Friday, December 17, 2010

Oh, Christmas tree... (Part 2... kind of)


While the outside of the home was cold and a light snow covered that which was already on the ground, I spent yesterday in the kitchen baking pumpkin cookies and making Beverly Nye's candy.  My husband was taking a tray of the cookies to the bookstore and a special box of them to a friend.  He has been working at the bookstore for his usual "end of the semester" week of work... every thing helps!

For awhile, I had Pandora Christmas music playing on the computer but decided I wanted to watch some of the old black and white Christmas episodes of TV shows I have in a DVD set (purchased at one time at Border's for less than $5.00 for a 4-DVD set).  I mostly listened (from the kitchen) to some very old holiday episodes of Petticoat Junction, Ozzie and Harriet, and a couple lesser known shows.

I always find it interesting to watch old shows and see how the culture has changed since they originally were broadcast.  On one episode, Harriet had a beautiful apron on the entire day and the guys wore suits to dinner!  My son has found it hard to believe there was still a dress code when his father attended the University as a freshmen.  :)

Here are just a few more pictures of my tree, it has always been difficult to get a picture which really shows how pretty it is.


In the midst of vintage and nostalgic ornaments, one must have some whimsy... and this ornament shows a guilty passion.  I thought it funny that Stephanie has one on her tree (the less Christmas-y ornament) which represents my son-in-law's enjoyment of coffee.


These are two of my favorites!  Stephanie was still in college when she and I went into a favorite store of mine to admire all the pretty things.  I thought these two beautiful (the picture does not do them justice) and while I was elsewhere shopping, she purchased them for me as my Christmas gift from her that year.

I may have mentioned before that my husband and daughter were at one time known in our home as Deviousness and Cloaker for the extreme measures they took in finding a Christmas gift for me together, hiding it, and then either wrapping it or making a game of having me find the gift in the house... or the garage... or the yard... sigh.  My husband has fond memories of their Christmas adventures.


There are a few ornaments such as this bear on the tree each year.  All were taken off of specially wrapped packages over the years, where I thought them so cute they deserved to reappear on the tree, all they needed was to slip a hook on them... very easy. 


I did something new this year that I really like.  We have only one actual wrapped gift under the tree (the large one on the left which is from the New England Contingent) and it looked a little bare.  So... I had all these pretty Christmas boxes which I store small decorations in during the year and instead of putting them back in their Rubbermaid containers, I put them under the tree.

I just love the way it looks and it shows off the beautiful boxes (all of which came from garage sales, thrift stores, etc.).  As for the snowman on the right, it is on a sleigh with another stuffed dog behind him and when you turn it on, it rocks and the snowman sings Sleigh Ride.  It was a gift from my sister, Bonnie, a few years ago.

I love it.  My husband does not... so we agree to let it sit under the tree if I don't turn it on.  I think he's afraid I might starting singing along with it and, well... you have not heard me sing... another sigh.

8 comments:

Vee said...

It's been a pleasure reading your Christmas tree posts. You have some lovely things. One thing struck me with a tinge of sadness. Sometimes I have been guilty of assuming that because a thing has been a certain way a long time that it will always be so. Not true as you so poignantly suggest with your story about "Deviousness and Cloaker." Still they are always so because we have our memories. Don't mind me...your posts often have this effect. And I imagine that it was comforting to listen to the old programs. I'm sure that I could use a few.

Marie said...

I love your tree and the stories behind the ornaments. I am enjoying some old cd's of Christmas music. I think they are so much better than what is out there now. We don't have any gifts at all under our tree. All the family is coming home but we are just going to have fellowship and food. There is nothing any of us really needs. I wish you and yours a wonderful Christmas and a great New Year.
Love ya!
Marie

MB said...

I enjoy your blog and wish you and your family Merry & holy Christmas.

I do have to ask if there is a faster way to download your blog as it always takes a lot longer than most of the other ones I visit. I have Firefox which seems to work fine and fast but maybe I should use another server?

Fixing My Thoughts said...

What a good idea to save special package trimmings to use as ornaments! And your tree looks wonderful with your Christmas "storage" boxes underneath. Growing up our trees never had any gifts "until Santa came," but I think it's nice now to have gifts under the tree during the season. I pray that God will give you the desires of your heart. (And isn't amazing that if we ponder that, we realize He already has given us most of what we truly desire!) Grateful for you, Bess

Lisa said...

I just started on blogger, and I was delighted to find your blog. I appreciate your pictures, words, and candor. Your site is beautiful and I love visiting.

Shanna said...

I love the view from your window of the red barn with snow...it's just SO Christmas-y.

Deanna Rabe - Creekside Cottage Blog said...

It is so fun to see what others are doing at their homes here at Christmas time! Clever idea about the storage boxes!

Maybe you can play your snowman, dog and sled music toy when your husband is working at the bookstore!

I thought it was funny too, that you and Stephanie both had Starbucks ornaments on your trees!

Dawn said...

Always makes me feel just at home to visit your blog, especially during Christmas! I love the ornament boxes idea. We only have a few presents under the tree, so that is a great way to decorate. We are looking forward to a new tradition this year, an outdoor winter bonfire in the yard. It's nice to blend the old with the new, isn't it? Thanks for always sharing from your heart.