Monday Musings- Trees and Memory Lane
Happy Monday, ladies. Today’s musings are personal and poignant. I suppose it’s the season for reminiscing and I’ve been doing a lot of it. Over the weekend, I decorated one of our tiny faux trees, which brought back so many memories. The tree uses southwest ornaments and red chili lights my mom sent me many years ago. She was quite the gal!
After her parents passed away, she inherited a little money, retired, and sold her home. She bought a motor home, packed up her 2 Irish Terriers, and set out to explore the country. She headed west to see me, check out California, and be here for the birth of my first child. She spent a long time in Napa, a few months near friends in the mid-west, and wintered in Florida. When her travels took her to New Mexico, it was love at first sight. She bought a fixer-upper in Albuquerque and settled down, happy as a clam.
These ornaments and lights have been buried in a box in the garage since our move 4 years ago. Hanging the lights and ornaments was such a trip down memory lane. She’s been gone for 19 years, but every time I decorate this tree, she’s here with me. Her adventurous spirit skipped a generation, but my daughter Vanessa has it!
I also decorated a tiny faux Christmas tree with my grandson. My vision was a Hallmark-type handmade tree with strung cranberries and sliced citrus fruits. Ha! James is just 8, but 5 minutes into stringing the cranberries, he slowed down to a snail’s pace. I asked if he thought it was sort of lame, and he nodded ever so slightly. Oh well, the best-laid plans… I continued the stringing. I ended up adding some mercury glass veggies because it looked pretty pathetic. It still does, so I may string more cranberries tomorrow:)
Our big tree in the living room has the rest of our ornaments. Besides the ones that are handmade by the people I love, my favorites are the glass ones. I started buying them over 40 years ago and never tire of their shine. Unfortunately, many have dropped and broken over the years, so I’m always hunting for unique replacements. The best prices are after Christmas, so I’ve started putting them into carts to strike on Boxing Day. My mom had a thing for owls, so when I found these, I had to have them. It turns out there are lots of glass owl ornaments out there.
more glass ornaments
Vanessa is flying down this week, and that will be all the Christmas presents I need. She was going to drive and bring HoneyPug, but she’s decided a quick flight will be easier on both her back and HP, so she found a vet tech who will dog sit. Of course, being old and fragile, we all worry about HP.
My posting may be sporadic while Vanessa is here because I’ll be busy soaking up all the family time I can and making memories for later. Time moves so quickly, hug those you love and be good to yourselves.
What sort of ornaments are your favorites?
I spent time with family over Christmas, and didn’t keep up with your blogs, Jennifer. But I have to say that my favorite ornaments fall into 2 categories: those purchased as souvenirs from our travels, and those that are family pieces. Both have wonderful memories attached! I also get to set up and decorate my mom’s tree, and there are even more memories in her ornaments – many that have been on the tree ever since I can remember, and some that we made as children. The ornaments are one of the happiest memories of Christmas! Thanks for a great blog post that touched my heart.
Your holidays sound wonderful Ruth.xo
Enjoyed reading about your Mom and your memories of her. Have a very Merry Christmas with your family!
Merry Christmas, Meg
Thank you for sharing memories about your mother, very sweet and poignant…the picture of your mother reminds me of pictures of my mother back then.
She was pretty amazing. I sure miss her.
You look so much like your mother! Loving those red shorts! He, he!
My husband has a childhood Santa that comes out every year, its cute.
Have a fun holiday with your family:)
Merry Christmas!
Hi Jennifer,
Wow, do you look like your mom! I thought it was you in an older picture! What sweet memories!
I sure got her legs š She was amazing
I love the picture of your Mom. You look so much like her. Two very pretty women.
I like blown glass ordainments and cool white lights with a few birds stuck in between the branches. And some snowmen, of course.
Do love š my tree.
Merry Christmas a bit early.
Thank you so much, Lin. Merry Christmas
Christmas tree decorations certainly do bring on the memoriesā¦
I have hand made ones from a couple of my first students back in 1971ā¦ very special!p indeed ! Also a couple of little drums made from sliced toilet rolls, back when the cardboard was more resilient and could take the pressure of pins needed for the ribbon decorating the gold foil snare drums. Another class Christmas project when I was only 11 years older than some of my students !
Sadly ,I never met my husbandās parents, but we have many beautiful blown glass decorations of theirs, and thankfully, only a few mishaps since we began our own trees together. Treated with much care, and stored in tissue in large shallow boxes .
