These characters usually live in a wooden bowl with a top that a grandchild used for storing such small softies. Among them live knit finger puppets.
As I was decorating, I rescued poor unclothed Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus to set them up on the coffee table, ready for the next visiting grand to play, rearrange, and hide the sacred characters.
During this season of waiting and preparing for Christmas, I pause, play a favorite song, and sing along.
Today I offer to you a small elfchen poem pause:
Space
Generous, old
As wooden floorboards
Creak with thumping rhythm
Sanctuary
@margaretsmn, draft
Reflections on the Teche 
Margaret, I forgot how much I love elfchen poems. It is lovely that your grandchildren play with the sweet creche set. Within the hands of children flow a peace that grandparents cherish. Thanks for renewing my thoughts about writing elfchen poems. It seems quite appropriate for this Christmas season
Your poem, like your creche, are most special and reminders of the simple beauty of this season,
Again, the elfchen steals the show! It is the perfect complement to the tiny finger puppets, and I love the simple wonder of this nativity. Poor unclothed Mary brought me a needed moment of a chuckle, just because it was so unexpected. It set the stage for the way kids abandon playthings and move on to the next, without another thought of who might need a stitch of clothing. It’s perfect – the moment hits home in big ways here as we imagine the grands coming to play with this set.
My youngest June loves to take clothes off, but she doesn’t have the dexterity to put clothes back on. We were left with a number of naked dolls. So cute!