In the tub this morning with a cup of tea , me soaking in hot suds, observing used scraps of soap in the dish . They looked remarkably like a potential nativity.
Away in the manger go the soap bits, with found bottle cap , found playing card, walnut that was left on the deck by the squirrel. Oh Holy Night. Joseph is poppy seed scrap, because he was an old guy and likely had a few skin tags I am guessing, ( experience) . Mary is a well used Lush bar of Sultana soap with a real sultana imbedded in her head. ( my fave), baby Jesus is an even more used ,of the same.
Inspired by Steve's post about minimal nativity scenes and Sarah's awesome scenes , Fresca's kitchen nativity, everything now looks like manger potential. I have lined up the garlic cloves on the kitchen sill, baby Jesus , a stem, LO and BEHOLD, the angel on high is the outer white transparent skin barely clinging to a dried clove, it totally works- ethereal. I have lined up the bottles of condiments in the fridge, baby Jesus a withered grape wrapped in ham slices of swaddling, the angel- a slice of Brie. Angels are French, as everyone knows.
I read a blog long ago of a woman taking care of her mother who had dementia. Her mother became highly creative, after dementia set in, juxtaposing found odd bits , nesting them, organizing intuitive compositions of complimentary colors -All works of art! The daughter fenced her yard securely , which was about an acre or so, allowing her mother to roam freely, to find things, to put them in order, to create. Everywhere her mother had been- kitchen, toilet, bedroom, yard, barn, shed- she left behind an assemblage. And that is such a lovely thing.
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The mud babies are fluffy for winter. If I threw a few seeds at the window I am sure that they would sprout. Bringing the forest floor to the deck door- finger painting with mud- it is art, everything is.


The soap nativity is also great! And the mud babies. Still around I am glad to see. I love the story about the lady with dementia and how her daughter cared for her.
ReplyDeletediscovering that anything can be a nativity scene- maybe not minimal but close enough. The mud babies are proud of their work, i will not wash it off until spring, then new babies will be born and maybe they will come around. If all goes well, maybe you will too!
DeleteBefore I read the first word of your post, I knew that was a nativity scene. A different one to be sure but it was clear!
ReplyDeleteunmistakable pattern I suppose. No need to spend any cash on a nativity set.
DeleteIt is Wednesday early...Happy Birthday...Wishing you health and a happy day!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! Just another Wednesday- going to the post office , grocery , out in the pouring rain. Another year older! Cheers!
DeleteMy brain does not work in this minimalist way. It just doesn't. I feel like I am not one of the cool kids. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteI wonder what I'll be like when the dementia takes over. Probably horrible.
Well if you do even have a glimpse of dementia i wish you a fenced acre of land in which to roam, Chickens, cats and children following your delightful self.
DeleteHa! It DOES seem like a psychiatric issue, to see nativity scenes in everything. LOL! Having said that, I love your soap-chip nativity. That's awesome.
ReplyDeleteobjects are not what they appear to be, like Dali- who did not paint the dream, he painted what was behind the dream.
DeleteIf I ever have to suffer dementia I hope it's that one. wandering around an acre making art.
ReplyDeleteI hope so too, I would love fenced acreage, a shed and a barn and enough bits and pieces in the field to arrange. Best idea for dementia!
DeleteYou are easily entertained, and a good thing in these days of staying at home. And Happy Birthday young lady!
ReplyDelete