Babbo Natale!

My presepe needed a capanna, or stable, so I asked Orietta if she knew a carpenter I could get to build me one. Of course, since we'll be moving back to the US, I didn't want to pay a lot for anything, and really wanted a knock-together type of thing.

She smiled, and said that she knew of someone who might be interested, but he wasn't really a carpenter. She pointed out that a professional would be very perfectionistic, and it would be beautiful but would cost more than I wanted to pay. I agreed, and she said that before she gave me the name, she wanted to check with him as to whether he would be prepared to do it for me.

After thinking about it overnight, I decided that I really wanted to have a surprise. I haven't had someone do something nifty like that for me as a surprise in forever, and it felt like a secret Santa...I wanted to know that someone in town was doing something nice for me without actually knowing who it was. So I conveyed that to Orietta, and she was game.

Between Orietta, Babbo Natale, and Eleanor, they were able to show the location, the scale of the figures, etc. And when Babbo Natale arrived today to work further, I hid myself in the bedroom, and all the children were under strict injunction to say NOTHING.

It was all ready. I was sent out of the front door into utter darkness, with a light shining in my face...no chance of seeing my benefactor OR the capanna. At the last moment...

Paolo with Valerio

It was Paolo, our barista! He is sosososososo nice, and I am so happy that he was my Babbo Natale! And look at the amazing job he did!

He really wants a light on it as the star, but in the meantime we are using a star ornament that Valerio gave me. I feel so loved!

Alexandra

Isn't it GORGEOUS?

The piece behind the woodcutter is completely naturally like that...