Christmas Islands Revisited
On the other end of Austin Avenue, where the stores end and the homes begin, is more magic. The owners of the large homes have turned their front lawns into Christmas wonderlands. All up the avenue you see bright islands of light. On one lawn, lighted by floodlights on the ground, elves in emerald green shirts, ruby red pants, and red and green striped pointed hats with bells on top, are busy making toys at the North Pole. Sparkling white "snow" covers the grass. Two elves are putting the finishing touches on a wooden rocking horse, while another is pulling a red wagon full of wooden building blocks. A tree is being decorated by another, while two elves are on ladders leaning against two large white pillars on the porch,are stretching a green fir garland between them.
A little ways up the avenue, a silver star shines down on a small wooden stable. Four feet tall, by six feet wide, and four feet deep, is made by two by fours and plywood and looks more like a lean-to. Inside are three painted, plywood figures. There is Mary, kneeling, her hands clasped in prayer, her head turned down as she looks at her child,she wears a sky blue robe and white head cover. Wearing a light brown robe, Joseph is kneeling to her left. Between them, wrapped in white, laying in straw in a manger is the baby Jesus. The floor of the stable is covered with straw. Just outside the stable, dressed in a light green tunic, a little shepherd boy is kneeling, facing the manger, as he holds a small lamb. Behind the boy, dressed in a purple robe with a gold sash, and a gold turban on his head, is a wiseman. He holds a gold urn. Two more wisemen are behind him,,,one dressed in a black robe with a silver sash and a white turban trimmed in silver,,,and the other wiseman is dressed in a golden tan robe with a brown sash, and gold turban. A white sheep lies in the straw just inside the stable, while a gray donkey stands just outside, while a tall brown camel stands at the side of it. All is lighted by a single floodlight.
We'll continue our journey up the avenue, next time.
A little ways up the avenue, a silver star shines down on a small wooden stable. Four feet tall, by six feet wide, and four feet deep, is made by two by fours and plywood and looks more like a lean-to. Inside are three painted, plywood figures. There is Mary, kneeling, her hands clasped in prayer, her head turned down as she looks at her child,she wears a sky blue robe and white head cover. Wearing a light brown robe, Joseph is kneeling to her left. Between them, wrapped in white, laying in straw in a manger is the baby Jesus. The floor of the stable is covered with straw. Just outside the stable, dressed in a light green tunic, a little shepherd boy is kneeling, facing the manger, as he holds a small lamb. Behind the boy, dressed in a purple robe with a gold sash, and a gold turban on his head, is a wiseman. He holds a gold urn. Two more wisemen are behind him,,,one dressed in a black robe with a silver sash and a white turban trimmed in silver,,,and the other wiseman is dressed in a golden tan robe with a brown sash, and gold turban. A white sheep lies in the straw just inside the stable, while a gray donkey stands just outside, while a tall brown camel stands at the side of it. All is lighted by a single floodlight.
We'll continue our journey up the avenue, next time.
Replies
I\'m sure enjoying going up the avenue at Christmas time. Your descriptions are so clear, I feel like I am there. Thanks!
Hey, I see that you are a friend of 1Patricia and I have been her friend for over a year now, read most of her journals, and really have missed hearing anything from her for well over a month now. The last I heard from her, she was having problems with people coming to her house that she believed were there to harm her. Anyway.....I am hoping she is okay and that maybe her computer is broken. Have you heard from her in the past few weeks?
Have a merry happy holiday and blessed Christmas.
P.T.