Silver and gold... on ev'ry Christmas Tree

*Warning: Heavy Load Ahead*

It's not often we get company out here in the SC backwoods, and no one outside the family ever gets to see our Christmas decorations. And since I don't have any heirloom ornaments, or homespun stories to tell, I thought I would take this opportunity to "show off" some of our first generation pieces.

Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories
December 2 - Christmas Tree Ornaments

In my previous post I mentioned the pewter ornaments we have received from Aunt Elsie every year since 1994, and I'd first like to show you those.

Click to enlarge.

Next up are our "First Christmas" ornaments. The horse pulling the couple in the sleigh was given to us by my cousin Nancy as a wedding present. The teddy bear on the bottom left is the ornament that marks our daughter Lyndy's first Christmas in 1982, and the one on the bottom right marks our son Caleb's.

Click to enlarge.

Here is the ornament Caleb made at school last year. Ain't it cool?


And these next two were gifts from our granddaughter Taylor (aka Tator).




The ice skating, red nose reindeer was sent from the UK by my bff Shelagh.


And last but not least are the homemade snowmen I received when I participated in a blogger ornament exchange...oh gosh, was it 4 years ago? I don't know, maybe it was 3 or 5...Anyway... I included them because I want to plant an idea seed--It was a lot of fun exchanging ornaments with a fellow blogger, whichever year that was, and I think it would be equally so if we genea-bloggers could arrange to do something similar next year.

Leave a note in the comments if you're interested.


Now for a little treat...Enjoy!

Your branches green delight us

People, I have fallen behind and I can't catch up!

The Christmas holiday is upon us, and I still have a bucket of Halloween candy sitting on my china cabinet. So, in an attempt to bring my inner elf out and up to date, I danced around the house to some holiday tunes today. Not one of which was O Tannenbaum (aka O Christmas Tree), I might add, and yet that is the one song I can't get out of my head. Thank you Thomas and Jasia!*

Oh, and by the way, we can all blamethank Janice for that excruciatingly lovely image of my elfin self, and the veritable treat that awaits those of you who dare to click the embedded link promises to knock all the sugar plums right out of your head, or your money back, guaranteed.

Now where was I...That's right...O Tannenbuam, O Tannenbaum...

Christmas 1967

The photo above was taken at my Aunt Elsie's house in 1967. I assume that's the year we lived with her because that's my tricycle and toy doggie under the tree, but I was only two that year so I'm hardly a good witness. I do recognize the sofa however, and believe it or not, she still has the exact same one in her present home. It's been reupholstered since then of course.

Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories
December 1 - The Christmas Tree

When I was a kid, the holidays around our house were a haphazard affair. My mom worked three jobs during my early years, and the equivalent of three even after she went into business for herself. Back then, she was also something of a non traditionalist, and I don't recall any two trees ever looking the same.

One year I came home from somewhere to find an artificial tree with nothing but gold hanging from its limbs, and the next we had the real deal, all done up in bright, cherry reds, and she let me help add some of the silver tinsel.


A few years after I married, Mom gave me a beautiful tree for my birthday (pictured above), and it became a tradition to put our tree up every December 8th thereafter. We've replaced the tree a time or two since, but unlike my mom, we hang most of the same ornaments from one year to the next, and the kids always help, whether they want to or not (seems only fair, if you ask me, since they made a lot of 'em). And every year we add at least one new piece.

It comes from my Aunt Elsie whose Christmas gift to us each year includes Avon's annual pewter ornament. Aunt Elsie is in many ways the polar opposite of Mom, and her traditional nature inadvertently starts traditions in the lives of other people. Particularly this one, which has matured into a lovely collection that I believe will be cherished and enjoyed by many future generations.

That is, unless they take after Mom. :-)

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

O Christmas Tree O, Christmas Tree,
Your branches green delight us.
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
Your branches green delight us.
They're green when summer days are bright;
They're green when winter snow is white.
O, Christmas Tree, O, Christmas Tree,
Your branches green delight us!

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
You give us so much pleasure!
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
You give us so much pleasure!
How oft at Christmas tide the sight,
O green fir tree, gives us delight!
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
You give us so much pleasure!

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
Your branches green delight us.
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
Your branches green delight us.
They're green when summer days are bright;
They're green when winter snow is white.
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
Your branches green delight us!

*Sorry I didn't get this done in time to submit it!