An Earthy Look At the Nativity

Oh, the things you learn at Christmastime. 

(Warning:  this post has its rude moments.)

Nativity scenes from Spain and Italy are beautiful -- hand-painted, realistic...and amazingly complicated. I first saw one when I was in grad school at the University of Michigan. I was the housekeeper for the D'Arms family then: I cleaned house and took care of their daughter, in return for room and breakfast. (Lunch too, if I came home at noon and walked the dog.)
     If you ever attended Michigan,you'll recognize the name: John D'Arms was the head of the Classical department when I was there, but eventually became Dean of Graduate Studies at U of M. He was a wonderful guy, if a bit absent-minded, and a wicked jazz piano player.
     Anyways, he also was the director of the American Academy in Rome. And sometime during his and wife Teresa's time there, they picked up an elaborate Nativity scene. Which they displayed under the Christmas tree.

     I grew up with dimestore figures in a cardboard stable, like this:

 Intriguing enough, but nothing compared to the 50 or so figures under the D'Arms' tree. The Holy Family was there, of course, but other figures did everything from selling vegetables, taking a nap, cooking or taking a dog for a walk.

     Once I married The Brick, I started collecting figures for our own Nativity. It's a little more complicated than the norm, but unless you're willing to put out hundreds of dollars (which I am not), the selection starts narrowing. After all, you can only have so many shepherds and Wise Men.
     (Our girlies enjoy moving these around on the sly, and adding other pieces. After they've visited, I sometimes find a dinosaur peering into the Christ Child's face, soldiers and piranha hanging around outside the stable with the sheep, or in deep conversation with a Wise Man. Stuff like that.)


I came across Mitchell's blog, Mitchell is Moving. Mitchell lives in Malaga, Spain, and enjoys visiting the local Nativity scene.  Which includes this:

Otherwise known as "El Caganer," or The Squatter.

Mitchell's link includes a mechanical version of The Squatter -- be sure to click here for the full effect.   By the way, if you're looking for a fun, entertaining read, you'll want to check out more of Mitchell's blogposts. Here's the still version from his second screed on the subject:

Photo used with permission from 'Mitchell is Moving'

Says Mitchell:

    "He hails (or at least the tradition does) from Catalonia and can be found more commonly around Andorra, Valencia, Northern Catalonia, and Southern France. 'El Caganer' means 'the crapper' or 'the shitter.' [This version] is posed more discreetly than he was [before.]"

Gee, I don't remember this figure from the D'Arms' collection. Then again, their figures may not have been Catalan in origin.


Shades of Cousin Eddie.

Think About It...

Ummm...I agree.

Knock it off, Santa!  (This antique gem was from the auction earlier this year.)

Quick Christmas Presents with Candy (And Such)

     Remember yesterday's post on snowglobes and terrariums? 

The same link that got me to thinking about snowglobes also produced some very nice make-it-with-candy-and-goodies present ideas:


'Something Out of the Blue:'    (only blue items)

A candy sleigh, made with candy canes and candy bars:

And one of the simplest, yet most effective ways to present a small pack of candy I've seen yet:

the dollar-wrapped method.

None of these should take you more than a few minutes to assemble. Nor should they cost much, if you buy in multiple packs, and take advantage of coupons and sales.

Go to the link for specifics.   Yes, these would make great stocking stuffers.


Time-saving, and thrifty, too?    Just what we need this time of year!

Christmas on Ice...Or Dirt

A snowglobe, like these, made out of a wineglass. Or a brandy snifter.

Choose any theme you like, from 'Frozen' to wildlife...all you need are the right figures, plus the glassware and a few simple ingredients.
    Hint: your local dollar store may have just what you need. I saw all kinds of figurines in there yesterday. 
         (My piano students were there, buying presents for their family members -- something we do each year, with lunch thrown in. They love it.)


The snowglobes come from this link, by the way. 

Based on our current status, Christmas might well be more dirt than snow. 
     I have been hot on the trail of a gift idea for Daughters #1 and #2, inspired by this:

Yes, you saw it earlier, on the stocking stuffers post.  A Bigfoot terrarium. (Like this one, via Bigfoot Base.)

or even a reaaalllyy tiny one, like this version from Etsy.

I told the Brick about my plans. He said, "Aren't you being a little nutty?"
      Well, yes. Yes, I am.  (I didn't even mention this stocking on Etsy.)





Turns out that you can even buy your own Bigfoot terrarium kit, for a tidy $38. Yow. Too rich for my blood, but it might be just what you need.


