This afternoon we made time for a special treat. We visited the Algona POW Nativity.
The story behind the nativity is pretty special. During World War II, Algona had a prisoner of war camp. In 1944, one of the German POWs, Eduard Kaib, made a small Nativity for the camp using baked soil. The camp commander saw it and was impressed, and later asked Kaib to consider making a larger one. So he did. And this is what's still on display in Algona today.
Once inside, you can sit on a low bench and listen to a recording telling the Nativity's unique story while you enjoy the scene. And the story goes something like this:
During 1945, Kaib and five other German POWs including Horst Wendlandt created the existing Nativity out of concrete, wood and metal supports, and plaster paid for from the prisoners own funds. The POWs earned $0.10 per hour they worked. The total cost of materials for the Nativity was over $8,000 in 1945.
Christmas of 1945, a special Christmas service was held and the public was invited along with the German prisoners. Today's caretaker and guide, Marv Chickering, told us stories of this joint service where the prisoners sang Christmas carols in German on one side of the building and townspeople sang in English on the other. Algona is proud of their heritage where the German POWs may have come as enemies, but left as friends.
When WW2 ended and the POW camp was to be disbanded, the City of Algona made arrangements with Kaib and the POWs to keep the nativity on display in Algona. Kaib requested there be no admission charged to visit the scene. For a time, the Jaycees maintained the Nativity. Now the Men's Club of Algona First United Methodist Church are the caretakers and the Nativity and it's maintained through donations.
In 1968, Eduard Kaib brought his family to Algona to see where he lived as a prisoner of war and to visit the Nativity. That's Eduard in the back on the left.
In front of the Nativity, the sheep mozey around, grazing and chatting amongst themselves. They're so cute! Such nice little baa-baas.
Watching over the sheep, the shepherds have their own hillside seats for admiring the angel and Star of Bethlehem above the Nativity.
From the shepherd's hill, they can see the magi approaching, bearing their gifts for the Christ child.
The three kings are decked out in all their finery...
...their camels and lackeys are following behind.
Marv Chickering told us each of the camels weigh 500 pounds! The one with the cool backpack tree house is my favorite.
The detail in the figures' faces is amazing. To think this is all concrete and plaster and a bit of paint.
The camel's eye view is pretty cool too.
However, one of the most interesting parts of the Nativity, is to the left of the stable.
A family from Bethlehem is shown at the Nativity too. When was the last time you saw a woman and her two kids included in a Nativity? Eduard's personal take on the Nativity is really neat.
After the narration ended and Marv finished telling us interesting facts and had gone back to his desk by the door, we sat in silence for a few moments and reflected.
Today was the last day the Nativity will be open for the season. It'll reopen next year at Christmas-time. If you have a chance, it's definitely worth the stop.
So I know that the month of March can come in like a lion and go out like a lamb, but this year has been filled with lions for more months than just March. First we had the snowstorms and blizzards and record snowfall of last winter's fury. Then we enjoyed the worst flood in the City of Ames' history. Now we're staring down the remaining minutes of 2010 with another ice storm.
See the little clear spots on the windshield? Um, yeah. So. That's freezing rain. Nasty stuff.
This is what the freezing rain and ice pellets are doing to the streets and roads around us - turning them into a big sheet of ice. Makes me extra thankful we're off the roads. Especially after watching several other drivers who haven't gotten their winter driving skills honed yet. Let them practice when others are around. I'm not a fan of playing chicken on the highways when it's this icy.
Happy New Year! Enjoy the weather :) A good part about living in the Midwest is if you don't like the weather, wait a moment 'cause it'll change. I'm waiting for the next thaw and hopin' it'll be soon. Not likely, but ya can't blame me for hoping.
This is what Christmas gifts look like when your 3-year-old nephew "helps."
And this is what a boardgame stalemate that feels like an eternity looks like. In this game (which we used to play for hours when we were very little), you have to draw a card with the exact number to move to the end and win. Waiting for this card can take what feels like forever.
...until someone who shall remain nameless draws the winning card and gets to move forward the exact two spaces they needed to win. Humph.
And this is what a super-sweet husband looks like in the rearview mirror when he says it's his turn to pump gas even though it's really yours:
And this is how bright and cheery the red bow looks on the railing by the door, greeting you when you get home from spending a wonderful weekend with family celebrating Christmas.
Thank God for so many blessings to be thankful for and highlights to enjoy. Hope yours was filled with overflowing joy and blessings.
Remember this little guy? The little pie bird who came home with me from a little shopping trip last month?
Well, the good news is he's not alone any more. Thanks to my awesome husband, he's found a friend.
Just last month I was bowled over by pie birds, which I thought were limited to crow-shaped birdies. Then Jamie worked his eBay magic and we now have a pie turkey. So. Cool.
