Cloche Party with Marty!!

I've known about this party for weeks now, but as usual I've waited until the last minute to get all my ducks in a row and get this post done. I guess what I should say is all my partridges in a row...you'll see why in a minute.

First, props to Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for hosting this grand affair.

Everyone grab a glass of wine or a a hot cider and just wander through the different blogs and get some ideas on Christmas decor. Actually hang on and I'll make us all a cup of cinnamon tea.

Ok, back. Careful now, this tea is hot. So let me show you my humble little cloche decor and then you can head over to Marty's and see some of her very professional cloches.

First up is my partridge. I found this little bird at one of my favorite thrift stores, The American Cancer Society Discovery Store. I just loved it's plumpness and the colors. I didn't even know it was a partridge until I was paying and a lady standing next to the register said, "Oh, you bought the Partridge from the Partridge in a Pear Tree?"

I don't have a pear tree, so I've place him in a lovely wrought iron birdcage in a nest of pine and pine cones.

I had him on my coffee table in the living room, but the lighting wasn't too great there, so I moved him into my kitchen just for this photo session. The light still isn't great, but trust me it's much better than it was in the living room.

Since I have a Partridge, but no pear tree...I found the next best thing; a pear! A golden pear. I still haven't take out any of my Christmas decorations. I so wanted to have lots of sparkly things surrounding the pear, but it's so beautiful in it's simplicity that I'm sure it's ok to display as is.

My cloche by the way is an upside down hurricane lamp. I did the same thing for the previous cloche party, which you can see here. This hurricane lamp has come in very handy!

And I thought maybe the Partridge and the Pear might look nice together. What do you think?

My other little treasure I want to share is a Mexican Santa figure which I found at my local Goodwill. My sister was with me and we found the Mexican Santa, an Irish Santa, a Russian Santa, a Swedish Santa and an African Santa. Can't wait to show you those. But for today's cloche party...just the Mexican Santa.

I tried displaying him a variety of ways, he was so easy to work with. A lovely model, but then again he is Santa, he's used to having photo sessions.

His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;

And here's the backside. You can really tell he's a Mexican Santa by his Big Sombrero and his Guitar.

Twas the night before Christmas
and all through the casa,
Not a creature was stirring
-- Caramba! Que pasa?

Los ninos were tucked
away in their camas,
Some in long underwear,
some in pijamas,

While hanging the stockings
with mucho cuidado
In hopes that old Santa
would feel obligado

To bring all children,
both buenos and malos,
A nice batch of dulces
and other regalos.

Outside in the yard
there arose such a grito
That I jumped to my feet
like a fightened cabrito.

I ran to the window
and looked out afuera,
And who in the world
do you think that it era?

Saint Nick in a sleigh
and a big red sombrero
Came dashing along
like a crazy bombero.

And pulling his sleigh
instead of venados
Were eight little burros
approaching volados.

I watched as they came
and this quaint little hombre
Was shouting and whistling
and calling by nombre:

"Ay Pancho, ay Pepe,
ay Cuco, ay Beto,
Ay Chato, ay Chopo,
Macuco, y Nieto!"

Then standing erect
with his hands on his pecho
He flew to the top
of our very own techo.

With his round little belly
like a bowl of jalea,
He struggled to squeeze
down our old chiminea,

Then huffing and puffing
at last in our sala,
With soot smeared
all over his red suit de gala,

He filled all the stockings
with lovely regalos -
For none of the ninos
had been very malos.

Then chuckling aloud,
seeming very contento,
He turned like a flash
and was gone like the viento.

And I heard him exclaim,
and this is verdad,
Merry Christmas to
all, and Feliz Navidad!