I remember a silver metal tree one year back in the ā60ās, a new style then, which Mum decorated with soft gold, silver and green balls. Pretty, but not my favourite at all. We did not use red in decorating the house when I was growing upā¦unless on a tartan bow on front door swag. Must be why I love touches of it in my own home at Christmas along with fresh greens and pine cones, and tartan ribbon.
You will certainly have a happy Christmas with your family, Jennifer. Thanks for sharing your memories, especially about your Mom , and take a much deserved break from the excellent ideas you bring us so regularly.
We have a fair amount from when the kids made things at school. They are treasures. Merry Christmas, Cath!
Thank you for sharing about your Mom. We never miss them more than once they are gone. I love the little tree you and your grandson decorated – adorable. Someone suggested stringing popcorn to add and I think it would be perfect on that little one.
Thank you, Jennifer, for all the wonderful advice and ideas you share with us each day. Enjoy your visit with your daughter and Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Thank you, Christi. Merry Christmas!
Your mom sounds like an amazing lady. I am sure she was standing nearby watching you decorate it. I laughed when you mentioned stringing cranberries! I try that one year and frankly I was like your grandson, after a bag I was bored. I hope that you have a very Mery Christmas, enjoy Vanessa!
Thanks so much, Elizabeth:) It does sound more fun than it is.
I wish I was as brave as your mom. I love to adventure but never on my own. My daughter, like Vanessa, will take off on her own and even moved to Australia for a year. You & I got skipped over. š
Enjoy your mother/daughter time. Weāll be here whenever you post.
Merry Christmas to you & yours! š
~Joanna (Vancouver Island)
Wow, she does sound adventurous! Merry Christmas, Joanna
Decorating the Christmas tree used be fun when my son was young. Once he was out of the house, trying to do it with my husband became such a chore (there was always a football game on he had to check in with, we needed some Christmas music – which had to be found, etc.) that I wound up doing 90% of it by myself – and I hated that! We had no tree at all one year, and that was ok with my husband but I really missed it. So, I wound up wiring (real) pinecones, feathered doves and other birds, berry clusters, and glass raindrops onto the branches. We covered it with a big plastic bag & put the whole tree in the basement. After that, it was just removing the plastic bag and carrying up the decorated tree to the living room. I was happy with the decorations & didnāt have to do it all myself! In fact, since he had to do the heavy lifting, I enjoyed it even more.
LOL, I love your solution, Linda. A woman after my own heart:)
See you soon š
I can’t wait!!!!!
When my kids were little I had to think of something to calm them down Christmas Eve. So we started a tradition, still do it today. they got to open one present. It was always an ornament. Hanging them up on the tree brings back so many happy memories.
Oh yes, that is fun
Hi Jennifer! I always love looking at someoneās tree! They are all unique and special to that family. I used to buy my girls ornaments every year and when they moved to their own homes their ornaments went with them for their own trees. I have an angel tree with little angels I collected from Avon years ago and angel wings that I buy from the Christmas Store in Banff Alberta every time I go there.
Merry Christmas! Enjoy the holidays with your family!
Thank you, Ruth. Merry Christmas
Thanks for sharing your Christmas memories Jennifer want to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and all the Best in the coming year. Happy Shopping !
Thank you so much, Doris. Merry Christmas!
You look so much like your mom, I could swear that is you in the photo!
She must have been a fantastic mom and woman!!
Every year, my husband and I buy an ornament or two from a lovely little gift shop in the area. They are gorgeous, hand-blown glass ornaments (most from Europe) and we now have ourselves quite the collection.
We haven’t had a tree for the past couple of years because of our new kitty (too playful) but we do have one this year (so far, so good)!
Have a wonderful visit with your daughter!
They sound gorgeous! Merry Christmas and good luck with your kitty:)
Your mom sounds (and looked) fabulous! Loved reading this. Enjoy your family time, and have a Merry Christmas!
Thank you so much, Sarah. Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas.
I like the little tree you made it’s unique and brings joy!! That’s what Christmas is all about.
Thanks for your hard work on the blog.
Thanks, Cathlyn, Merry Christmas
How wonderful that you have good memories of your mother.
Love the beautiful story of your Mom, Jennifer. Thank you for sharing that!
Enjoy the glass ornaments, and of course your family and the new memories to be made this Christmas!
You sure do look like your Mom!!!!
Merry Christmas to you and yours, Jennifer. Thank you for sharing your classy clothes and unique perspectives with us. You are making a tremendous difference for me.
I have a few glass ornaments that were my mom’s that are my favorites.
Merry Christmas, Karen. Thanks for being here with us.
My favorite ornaments are shiny glass also. I have many from my childhood but have lost quite a few. I love finding glass Santa’s, always on the lookout!