Two or three years ago I asked the dinosaurs and Neanderthal Men to move from their usual spot on the ledge between kitchen and dining room, in order to make room for Christmas decorations. As to where to go during the holidays, the idea that appealed the most to them was to join the figures in the Nativity scene. They all opted to participate and it was quite a touching sight to see them among the shepherds and wise men. The ‘kids’ (Triceratops Twins and Apatosaurus youngsters) were excited to see the Infant Jesus. But the most enduring friendship made during that time was between the Allosaurus and the little lamb with broken legs. Since the lamb can’t stand without support, the Allosaurus volunteered to help him.
Here’s where you can find a picture I posted of them back then:
https://365project.org/mcsiegle/365/2016-01-12
And a triptych of the other dinosaurs in the manger scene:
https://365project.org/mcsiegle/365/2015-12-20
To an outsider it might have looked like the “big, scary Allosaurus” had grabbed the innocent lamb with malice in mind, but anyone who knew him would recognize the big, generous heart this guy has. He‘s an old softie, and a pushover for little ones like this lamb.
The next year most of the dinosaurs decided to spend the season elsewhere in the house, but a few of them again went up on the piano with the Nativity figures. The Allosaurus again volunteered to support the little lamb, and the bond between them grew stronger.
This year I offered the dinos the opportunity to spend time with St. Nicholas, and I set them all on the wooden counter in the kitchen. Since the little lamb had learned to support himself by leaning on an edge of the manger, the Allosaurus was able to stay with the rest of the dinos (and Neanderthal Men). In the end it was not an ideal circumstance. On Christmas Day the counter was used for serving and the ham, turkey, cranberry salad, and green bean casserole crowded back into their space. After that I switched them and St Nicholas with the little metal Nativity set in the living room (and later put that set on the bureau in the back bedroom, when the same crowding on the kitchen counter toppled some of the figures.
Anyway, as I was packing up the Nativity set on the piano, the little lamb begged to be left out for a few days so he could visit his friend the Allosaurus. The Allosaurus was overjoyed to see him and I left them like that for several days before insisting the lamb be packed away with the rest of the set. Here you see the two of them and some of the surrounding dinosaurs. In the background is a picture of Nelo.