Here's my plan:
     *I bought three wrestler figures from the dollar store -- one each, plus one for me.  I would have liked to get tiny Bigfoot ones, but figurines are expensive online. These were, predictably, a buck each.
          ( Don't mind me -- substitute dinosaurs or princesses. Do what YOU like. I'll explain in a bit.)

     *I'll spray the figures black. Each guy has long flowing hair and an aggressive stance. I figure it will work, if I repaint the eyes.

     *Next, a fishbowl or large beer mug. Depends on what I find out there at a reasonable price.

     *Add dirt, some moss, a few leaves from the jade plant I've been cultivating, plus whatever else I can find, greenswise, for the right effect.


Voila -- a present that just keeps giving back some of the grief they give me about the Big Guy. 

Yes, you could get this...but Daughters would think I was really weird if I did. (For that matter, so would I.)

Monday Stuff On the Way to Other Stuff: Two Weeks To Christmas

It's beginning to look a lot like...dirt around here. The snow we had yesterday morning melted quickly, and we're back to mud. The mountains got a couple of feet; we only got an inch. 
    More's supposed to be coming in soon.
    I have lots to do. That's a fact. But it's more fun to wrap presents and think about goodies. Even the Brick, the quintessential Scrooge, is willing to watch a Christmas movie now and then, and listen to holiday music. 
    What fun to think about this...instead of work that needs to get done! (Ah well.)

Vintage Christmas finds. Oooh....   (From Living Rich On The Cheap)

Is The Walking Dead going down the tubes?  Readership has dropped like a rock since Season 7's first (bloody) episode. I must admit -- it's refreshing to find out I wasn't the only one grossed out by Negan's antics.

A new Leonardo da Vinci drawing discovered -- by accident!

Why every homeowner needs an emergency fund -- no matter what.   (From Len Penzo)

A bulldog who loves a belly scratch: hey, that's more important than anything else!

The voter count in Wisconsin is final...and Trump actually gained votes, instead of losing them. Other state recounts have been shut down, including Pennsylvania's.

Engagement rings -- are they really that important? (I never had one; we couldn't afford it. Instead, we purchased the best-possible gold wedding rings with our limited funds. Those rings have lasted for nearly 35 years, and are much more valuable now than what we paid. I'd say that was a good investment.)

Ten skeletons found in, under and around castles.  (From Listverse)

Glass rings and bracelets -- found during the Temple Mount Sifting Project. That's right -- Herod's Temple (or Fort?) in Jerusalem.

Weird (and clever) frugal tricks to save money.

Be sure your (internet) lies will find you out -- especially when you use other people's photos and info.

Make your holiday trip a profitable one, by delivering something. Hmmm... (From Surviving and Thriving)

Youtube's full of Christmas classics, including these fun cartoons. Enjoy!

Have a great week. 

Skimming, Scooping, Rinsing, Slanting, Slamming and Other Ways to Stretch Your Budget

     We're dogsitting this weekend: Brody and his buddies are hanging out with Charley and Abs. One of the dogs is a little terrier, something we would call a "yipey dog," for obvious reasons. To my great amusement, 'Izzy' has taken a huge liking to the Brick. They've probably snuggled together right now, watching the Army/Navy game. Go Navy!

No doubt Brody feels the same way...

    The single-digit temps are gone, and with them, most of the snow. But we have a new storm moving in on Tuesday. 
     I have been hustling to finish up some final business before Christmas preparations really kick in. The tree is in the house -- but laying on the floor. (Brody munched off a few branches, then fell asleep underneath. No matter.)

     Now that Christmas is rapidly moving in, and your checking account is decreasing accordingly, there are a few easy ways to make the money -- and your supplies -- go further. They're surprisingly easy, too.

Skimming:  This is especially helpful with protein sources, like ground or diced meat, roast chicken, etc. While you're cooking  your regular meal, skim off a soup ladle or large spoon's worth of meat. Or pull off a wing or thigh from the chicken. (Try one or two less slices of deli meat in your sandwich -- you won't even miss it.)
     Package this "free" meat for flavoring your next bean and/or soup meal. Good, and good for you.

