Today's post in the Calendar of Christmas Memories is the author's choice.
I've missed a few days of posting in this series so I'd like to go back a visit those (and possibly re-visit others). On Dec 1 we were tasked with writing about the Christmas Tree. While I don't recall my grandparents trees directly, I have found several photos of my paternal grandmother's (Edna Keener) home during Christmas and the tree was different in every one, so obviously real. In my home growing up we had a fake tree from the time I was very young. Now I have to talk about the tinsel - we "hung" the tinsel - using a few strands on every branch. Yes, it was a very tedious process, but the tree was not covered with it and it was beautiful. So I ask, is tinsel meant to be tossed "at" or carefully placed so it hangs gently on the branches, appearing to be ice?
While we're on the subject of Grandma.. why did she hang paper bells around? The large one in this photo appears to be more of a wedding decoration.
Obviously Grandma was pretty popular - receiving MANY Christmas cards which she hung all around the fireplace (top photo) and even on the windows (photo above).
I have traditionally had only one tree in my home, my parents only had one tree in their home. My sister-in-law had 4 trees in her home last year - each a different theme, in different areas of the house and some even a different color (one was white for instance). This year, since my 'little' children are a bit bigger and much better about fiddling around with the Christmas tree, I decided that I wanted to put another in my home's foyer with some other decorations. Not having the budget to purchase a 10' narrow tree, I opted to buy a 5' and decorate it with simple red and gold, much like the decorations I have on my mantle. This added a bit more holiday to that area of the house whereas most is in the family room and kitchen area. 
One day this week we wrote about ornaments. Today while reading blog posts of other writers I came across many stories of Christmases past and I also thought of some old friends, which brought to mind an ornament that I received from a co-worker and his wife many years ago. Ornaments are odd things in the way they make you recall - for some reason, you really never forget that person, even if you don't see them for 15 years. So to Sheri and Anthony - while you many not have realized it at the time, you were an inspiration to me back then in the way that you lived your lives, and even now when I read your blog. Thanks for sharing with me and being the people you are! Have a Blessed Holiday! 
Beautiful tree! I agree ornaments do make you recall the person who gave it to you.
ReplyDeleteI've missed now two days of postings because the day job has got in the way, I'll catch up over the weekend and revisit all the other posts (I'm reading this in bed whilst drinking my bedtime cuppa!).
ReplyDeleteDear Cindy,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your words of encouragement and prayers during this difficult time.
And you are right, we sometimes have no idea of who we might have touched during a particular season of our lives. What a gift you have given by sharing that with us.
When Anthony was decorating his tree, he asked if we had any tinsel... which we didn't. And I didn't see any at the stores either. Guess it is more so from the past?
Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Cindy,
ReplyDeleteI'm very late at responding, but this is a post that brings back my own Christmas memories. We, too, hung tinsel -- never threw it. Sometimes we kids tried that, goofing around, and were immediately informed by Dad that, no, that's not what you did, you hung the tinsel gently, as you describe here. The 1950s tv is also a great reminiscence. The tv was a major piece of furniture, occupying a prestigious piece of real estate in the living, dining, or family room--not just a flat rectangle pressed against the wall like a framed painting. Thanks for the memories.