tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89331708648518669952011-04-21T11:36:59.890-07:00E. Hartiganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10221946890543972324noreply@blogger.comBlogger111100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8933170864851866995.post-30058725025925511512007-01-01T22:56:00.001-08:002007-01-01T22:56:26.716-08:00Just when you're feeling that the American commercial machine has drained you of any Christmas spirit, I thought I would share these photographs of creches built by people who live in East Los Angeles. I took a bicycle tour of these creches last January and it was a moving, delightful experience.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8933170864851866995-3005872502592551151?l=wherethephantomorchidsglimmer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>E. Hartiganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10221946890543972324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8933170864851866995.post-26657162890315959762007-01-01T22:47:00.000-08:002007-01-01T22:50:48.460-08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_-EsQxTJTDHU/RZoAKHv0neI/AAAAAAAAADc/JVLrFS_xhkY/s1600-h/BigCreche.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_-EsQxTJTDHU/RZoAKHv0neI/AAAAAAAAADc/JVLrFS_xhkY/s400/BigCreche.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5015321308908789218" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_-EsQxTJTDHU/RZoAFXv0ndI/AAAAAAAAADU/wSeb0Ckc6RI/s1600-h/BigCrecheCloseup.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_-EsQxTJTDHU/RZoAFXv0ndI/AAAAAAAAADU/wSeb0Ckc6RI/s400/BigCrecheCloseup.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5015321227304410578" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_-EsQxTJTDHU/RZoAAnv0ncI/AAAAAAAAADM/SNyMbC2pJlM/s1600-h/CrecheBuilder.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_-EsQxTJTDHU/RZoAAnv0ncI/AAAAAAAAADM/SNyMbC2pJlM/s400/CrecheBuilder.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5015321145700031938" border="0" /></a><br />It's hard to describe the dimensions of this creche, which was the piece de resistance of our tour and occupied about half of the family's living room. Apparently they start constructing it right after Thanksgiving and it takes weeks, with thousands of lights, animals and decorations. It's truly awe-inspiring. The family also created a tribute to Pope John Paul on a nearby table.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8933170864851866995-2665716289031595976?l=wherethephantomorchidsglimmer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>E. Hartiganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10221946890543972324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8933170864851866995.post-14191594458411128442007-01-01T22:44:00.000-08:002007-01-01T22:47:04.889-08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_-EsQxTJTDHU/RZn_nnv0nbI/AAAAAAAAAC4/JVhsxpT0doE/s1600-h/CrecheWithSanta1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_-EsQxTJTDHU/RZn_nnv0nbI/AAAAAAAAAC4/JVhsxpT0doE/s400/CrecheWithSanta1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5015320716203302322" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_-EsQxTJTDHU/RZn_h3v0naI/AAAAAAAAACw/f2whHV1I-qg/s1600-h/Santacloseup.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_-EsQxTJTDHU/RZn_h3v0naI/AAAAAAAAACw/f2whHV1I-qg/s400/Santacloseup.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5015320617419054498" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_-EsQxTJTDHU/RZn_dHv0nZI/AAAAAAAAACo/iXR5ldvQziM/s1600-h/LakeNearSanta.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_-EsQxTJTDHU/RZn_dHv0nZI/AAAAAAAAACo/iXR5ldvQziM/s400/LakeNearSanta.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5015320535814675858" border="0" /></a><br />What will Santa bring Baby Jesus for Christmas? He already has everything. Maybe some skates to go skating on the pond once he's a little older.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8933170864851866995-1419159445841112844?l=wherethephantomorchidsglimmer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>E. Hartiganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10221946890543972324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8933170864851866995.post-82122718790177398392007-01-01T22:43:00.000-08:002007-01-01T22:44:34.947-08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_-EsQxTJTDHU/RZn_G3v0nYI/AAAAAAAAACc/ewG3_1-feKY/s1600-h/CrecheWithWeatherVane.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_-EsQxTJTDHU/RZn_G3v0nYI/AAAAAAAAACc/ewG3_1-feKY/s400/CrecheWithWeatherVane.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5015320153562586498" border="0" /></a>The goose or swan may be flying to alert people about Jesus' coming.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8933170864851866995-8212271879017739839?l=wherethephantomorchidsglimmer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>E. Hartiganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10221946890543972324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8933170864851866995.post-40325551701557209872007-01-01T22:41:00.000-08:002007-01-01T22:43:01.052-08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_-EsQxTJTDHU/RZn-n3v0nXI/AAAAAAAAACQ/viEz5nXIi3c/s1600-h/CrechewithSwans.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_-EsQxTJTDHU/RZn-n3v0nXI/AAAAAAAAACQ/viEz5nXIi3c/s400/CrechewithSwans.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5015319620986641778" border="0" /></a>All animals come to creches, and when the swans come, they flap their wings.