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?
A spider since many German folktales talk about a clean house for Christmas, German angels with spun glass wings, icicles of twisted silver and colored aluminum (twirlies), colored bubble lights, carousels with clear plastic windows to hang above a light so the heat makes a propeller spin, hundreds of crocheted snowflakes and glass icicles for a separate tree….actually most of our antique and vintage ornaments from family. New ornaments lack the patina and are too heavy for live balsams.
That sounds amazing!! Merry Christmas
You favor your mom so much. She sounds like an amazing lady! Merry Christmas!
Thank you. Merry Christmas!
Hi Jennifer, your mom sounds like the bomb… love the name Gypsy on her mobile home.
Hope your entire holiday season is lovely. You are so right that time with your daughter is the best gift of all. Merry Christmas & a Happy, Healthy New Year!
She was amazing! Merry Christmas, Jo
Hi Jennifer,
Your mom sounds so unique and special, I really like who she was, her own person and a treasure. Loved the trees. Enjoy your holidays, how nice Vanessa is flying down to be with you.
Thank you Katherine. She was a treasure.
Your mother sounds like an amazing lady and the little tree you did with your Grandson in adorable. (Recall as a child stringing cranberry as well as popcorn chains for ours.) As to ornaments for our large tree they are basically traditional in shape (spheres and teardrops in golds and crystal) and the tree topper is an angel (of porcelain and cloth) whom I have had for at least thirty-five years. (Did not put it up this year as heading South tomorrow.)
On the note; extending wishes to you and your family as well as your readers PEACE, HOPE, HAPPINESS ‘n JOY during this season. -Brenda-
Travel safe, Brenda. Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas, Jennifer! Love the quirky tree! We started a tradition when our two girls were little of each of us getting a new ornament every year. We’ve tried to pick them to be an expression of each family member so, as you might expect, we have a few sports activity based ones, some of our dogs over the years, some that reflect personal interests and hobbies. Best part of Christmas is hanging those ornaments….it’s a remembrance of each year we’ve been blessed with each others love.
I hope your Christmas is cozy and bright….full of love and fun!
What a wonderful tradition!! Merry Christmas
Your little tree reminds me of a little tree I would set up in our dining room in our previous house- a very traditional style …I have a small collection just for that tree- all fruits and veggies. We have lived at our lake house full-time since 2011 and have a much more casual and open floor plan here. I have no room to put that tree out here but I still have those ornaments- just can’t part with them.
Your Mom sounds like she really enjoyed life!
She sure did
Jennifer, enjoy your visit with Vanessa.
Wishing you the very best of the Christmas Season.
Suzanne
Merry Christmas, Suzanne
What wonderful story to start my day today. Thank you for sharing your memories. This year we have decided instead of gifts to each other, we are making donations. Of course, we have no little kiddos so it’s easier. Have a wonderful holiday!
Thanks so much. Same to you and yours, Debby
Thank you Jesus for this special season. You are often not mentioned at all. Jesus without You there would be no Christmas!!
Agreed!
One of the best parts of Christmas is pulling out the ornaments. Hallmark has their ornaments available in June/July and you can pick the best ones, I get at least one for each family member and I’ve been married 36 years, so I need more than one tree! Plus new baby and kids activities like cheerleading and baseball and wherever we traveled during the year. All so meaningful. Sounds like you has a great relationship with your mom, and that’s a wonderful thing. Merry Christmas!
I agree. The memories are so rich and poignant. Merry Christmas!!
Jennifer, thanks for sharing your memories about your mom. With the full moon this weekend we tend to ruminate more. Our moms sound a lot alike. My mom used to drive back and forth to Florida (from Ohio). Many times she’d find a classic car and tow it to FL only to sell it. I think people saw an old lady selling a car and thought they were going to get a good deal because she didn’t know what she was doing, but she ALWAYS profited! She also got her motorcycle license at age 69 and loved to ride her Honda Gold Wing. While I’m not a fan of motorcycles (well I am but I like to go too fast and I know that would not have a good ending), I am entertaining the thought of a small RV to travel in when I retire. I also love to travel to Europe (pre-Covid of course) and when I do, I go alone and rent a car and just start driving. The little tree you and your grandson decorated looks perfect! Enjoy your time with your daughter and thank you for all your fashion sense and product information.
My mom rode a motorcycle too!! Your’s sound like an amazing lady too. How fun. RVing is so fun, we loved to travel in ours. Happy holidays, Ellen
Oh what a wonderful trip down your memory lane, Jennifer! Love that little chili pepper tree! Your mom sounded so high spirited and independent-wow!
Enjoy the pre-Christmas festivities!
Merry Christmas, Paulette
Your mother sounds amazing! Thank you for sharing your memories, your trees, and all of your posts this year. Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas, Carolina
Your trees are adorable and the memories are great. We did not put one up this year because we are driving up north with our 15 yr old dog to see our granddaughters and children. We bought Sandy a new coat so she does not get cold. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy Healthy New Year.
That’s so wonderful. Have a very merry Christmas with your loved ones and sweet Sandy.
Take the time to enjoy your daughter. I’ll still be here when you are able to return. And wow you’re mom sounds awesome!
Thanks, Lois. Merry Christmas
Such a lovely post and wonderful memories. I still have many ornaments that I refer to as “antique” as they date back to my childhood, none of which are a set thanks to the many cats I’ve had over the years who regarded the tree as a very large play toy LOL. We always have a real tree, and this year’s is in the garage till we bring it inside to thaw out in a few days.
Enjoy your family time Jennifer.
Very Merry Christmas, Yvonne!
Thank you for sharing your Christmas Tree and yourMom’s story. Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas!
I really enjoyed your post today re: ornaments. When I use to travel I would buy an ornament from each place visited. The tree always brought back good memories. I liked your trees (both). Happy Holidays to you and yours 💞
We have a few from our travels too. Such great memories. Merry Christmas
All your trees look beautiful to me. You can see the loving care that went into decorating them. Enjoy Christmas with your family . We all need to count our blessings this year and pray for a happy and healthy 2022!
You’re right! Merry Christmas, Vera!