I’m about to say something.
And when I say it?
I would love it if you acted surprised.
This weekend at Vintage Market here in McKinney? Somewhere. Somehow. In the middle of selling Santa pillows and handmade trees and glitter ornaments and vintage sleighs and an entire subdivision of tiny houses? I managed to shop a little.
See what I mean?
Right?
This is the part where you are supposed to act surprised.
I wasn’t really going to get anything. I just planned on window shopping the aisles. So I walked. And looked. And looked some more. There were so many amazing finds, but I didn’t think I needed anything. After all, I have 37 totes of Christmas decorations.
And then?
Something I didn’t even know I was looking for?
Found me.
I brought it home and used it for this.
I’m actually not even sure what it is.
I just know I love it.
I think it was a stable for plastic horses that someone made. There’s an overhang in the back, and in the front, there’s an outdoor paddock with fencing that the plastic horses would walk through. On the side (you can see it in the first picture), there’s a tiny wooden door that swings open so the plastic cowboys could walk through to tend to their plastic horses.
It looks handmade (and a little rough around the edges, which makes me love it more).
And when I saw stable? Of course, I knew exactly what I’d use it for.
I brought it home and put it on my kitchen island, raised on a pedestal. I added a forest of trees and twinkling lights overhead, and then I filled it with a nativity with Mary and Joseph and baby Jesus. Then I put the cows and sheep in the aisles of the paddock.
If you were wondering if I’m adding hay? I am. If I were in Kentucky, I’d just go outside and gather some from the pasture, but now I live in Texas, and my hay comes from my next visit to Hobby Lobby.
I knew this handmade stable needed a nativity because over 2000 years ago, there was another stable.
A little rough around the edges and with dents and imperfections (just like this one).
It was full of hay and smelled like cows and horses and the noises of the barnyard.
And into that chaos?
A tiny little baby was born to save the world.
Away in a manger, no crib for a bed
The little lord Jesus lay down his sweet head
The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay
The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay
And so on Thanksgiving Eve, I wanted to start the Christmas season where it all started all those centuries ago. I think this stable knew that I needed it. I think it knew it needed to come home with me. There’s so much about this stable that I can identify with.
The handmade.
The imperfections.
The dents and broken edges.
They tell a story of redemption and hope and rejoicing…
…that make the Christmas story all the sweeter.
PS Speaking of shopping? I’m working on a post for Friday with all the Black Friday sales, but I wanted to go ahead and share the sweetest gift idea I just ordered. It’s the perfect gift for anyone. This blanket scarf is so wide that it’s almost a shawl. It has fringe and comes in other colors and you can add monogramming, too.
You know how much I love Lands’ End, and this scarf makes the PERFECT personalized gift and it’s half off right now.
You can see it here.
disclosure: affiliate links are used in this post
It’s so beautiful! I love what you did with it, and the meaning behind it!
It’s perfect and so are your precious comments. Happy Thanksgiving!
I’ll be in McKinney on the 3rd. I can bring you some real hay for your manger if you’d like!
Hi KeriAnne, You have a fabulous imagination and a great idea. Always thinking. Looks so good, I can see it with hay. You scored when. Are you still recovering from the show?
Slowly but surely! I’m hosting 28 people for Thanksgiving this year so I’m working on that! Happy day!
I was so SO surprised 😲 that you went SHOPPING!!!!! HAHAHA 😂🤣😂🤣 I would never have thought such a thing!!! P.S. Love the stable.
I absolutely LOVE this find KariaAnne!
What a find! And how you used it is so precious! It was meant for you to find so you could tell the world about our savior Jesus Christ. It brought a little tear to my eye! Love it!
You have a great eye KariAnne. You can see the possibilities. It is the perfect place for the nativity. Did the seller say it was a stable for kids to play with.
They didn’t really know what it was either! I was way more excited about it than they were! 🤣
Love it! Perfect way to use it.
Beautiful KariAnne-the stable, of course but more importantly, the story the stable tells. Have a blessed Thanksgiving as we enter into the season of Advent.💕
I love the imagination you brought to this “find”, that is now a beautiful story. Truly a conversation piece!
A precious stable for a precious baby!❤️❤️❤️
KariAnne That is the perfect find for this time of year. It was meant to be. I love it. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family. Much love.
“The handmade. The imperfections. The dents and broken edges. They tell a story of redemption and hope and rejoicing… …that make the Christmas story all the sweeter.” YES!!!!!
Karianne, what a great find! I love moments when you spot something so unique and know exactly how you want to use it. Just beautiful. Happy Thanksgiving!
Thank you for this post- Joy to the World! Also, Thank you for the beautiful Christmas House shaped pillows from your online store. I was pleasantly impressed - from the packaging to the quality of the items.
Love the scarf gift idea. Curious why did you choose to add monogram on lower center front instead of pocket? Just personal preference I assume. Do like the white monogram on it.
OK my GOSH, KA!!!! That is one of the best of your finds EVER. It is PERFECT for the Nativity!!!!!!!!! Well done. I am not surprised, but I sure am happy for you.
Beautiful tribute to our Lord
This brought back such a sweet memory KariAnne! My mother used to sing Away In A Manger to us as small children. ❤️. Thank you for sharing the Nativity... beautiful!! Thanksgiving BLESSINGS!
Your post today hit the right note with me! The true meaning of Christmas!! And I love your find! Will be absolutely stunning with the hay! One thing I did not know, Hobby Lobby sells hay?!
Thank you for this sweet post.
Down sizing and swedish death cleaning so all my nativities have gone to others. Sweet idea.
I love this and really the stable where Jesus was born probably wasn't very perfect either. This was a beautiful post, thank you and have a Happy thanksgiving with family and friends.
Amen...just Amen🥰 Thanksgiving blessings to y'all in Texas!
Happy Thanksgiving, Karianne! You are such an exceptional story teller.
Handmade and perfect!
Aww KariAnne, That was beautiful. From His heart to yours to ours....
We must be related somewhere way back on a family tree, or at least we are kindred spirits 🙂 If I had seen that, I would have grabbed it too and for the exact same purpose! I just had a feeling the moment I saw the photo at the top of your post today before even reading on! It is just so absolutely amazingly perfect! Thank you for rescuing it and giving it a wonderful new life and meaning. ❤️ Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
I love that you saved that little stable and made it for the one who saves.
Your creativity and imagination actually shakes my world! Ha! Ha! How amazing that you can notice that little wooden meaningless structure and imagine that it could be transformed into a resting place for Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, and the cattle!!!! I'm truly blessed!!! It makes a perfect little stable and looks so authentic! And I just know that God must be looking down on you, smiling and saying, "Now, that's the woman who I want to be the Director of my Eternal Arts & Crafts Department!" (Smile)
Just a beautiful way to celebrate our Lord. Have a most wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends.
Well…I have followed you since you lived in that beautiful house in Kentucky. And I must say, this is just my favorite post EVER. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours dear. We all have so much to be thankful for. Have a blessed day.
Love your blog and all your decorating ideas. Love your enthusiasm. Beautiful find and so meaningful. After all this is what Christmas is all about. Look forward to your next blog post. Happy Thanksgiving.
Sweet . . . !
Praise God for His most perfect gift!
I Love It!!!!!!!!!!!❣️
A precious purchase for the greatest redemption story ever! I love your all white nativity too!
KariAnne, I love this!! What a special nativity scene - thanks for sharing!
GOD let you find that special stable because HE knew you would tell THE story. God bless you and your family🙏