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8933170864851866995-4032555170155720987?l=wherethephantomorchidsglimmer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>E. Hartiganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10221946890543972324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8933170864851866995.post-91754978954620176222007-01-01T22:39:00.000-08:002007-01-01T22:41:14.315-08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_-EsQxTJTDHU/RZn-O3v0nWI/AAAAAAAAACE/9-asfBXiUik/s1600-h/Devil.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_-EsQxTJTDHU/RZn-O3v0nWI/AAAAAAAAACE/9-asfBXiUik/s400/Devil.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5015319191489912162" border="0" /></a><br />Many of the creches also depicted a sinister devil in a cave or hidey hole somewhere in the great panorama. At times, he was shown trying to convince a monk not to pray.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8933170864851866995-9175497895462017622?l=wherethephantomorchidsglimmer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>E. Hartiganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10221946890543972324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8933170864851866995.post-7400211428260866252007-01-01T22:37:00.000-08:002007-01-01T22:39:31.058-08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_-EsQxTJTDHU/RZn91Hv0nVI/AAAAAAAAAB0/fjwxzWTLSRw/s1600-h/CrecheTriplets.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_-EsQxTJTDHU/RZn91Hv0nVI/AAAAAAAAAB0/fjwxzWTLSRw/s400/CrecheTriplets.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5015318749108280658" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_-EsQxTJTDHU/RZn9xHv0nUI/AAAAAAAAABs/TJKgXyr-NhA/s1600-h/TripletsCloseup.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_-EsQxTJTDHU/RZn9xHv0nUI/AAAAAAAAABs/TJKgXyr-NhA/s400/TripletsCloseup.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5015318680388803906" border="0" /></a><br />Many creches contained multiples of the Baby Jesus, perhaps a reference to the Trinity. Interestingly, one of the babies in this creche was black.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8933170864851866995-740021142826086625?l=wherethephantomorchidsglimmer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>E. Hartiganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10221946890543972324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8933170864851866995.post-90569903657800166792007-01-01T22:35:00.000-08:002007-01-01T22:37:25.341-08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_-EsQxTJTDHU/RZn9bXv0nTI/AAAAAAAAABY/kkEjURiVil0/s1600-h/CrecheWithTinsel.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_-EsQxTJTDHU/RZn9bXv0nTI/AAAAAAAAABY/kkEjURiVil0/s400/CrecheWithTinsel.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5015318306726649138" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_-EsQxTJTDHU/RZn9XXv0nSI/AAAAAAAAABQ/IuJlJECev4w/s1600-h/TinselCrecheCloseup.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_-EsQxTJTDHU/RZn9XXv0nSI/AAAAAAAAABQ/IuJlJECev4w/s400/TinselCrecheCloseup.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5015318238007172386" border="0" /></a><br />The tinsel looks like snow falling if you squint a little.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8933170864851866995-9056990365780016679?l=wherethephantomorchidsglimmer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>E. Hartiganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10221946890543972324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8933170864851866995.post-25606945643147399282007-01-01T22:34:00.000-08:002007-01-01T22:35:22.605-08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_-EsQxTJTDHU/RZn8-Hv0nQI/AAAAAAAAAA8/0xY8AKdzVpk/s1600-h/RoseTribute.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_-EsQxTJTDHU/RZn8-Hv0nQI/AAAAAAAAAA8/0xY8AKdzVpk/s400/RoseTribute.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5015317804215475458" border="0" /></a><br />I thought this had a pretty symmetry and feminine grace.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8933170864851866995-2560694564314739928?l=wherethephantomorchidsglimmer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>E. Hartiganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10221946890543972324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8933170864851866995.post-82577993224828421002007-01-01T22:32:00.000-08:002007-01-01T22:34:08.316-08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_-EsQxTJTDHU/RZn8s3v0nPI/AAAAAAAAAAw/r3DyriqOPSQ/s1600-h/CrecheWithReindeerCactus.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_-EsQxTJTDHU/RZn8s3v0nPI/AAAAAAAAAAw/r3DyriqOPSQ/s400/CrecheWithReindeerCactus.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5015317507862732018" border="0" /></a><br />This creche was shyly hidden on the porch, but reindeer visiting the cactus in the yard let you know that something special is going on.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8933170864851866995-8257799322482842100?l=wherethephantomorchidsglimmer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>E. Hartiganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10221946890543972324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8933170864851866995.post-69306338946872267772007-01-01T22:27:00.000-08:002007-01-01T23:00:14.689-08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_-EsQxTJTDHU/RZn7v3v0nMI/AAAAAAAAAAM/0jB2_Ja7_eA/s1600-h/CrecheWithFence.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_-EsQxTJTDHU/RZn7v3v0nMI/AAAAAAAAAAM/0jB2_Ja7_eA/s400/CrecheWithFence.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5015316459890711746" border="0" /></a>The creche was right up close to the fence where anyone passing by could appreciate it.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8933170864851866995-6930633894687226777?l=wherethephantomorchidsglimmer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>E. Hartiganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10221946890543972324noreply@blogger.com0