Repost of December 22, 2007

I'M DREAMING OF A CHRISTMAS TREE

The wonderful lady over at Carpe Banana shared some of her favorite tree ornaments, which made me eager to share mine. Each and every ornament on our tree has such special memories for me, and there's always a collective groan from the gentlemen in the house as they hear me "ooh" and "aah" when we decorate each year!

Oh, what decisions as I try to limit these photos to just a few!

My brother and I loved troll dolls as we grew up in the 60's. We built houses for them out of wooden blocks and even made clothes for them. So when I saw this ornament, I was delighted to buy it for the tree. Up in the corner you can see one of the Star Trek ships Enterprise.

 


We have many ornaments the boys have made through the years when they were younger. I cherish every one.  

       

When we vacation, I try to buy something that will remind of the place we visited. On the left, you can see the gourd painted like a bird, from Arizona. The ornament beside it is a special edition ornament given to faculty and staff of Grove City College. Each year they have been giving us a different building or landmark of the college.

I have great memories of the years I've spent in our local homeschool support group. Many times we've made an ornament at our December "Mothers' Meeting"--meetings where we share and laugh for hours on end. The one below is made from a light bulb.

Our town is well-known for its aluminum forge, so I have several ornaments purchased from there. This is surely one of my favorites.

Because I grew up on a farm where we raised pigs, I have a few pig items throughout the house--and several on the tree. And I really love the tractors--Hallmark has come out with a whole series of them (red tractors are best!!). I also like the red of Santas, and this one has a special story. In 1977 I went with the aunts and Grandma to visit another aunt who lives in Los Angeles. Our trip included a jaunt to Las Vegas. I decided I would put no more than $5 into the machines, and when I made a profit of $12, I quit, went to the shop there, and bought 3 beautiful small items from Germany.

A view of my tree wouldn't be complete without telling of my friend Betty, who died from cancer a few years back. She had such a generous spirit. Once I visited her and saw several of these star ornaments on her tree. That was when we had those big old lightbulbs for our Christmas trees. Inside each ornament is a little twirly piece, which would be set in motion from the heat of those bulbs. I exclaimed my delight upon seeing them and Betty didn't hesitate. She immediately pulled one off the tree and said, "Here! Have one!" Now I remember her especially when I decorate, and surprisingly, it still twirls with the newer bulbs, even though we cannot feel any heat at all when we touch them.

 

May you have a blessed Christmas, with many memories of the past, while making more for the future!