Advent
December 1, 2011 at 19:54 Day 1
I have been thinking about a Christmas project to incorporate with my quest to put my camera to use and the purchase of my first advent stable scene seems like the perfect reason to get my camera out! It also means that I've put chocolate advent calendars behind me, which can only be a good thing for my waistline and sugar levels in the morning!
I will make my excuses now and admit that this will be no amazing photography feat, however I hope it brings a little joy and happiness to those who watch the daily updates.
With the excitement of a child on Christmas morning, I unwrapped the advent stable today and opened door number 1. And so I placed the first advent figure into the stable, a donkey! There's not much else to say apart from it is a very cute donkey, but there you go....I'm happy!
Sonia Irvine
Day 2
It's day 2 and a King has arrived already!
Sonia Irvine
Day 3
The weather is getting colder now, so it's probably a good thing that today's advent 'character' is actually a fire. Despite this not being a real fire, I have an issue putting it near the hay in the stable....weird but true. So the new fire is taking pride of place outside the front of the stable for now.
Sonia Irvine
Day 4
Well the snow has started falling here in Manchester and it has been a busy weekend getting the 9ft Christmas tree from the forest, up to the apartment and decorated. Thankfully the Christmas tree was safely in the apartment before the snow started falling, but unfortunately the tree toppled once we had it all decorated! Needless to say, after hours of clearing up and resetting the tree in its stand, we have now redecorated it and calmness is restored!
With all the commotion, I've not forgotten about the advent stable though and today we have the arrival of the star. Used by the three wise men to travel to the stable it's a small wonder how the first wise man has arrived without it, but I suppose that is the magic of it all. Taking pride of place at the top of the stable, you also get a glimpse of the Christmas tree lights in the background!
Sonia Irvine
Day 5
This morning a sheep has joined the advent stable, I suspect a lot more cattle will come along in the next couple of weeks!
Sonia Irvine
Day 6
The expectation that there would be more cattle to follow has already started to come true with the arrival of another sheep today. This sheep looks very similar to the sheep from yesterday, apart from the fact that this sheep is lying down!
Sonia Irvine
Day 7
As suspected the cattle are arriving thick and fast and today we have a cow!
Sonia Irvine
Day 8
With all the animals that have been arriving, I'm pleased to see a shepherd today to keep them all in check!
Sonia Irvine
Day 9
It's a lunchtime update today, to announce the arrival of a calf! I thought it was a small cow, Rich said it was a calf....I was wrong! Much the same as I was wrong about the donkey on day 1.....a unanimous vote has confirmed it is most definitely a camel!
Sonia Irvine
Day 10
That Christmas feeling is definitely in the air today, after a lovely evening at the Manchester Christmas markets last night with Rich, I'm really looking forward to having 'Christmas Day Dinner' with my Didsbury friends this afternoon! With all the festivities taking place though, I have not forgotten todays advent, and it's a good job I haven't as a lovely Angel has arrived! Said Angel is now 'flying' above the advent stable :o)
Sonia Irvine
Day 11
It's official, a 'real' donkey has arrived! I'm sure this isn't a camel, there is no doubt in my mind! There are certainly a lot of animals in and around the stable now and we've still got aquite a few days until the main event!
Sonia Irvine
Day 12
What a momentous start to Monday we have, the second wise man has arrived!
Sonia Irvine
Day 13
The Inn Keeper has come to check on the stable today by the light of his lantern!
Sonia Irvine
Day 14
Today sees the arrival of another sheep, so our shepherd has his own flock to look after now. Given that space in the stable is pretty limited given all the sheep now, the shepherd, the flock of sheep and the fire have all been relocated to outside the stable - just think of them being out in a field!
Sonia Irvine
Day 15
It is day fifteen on the advent calendar and we have the arrival of another cow at the advent stable!
Sonia Irvine
Day 16
It's a late arrival today, but we now have another angel flying over the top of the stable!
Sonia Irvine
Day 17
With all the sheep we now have it's a good job that another shepherd has arrived! With a tiny lamb in tow too!
Sonia Irvine
Day 18
Another day and another camel has arrived. It is definitely a camel and not a donkey!
Sonia Irvine
Day 19
Today we have the arrival of the third and final wise man, all wise men are present and correct with all their gifts ready to deliver to the baby Jesus.
Sonia Irvine
Day 20
I almost can't believe my eyes....another sheep has arrived! It's a good job the shepherds and sheep were moved out of the stable as there would be no room for anything or anyone else in there!
Sonia Irvine
Day 21
We have another camel! I've figured that each of the wise men arrived on a camel now that there are three wise men and three camels!
Sonia Irvine
Day 22
It's getting very exciting now, with all the cattle we could ever wish for, angels, wise men and camels, today Joseph has arrived in the stable!
Sonia Irvine
Day 23
Today Mary has joined Joseph in the advent stable, and so the scene is set for the final arrival tomorrow - could this be more exciting?!
Sonia Irvine
Day 24
What a prestigious day, baby Jesus has arrived in the stable today, completing the whole advent scene!
Sonia Irvine
Day 25
Well advent is over and what a wonderful day it has been. Even though the advent stable is now full, I thought it would be nice to post a picture of the whole stable scene, given that you've only seen a character at a time all month!
All of the little figures came out of the 'advent doors' underneath the stable, and with so many characters, the shepherds and sheep have been camping outside the stable in the 'field' for a while now!
Thanks to everyone who has posted such lovely comments on this blog, it has been a pleasure to do and I think I'll be a bit sad to pack it all away!
Merry Christmas Everyone!
xx
Reader Comments (11)
You are too cute! xxx
These are really cute, although I can't think of 24 people and animals that were involved in the traditional nativity!
Might be like the school production I saw being practiced today with a cat in the stable!
Loving the photography though and wished I had a novelty calendar to open (although I won't lie saying I'm not enjoying my cadbury's chocolate fix every day!) xx
Thanks for the comments on my blog! I'm glad it's being read by people other than me :o) I'm off to get the Christmas tree today, so will be feeling even more festive later on!
aw sonia, they are lovely, although i too look forward to seeing who crops up after the three wise men, angels, shepherds etc! xx
I've been taking a closer look at the donkey which arrived on day one and think it might now be a camel! I thought it was a donkey with a pack on it's back initially, but looking at it now, I think it looks more like a camel. What do you think? Day one - donkey or camel?!
Defo a camel!
Most camel like donkey I have ever seen!
Unless it's a hump backed donkey, it's deffo a camel!! Has the fire made it into the scene yet? I'm conscious that with the recent (and upcoming) snow the stable may be a bit chilly and needs to become the warm shelter from the bleak winter. Looking forward to tomorrow, taking this tres seriously! x
you sure thats not a goat?!?!
Kirsty, I am sure it's a calf...it looks like a smaller version of the cow and I think a goat would have long spindley legs. That's my logic and what I'm going with anyway! xx
Looks like the first wise man is a little surprised to see him! Also questionable activity with the sheep in the back of the stable!
Loving the nativity calendar - defo listing it as a guilty pleasure and even more excited by it than opening my own boring chocolate one! xx