Treasure Two: My Christmas Tree Decorations

Jul

2009

Treasure Two: My Christmas Tree Decorations

USA: Land of the Free, home of appletinis...

I have a really large and special collection of Christmas tree decorations. My mother started the collection when I was a child, and bought me one, very beautiful decoration each year so that I would have a real treasure chest of decorations when the time came for me to have my own tree.

Terrible photo of our tree a few years ago

Terrible photo - taken with a P&S (gasp)

When she died, I inherited her huge collection too…so it’s quite a big box now, too many to actually put them all on the tree in fact so I have to rotate them a bit.

Taken with the Nikon...much better...

My Mum was big in to Christmas. And when I say big, I mean BIG. I used to cringe as I drove down the road coming back for Christmas once I’d left home, I think our house was visible from Outer Space. These days I would probably really appreciate it as the boys would like her over the top approach way more than my minimalist one! Bah humbug.

Hang on! What's THAT doing in there? Taken with an Olympus (double gasp)

Some are very special…the grim plastic fairy with no knickers on which used to adorn the top of the tree as a child…the slightly manky looking fairy which a friend gave me for my 5th birthday…hand carved russian figures bought in Moscow…a little beaded angel from our honeymoon in South Africa…dressing the Christmas tree is like a trip down memory lane for me and I love it.

But the stars & stripes heart pictured above is my favourite one. I actually bought this one myself in New York. I have spent a lot of time working in the US over the years, and I miss it. But a little piece of the Land of the Free nestles on my Christmas tree each year…to remind me of the appletini years.

Wot no appletini?

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Filed under: Material things I love, Ten Treasures

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Relyn

Awwwww.... I did the same for Sloane. I began buying ornaments for her before she was born. (About nine years before, to be exact.) Now we let her pick one very special one each year and I still buy her one that she doesn't know about.

I think your cat may be my favorite decoration. You must have some kind of amazing tree stand if she didn't knock it over.
Eliane

great idea from your mum to collect those sparkling treasures instead of a trunk full of embroidered sheets, old fashioned duvet covers and horrible towels. and maybe she can watch you and your house and her grandchildren from outer space each December....
VEG

I am in love with Christmas too! Though my decorations are buried in the storage room and thus, pretty sure are unsavable in case of emergency :)
Just A. Girl

Christmas? in July? he he. You're just trying to do your christmas ornament post before everyone else, right? you're a smart little cookie.
Sara

I love your tree (and your kitty IN the tree. heehee).

I have each of my kids make ornaments every Christmas (at least 2 each). This way when they move out I will have one for a reminder of when they were so little and they will have a start on their own trees. My mother is like yours and she has TONS of decorations. Now that I have my own home she plans to send a lot of them my way since she is 'downsizing' and I'm excited for all of my childhood memories that I'll find in those boxes.
Shereiner

I have wonderful deco's my mom has given me too. I love the special ones and the ones the kiddos make... Thanks for sharing! Hope you feel tons better very soon!
krystyn

cute ornaments. I also have quite a collection that I started as a child and too many to use at one time. Sadly, my house doesn't have a very tree-friendly spot so I haven't even seen my ornaments for 3 years now. Boohoo!!
Daisy011078

Fab treasures.
We do this tradition with Millie. Each year she has picked her own decoration to go on the tree & Bea got her very first one last Christmas too.
The Fragrant Muse

Spudballons, how did you get that amazing photo of your yankee ornament? It seems to be suspended in mid-air although I suspect it's on a white background. And I am in awe that in spite of being sick and having to care for two babes, you still post, and do it well. Sending you healing energy through cyberspace!

Chez Spud