Putto

I ordered three of these little clay putti or cherubs, each in a different position, from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, one a year for three years when they stopped offering them. These are replicas of ones that are found on the magnificent baroque tree in the rotunda every year. 

These have been on our tree or our mantel, or sometimes even suspended over our dining table, every year for the last fifty years. I carefully pack them away in their original boxes with form fitting foam cut outs for them to sleep in for the year in between.

Our friends Anne and Harold are driving down from their home in Corvallis, Oregon, en route to their childrens' homes in Southern California. They often break their journey here because it is more or less half way. It will be more than that this year, however, because they have chosen the longer coastal route because of snow on the Ashland Pass. They estimated it would  take 12 hours. They just called us from Eureka where it took them ages to get through town because the power was out and the signals weren't working.

We continue to be amazed that they have the stamina to make the journey in one day. Even by the inland route it takes 9 hours and we always break the trip to their house in Ashland. 

We'll keep the light on and the dinner in the oven for them. A glass or two of wine will most likely be in order as well.