And because I was extra good this year (well, probably not because of that...more like Jamie was extra awesome. He's become really good at knowing the perfect gifts to give), these two have another new friend. Meet Mr. Pie Pig:
Together this trio makes quite a nice group of pie friends.
And they're loving it at our house. They haven't even gotten their feet dirty yet. We're gonna have to fix that soon. A cherry pie sounds mighty good. I think Jamie might agree.
We ran a few errands tonight and stopped to laugh in the holiday aisles at the mass quantities of Christmas rejects - you know - the items available in ample supply that consumers for reasons unknown didn't purchase. It's rather fun to browse the aisles to see which products were NOT fond menu items. Case in point:
Sweet Potato Casserole. I'm sure it's not as nasty as it sounds, or looks. Surely someone out there likes it. However, with three shelves stacked several boxes wide and just as many deep, I'm thinking there are a lot less sweet potato aficionados than the store anticipated. And look at that box. They didn't even top it off with a pile of marshmallows like all the other baked sweet potato dishes I've ever seen. Maybe that's why no one bought this. Wrong topping. Next year Betty Crocker should include marshmallows. Then see how many people buy their sweet potato casserole mix. (Between you and me, it'll still be none - just don't tell my mother 'cause I think she might actually like sweet potatoes...not sure...on second thought, maybe it's my dad who does...I can't remember).
Snow is falling and the fog is low and heavy. The still night air is crisp and shadows cast from the streetlights glimmer. Our footsteps crunched in the stillness as we walked home a few minutes ago from the theater. Winter is here, and she's dressed in her finest.
Earlier today we drove home from spending Christmas with family. We set out early, in the dark, well before the sun came up. The fog was thick then too. It hugged us all the drive home. Usually it stayed close, wrapping the view in a haze, never letting us see more than a fraction of a mile ahead. Sometimes it it lifted slightly and we could see nearly a half mile at times.
Briefly the sun peeked through the clouds this afternoon and when it did, the world lit up in a blaze of white brilliance as it shone on the frost coating everything below - including our car.
The frost was especially beautiful today. As Jamie drove, I was on the edge of my seat, snapping photos out the window as fast as the shutter would allow.
Jamie says the forecast is calling for warm temps and possible rain towards the end of the week, so while it'll be nice to enjoy a brief thaw, I'm going to miss the clean white blanket we're enjoying right now. Thankfully winter is young and we'll get more snow soon. Yippie!
Merry Christmas and Happy Trails to You!
Hope you and yours are fine and well as you enjoy some well-deserved time off and relaxation.
May God bless you and keep you as we remember the true meaning and reason for this season.
In liu of a long, windy Christmas letter this year, we're hoping everyone will enjoy reading about our random adventures on our blog instead. This way we can share all the photos and fun with you too!
Take care and have a Merry Christmas!
P.S. - We met up with Trigger (Roy Roger's trusty steed) at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis this fall. Jamie deserves the credit (or the blame) for the greeting on our card.
Besides the Minnesota State Fair, we have several favorite places in Minneapolis/St. Paul. Sunday we decided to take a little drive up there and visit some of them. So we went.
We left early so we could beat the crowd and get a good parking spot at the Mall of America. The weekend before Christmas can get a bit crowded, so we wanted to be sure we didn't have to park out in the boonies.
Inside Bloomingdale's we browsed through all the Christmas ornaments. This cute table display caught my eye. I love how the centerpieces fit on top of a cake pedestal.
Throughout the store, Christmas lights were strung, adding to the festivity.
Harry and David's was filled to overflowing with shoppers by the time we entered so I waited for Jamie outside.
Now maybe I'm just not very observant, however, I don't remember seeing these crystals hanging in the walkways before. They were gorgeous!
The newly renovated LEGO store was open for business. We stood on the floor above and admired the life size LEGO displays without having to face the crowds spilling out of the store below. So how do you become a LEGO artist? We'd like to know. Getting paid to play with LEGOs sounds super cool!
Jamie couldn't wait to show me the Christmas store on the third floor where Dept. 57 used to be. Inside we spent quite awhile looking through all the ornaments. There were several we would have liked to get. Maybe next time.
After the MOA, we hurried over to IKEA.Last time we didn't allow for enough time to fully explore all of the store so this time we were prepared. Once inside, we grabbed a map and plotted our path through the store so we wouldn't miss any of the highlights we really wanted to see. The Swedish groceries were a must-stop for several Christmas gifts.
Bachman's was the last stop of the day. It's an upscale greenhouse/floral/garden center under several greenhouse roofs. If they don't have it - good luck finding it (whatever "it" is...).
So with that fun day trip, we ended our Christmas shopping for the season and headed home to begin wrapping.
