Nativity Scene

[carolinarider09]

I know it might be a little late but I have this cleared area that is along side the road at the front of my property that I would like to find a use for.

I think, the previous land owners were going to build a house at the front of the property and had a culvert installed, making a sort of drive way.   It was never used and when we purchased the land and began the "forest management" process, we elected to clear this area (maybe 60' x 60') for the planting of some Ginkgo Bilobas.   That has not worked out so we are going to find a new home for the couple of Ginkgos we still have.

So.....  I was thinking of putting something there that could have a seasonal meaning.  The Nativity Scene came to mind. 

It would like it to be a full sized scene.  (well more or less).  I can build the manager and the "stable".  But the figures are a different story. 

It would seem that I would have to secure the figures first and then build the structures to match. 

Has anyone ever done this or have any suggestions? 

Thanks.

[Jess from VA]

My mom got a deal on a couple of full size store mannequins and took to dressing them up in seasonal gear in the family home.

I'd come home from college for a visit, get up to take a leak at night, and scare the hell out of myself. 

Me, I like an anonymous home that does not stand out or attract attention (OPSEC) (beyond being neat and tidy). 

[carolinarider09]

That is sort of our intent but it tends to stand out since it has a red metal roof 

One of the issues, that just crossed my mind, about the Nativity scene would be if I really built a "stable" and it did have at least one wall and a roof, it might well me subject to "wind lift". 

We had some good winds all day today.  According to my weather station, we got a gust of up to 24 MPH.  The weather station is in an open area but the open area is surrounded by trees. 

If you are every interested in seeing what the weather is like here, just click on the link below.  (I think it will work).

https://www.wunderground.com/dashboard/pws/KSCPROSP24?cm_ven=localwx_pwsdash

[Moonshot_1]

I know it might be a little late but I have this cleared area that is along side the road at the front of my property that I would like to find a use for.

I think, the previous land owners were going to build a house at the front of the property and had a culvert installed, making a sort of drive way.   It was never used and when we purchased the land and began the "forest management" process, we elected to clear this area (maybe 60' x 60') for the planting of some Ginkgo Bilobas.   That has not worked out so we are going to find a new home for the couple of Ginkgos we still have.

So.....  I was thinking of putting something there that could have a seasonal meaning.  The Nativity Scene came to mind. 

It would like it to be a full sized scene.  (well more or less).  I can build the manager and the "stable".  But the figures are a different story. 

It would seem that I would have to secure the figures first and then build the structures to match. 

Has anyone ever done this or have any suggestions? 

Thanks.

Kind of have a suggestion. Just a wild thought. Do you think you know some folks who would like to play the parts? A live Nativity scene in the evening. Maybe a church would be interested in doing such a public display.

Some Christmas lighting and you could have a great Christmas display.

[Oss]

Be proud and do what moves you and your family

If you cant go to church these days then damn it let your house be your church

[carolinarider09]

Oss and Moonshot_1,

Good comments.  Will consider that.  The only issue with the live scene is that there is not a lot of traffic on the road in front of your home so.....   

But all thoughts and suggestions are welcomed. 

We have never done a display like that.  So....

[Moonshot_1]

https://shop.catholicsupply.com/store/p/29153-59-Colored-Nativity-Set.aspx

Seen this. At $7000 it is likely a little bit more than you'd probably like to spend but it looks fabulous AND free shipping.

[Moonshot_1]

Oss and Moonshot_1,

Good comments.  Will consider that.  The only issue with the live scene is that there is not a lot of traffic on the road in front of your home so.....   

But all thoughts and suggestions are welcomed. 

We have never done a display like that.  So....

I'm in Iowa. 30 miles to the west of us is a town called LeMars Iowa. Ice Cream capital of the world. You may have heard of Blue Bunny Ice Cream. That is the town.

ANYway, 10 miles west of LeMars, out in the country. middle of no where, there is a farm, down a gravel road and along the road, for a 1/4 mile and acres deep is the Christmas display of all time. You can probably see it from space.

Remember the line of cars at the end of the movie Field of Dreams? Kinda like that. Out in the middle of nowhere.

If you build it, they will come.

(I didn't think up that line but thought it appropriate)

The point is even if there isn't a lot of traffic on the road, if you did go that route, they'll come to see it.

[carolinarider09]

Oss and Moonshot_1,

Good comments.  Will consider that.  The only issue with the live scene is that there is not a lot of traffic on the road in front of your home so.....   

But all thoughts and suggestions are welcomed. 

We have never done a display like that.  So....

I'm in Iowa. 30 miles to the west of us is a town called LeMars Iowa. Ice Cream capital of the world. You may have heard of Blue Bunny Ice Cream. That is the town.

ANYway, 10 miles west of LeMars, out in the country. middle of no where, there is a farm, down a gravel road and along the road, for a 1/4 mile and acres deep is the Christmas display of all time. You can probably see it from space.

Remember the line of cars at the end of the movie Field of Dreams? Kinda like that. Out in the middle of nowhere.

If you build it, they will come.

(I didn't think up that line but thought it appropriate)

The point is even if there isn't a lot of traffic on the road, if you did go that route, they'll come to see it.

Thanks and I agree.   I shall see what I can do.  Having a reasonable and realistic display is the first part. 

I might be able to make the "stable" multi-purpose (a use in the off season)

[Jess from VA]

Local kids need a bus stop (out of the rain)?

Where I grew up in MI, all the kids on the whole little island (at the end of the big island), had to walk down a half mile (or less) to the bus stop, often in terrible winter weather or pouring rain.  Sometimes, if the weather was bad enough, the school bus never made it to us at all.

Our very affluent gyno-doctor neighbor had a very nice shed built there so we could all get under cover.  

He was a cool guy, and after I started working for him mowing and raking and whatever, he used to pick me up in his Jag XKE (he got a new one every year), and give me a lift home after school.  

[Moonshot_1]

Had another thought.

If you have a commercial sign shop in the area, maybe they can make the characters for the nativity out of that corrugated plastic sign material. We got a shop here I'm familiar with that does that stuff. Might give some of those guys a call and run it by them.

Maybe  a plywood backing and the sign material attached to it. All cut out to life size human form.
There must be 1000's of stock images that could be used.

 

[carolinarider09]

Jess,

Actually, I don't know if there are any school age children within 100/200 yards of my house.  And yes, I remember the old School Bus Stop "sheds".   

Moonshot_1,

Thanks for the feedback/suggestion,  never would have crossed my mind.  And it would work. 

[carolinarider09]

Talking more with the wife, she suggested that it might be easier to place the scene on a trailer so it can be easily moved and stored. 

Just an update.

[Moonshot_1]

Talking more with the wife, she suggested that it might be easier to place the scene on a trailer so it can be easily moved and stored. 

Just an update.

Mount LED floodlights powered off a battery on a dusk to dawn timer on the trailer. LEDs don't take much to power. Might get through the entire holiday season on one charge.

You might be on to something here!

[carolinarider09]

Yes LED lights were in the mix (thought wise) and powering, while not always easy, would not be hard. 

I have several 12 VDC batteries I have for use in other applications that sit on battery tenders most of the time.