburbs- give yourself a gift and go to the Christmas show that Sloan Wainwright and Friends puts on every season . It is something I look forward to every year and it is something NOT to be missed. It's held in the perfect for Christmas Presbyterian Church on the Village Green in Bedford. The accoustics are great and it's so home spun- like a Little House On The Prairie Christmas with fantastic singers. Sloan manages to bring down the house every year with her powerful voice. Her outrageously talented family members all add their own magic touch.

Bedford Presbyterian Church at The Village Green
 Showtime: 8PM Tickets: $35  Tickets and Reservations: (914) 763-6025 or purchase tickets at Awakenings in Katonah...

And speaking of great music and great singers .and musicians......

 

                 The  eBay auction is going strong....all this week for FACES OF KIBERA. Check out all the Goodies by clicking HERE....
The stuff is fantastic ...
REALLY fantastic...
Including a signed Drum SKIN by the one and only Ringo Starr..He has inscribed ...   PEACE AND LOVE Ringo,  which is so perfect don't  you think?? It is just about impossible to get an autograph from him anymore but it has been generously donated by  Ringo and his daughter Francesca!!!!
Questions? Email us at facesofkibera.auction@gmail.com

Christmas Tea

Today I am joining Mr. Toast's for his Christmas Tea.
It is being held in the beautiful town of Aspen Colorado.
I am wearing my Aspen best...a la Karen Blixen/Isak Dinesen

I'm sure we will be listening to Rufus Wainwright's Judy Garland Cd- perfect tea music don't ya know...






I will be sipping tea from my favorite tea cup and saucer  .. a treasure from Grandma M


I will be sipping my Out of Africa tea.....

 .... in honor of WORLD AIDS DAY and  the charity FACES OF KIBERA whose eBay auction is going on RIGHT NOW..


                                               Click HERE to check the auction out..

I will be regretting that I'm not having Jasmine Green tea with a teaspoon of honey to help rev up my metabolism from the incredible scones I have baked for the event..

Maple Walnut Scones

Yield 12-15 scones

4 1/2 cups unbleached flour

1/4 cup sugar

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 lb butter-cubed

1 cup buttermilk

1/2 cup maple syrup
1 cup chopped walnuts

1 beaten egg(used for "painting" tops)

In large bowl,sift together the flour,sugar,baking powder and baking soda with a wooden spoon. Cut butter with pastry cutter until mixture is well combined.

It will have a course texture. In a small bowl,whisk together the buttermilk,syrup,and walnuts. Add this mixture to the flour mixture and combine well. Add additional flour if dough is too sticky. Roll out to 1" thick on floured surface and cut into circles using a 3" cutter or an upside down glass. Re-roll dough as necessary. Place scones on well greased cookie sheet. Brush each with beaten egg. Bake at 400 f for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. I always make a double batch and freeze one. They are THAT GOOD....Enjoy!!

....from the Bakers Cafe Cookbook...which is filled with recipes from a wonderfully spectacular bakery/restaurant in Katonah NY which is now no longer there. I will continue to mourn its closing till Sloan Wainwright, if ever, decides to open a new place.



On top of my scones will be clotted cream...
I could never have a scone without Clotted Cream and Jam.

Then of course my sister Maggie will be making her very special tuna fish salad for the tea sandwiches.

I am hoping Mr. Toast will also have cucumber and cream cheese sandwiches, salad sandwiches, ham and cheese sandwiches and egg salad sandwiches as well....

Please check out the site HEKIMA PLACE , a wonderful place for girls to have a home and education. It is located in Karen, a suburg of Nairobi..Karen is named for Isak Dinesen, who wrote Out Of Africa and lived there for many years. I have been to Hekima Place- it's a happy nurturing home where they have warm tea and milk with breakafst lunch and dinner ...5 of the girls there came from the slums of Kibera nearby, where the organization, Faces of Kibera was able to hook up with Hekima Place and give them a safe, beautiful and loving home.


So put on the kettle, put up your feet, sit by the fire and sip with me...