The Village Sleeps Tonight... (Time-lapse photography)

This weekend was a bittersweet one, with the Presépio being put into hibernation for yet another year.  Dear friend Lili and daughter Yvette gave us the perfect excuse for keeping it intact long after the season has ended -- they are only able to come visit during winter break.  We squeezed in a trip to the  surprisingly excellent New Britain Museum of American Art, lunch with dear friends Ron & Deb at the Polish National Home,  a hike to Mt. Tom State Park, and still had energy left for Saturday's marathon effort that not only got the village successfully packed away, but restored the dining room in time for an animated dinner with yet more friends.

Eric and Molly, with sons Sebastian and Pascal, capped off the evening with piano playing, knitting lessons, a spirited game of 7 Wonders, and of course, more fabulous food.

Merci beaucoup to Lili and Yvette, who in a few hours helped deconstruct what takes weeks to build.  It's a task that when done with friends becomes fun.  I captured it all with time-lapse photography...

With my laptop teetering on top of the bookshelf, it took a picture every 30 seconds...

You can also watch in reverse - gives a pretty good idea of the creation process!... ;)

If only it really were this easy.

For next year's construction process, I will set up a web cam too...

Another Epiphany...

I'm just a little bit late reporting on the Epiphany Gathering...  ;)
So many dear friends and family filled the house with laughs and warmth.  The usual fabulous array of gourmet treats topped even last year's.

At the risk of sounding corny, it truly warmed my heart when 10 year old Milo asked me for the "I Spy" game sheet...  He remembered the "Village Tour Guide" that I had made up a few years ago describing how it's made, and challenges you to find lots of different little vignettes and activities.  There he was, scanning the sheet, checking off each item!
Thank you Milo - I hope these are memories you always keep!
All the kids were great, and took their jobs of keeping the grown-ups from knocking things over very seriously.
The weather was mild enough that they could let off some steam outside, as well as having fun indoors.

I just wish that we had taken more pictures!  If any of you took some, please send them in.
Here are a few by Tim - the only ones we have!

Thanks to everyone who came - we love seeing you all.  And to those of you in far-flung places, at least you're able to virtually visit... ;)  And you can start planning now for next year's trip...