Scooping:  Friends of ours were allergic to butter and dairy products. They scooped off the extra fat from chicken, and used it instead to bake, make pancakes, etc. I don't do this -- but I do siphon off the extra fat from frying bacon. It adds incredible flavor not only to refried beans, but a little in a stirfry, instead of oil, is delicious. (I've heard of another blogger who uses it for biscuits and gravy.)
     Another scoop idea: never ever leave food on your plate in a restaurant. Even if it's just a spoonful or two, scoop it into a doggy bag. Then use as filling for an omelet, or mixed into scrambled eggs the next morning -- delicious. I try hard not to finish fast food sandwiches, for the same reason: they make convenient snacks the next day. (In fact, I was munching on half a chalupa from Taco Bell while writing this post.)

     One final one:  Add 1/4 cup extra flour, plus a bit of water, to your drop cookie recipe. You'll get a few more cookies out of the batch, for just the price of the flour. (You can also replace one egg with an eggshell of water, instead. Try it -- it really works.)

Rinsing:  Was a good bit of that Alfredo sauce left on the plate after you finished the pasta? What about the butter sauce still in the pan after the veggies were eaten? Rinse these off and store in a jar for your next soup or stew...or literally 'rinse' them in the pot of broth you've got going. You'll be amazed at how much flavor this adds.
     Another possibility: the juice or syrup from frozen or canned fruit makes an excellent foundation for dessert sauces or more. Add some ice cubes, a spoonful of sugar and a cup of milk, plus any leftover fruit (a banana too, if you've got it) -- and voila, a 'free' smoothie.
     And the final 'rinse.' Buy whole milk  -- then add 2-4 cups water to the gallon as the amount goes down. Tastes far better than skim or 2%.

Slanting:  Have a few bits and pieces leftover from your meal? Especially with veggies and meat: cut them slantwise for the best distribution of flavor. (Stirfries do this all the time.) Now add them quietly to your next soup or stew; they'll blend right in. Or top a tortilla with them, plus a bit of cheese, for a quick quesadilla. (Bake at 450 degrees, about 5 min., until bubbling.) You won't waste anything. 

     Our chickens generally get leftover bread and desserts --- but if you don't have cluckers, collect that cookie here, those breadcrumbs there, crumble them, and add to  streusel coffee cake.

Streusel...yumm. From Allrecipes.com. (The recipe above is, too.)

    Works for topping Dutch apple pie, as well as bar cookies that call for a crumbly topping.  It really stretches any much-more-expensive nuts in the mixture.
     These posts on bits & pieces, as well as using up leftovers, should be useful, if you want more practice with these concepts.    This blog is helpful, too.

Soup is always a great way to recycle bits and pieces.

      One final 'slant:' Many times, you can make maximum use of a smaller piece of wrapping paper by putting your item on diagonally. (I learned this from Amy Dacyzyn at the Cheapskate Gazette.) Bring all four corners up, diaper-wise, and tape in place.

Now slamming:  Slam the car door shut -- let the bus doors close -- and don't go to the store, even if you 'need' something. People take advantage of this during January's Pantry Challenge, me included, but there's no reason why you couldn't start early, or do it for at least a few days. (Or even a week or two.) This clears your refrigerator and shelves, minimizes food waste -- and adds some bucks to the coffer, right when you need them.
     The concept applies to other things too, like last-minute Christmas presents, goodies for neighborhood open houses, church 'white elephant' parties. What can you scavenge up on short notice?
     It's called making do with what you have. What this does is force you to be creative.

          *Can you substitute in cooking and baking? (Often you can.  I just recently discovered a terrific way to make powdered sugar, for example.)

          *Can you re-gift? A favorite Christmas ornament or plate. (Particularly if it's vintage.) A book or video you've treasured, along with a few packets of hot chocolate or microwave popcorn. Some item your friend has admired in the past. These make wonderful presents, when swathed in tissue and presented nicely.

          *How about a gift basket, instead? A jar of jam goes well with a French loaf you can make up easily. This year, a dear friend will get an Italian basket:  imported pasta (69 cents, from a sale I lucked onto), a jar of sauce (homemade, if I get the time -- or scavenged from selections purchased at the Friday/Saturday store), and some of that bread, along with a dollar video of La Traviata found at the library's used book room. (She's an opera freak.)
          I know she'll love it.

If I really must buy something, I often refer to Meredith's list of no-bake, no-craft ideas for a dollar or less. These are especially handy for multiple presents: the lemon-dill rice mix is here, by the way. (Don't miss the readers' comments, either. )
   
      It takes a little extra effort to use these ideas-- but not that much. And the savings will add up. You'll feel even better about it when the January bills start coming in.

I Wish...

So why am I working, instead... 

Welcome to Adulthood.