Christmas Stash (F)

 

I love the Precious Moments images.  I have a lot of statues.  I also have a huge nativity set.  About thirty or so years ago I had just finished putting my nativity set up on my mantle in the family room.  I went and sat down n the living room to take a break.  All of a sudden I repeatedly heard ceramics breaking.  I ran to the family room and saw one of our cats on the mantle walking along intentionally pushing the nativity pieces off one at a time.  They had been very expensive and I must have had thirty pieces.  She had broken two of the three wisemen, Mary, an angel, a shepherd, a goat, one of the camels, and more. I feel bad now, but I took the cat to the shelter the next morning.  It cost hundreds of dollars to replace the pieces she broke.  She also loved to break glass.  I collect antique milk bottles, medicine bottles and lots of others. She had a field day with those occasionally.  She also broke drinking glasses if they were left on the counter.  I had finally had it.  I can no longer put the set out.  We had a fire and it destroyed our mantle and we decided to go without so the nativity set no longer has a place to be.

This Nutcracker was made from a die set from Spellbinder's.  I love him, but he was a pain to put together.  They should really include a blank backing for him to be assembled on.  It was difficult putting him together in that some of the pieces don't overlap enough to put a adequate amount of glue on the joints.  I may make my own next time to ease in construction.  This has not been a good cardmaking week.