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?
Hi Jennifer! I always love looking at someone’s 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!
I really enjoyed reading about your mom and seeing the special tree. Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas
You are fortunate to have had such an amazing mother. I did too! She died at 55 and I would have given anything to have had her longer. I relive all my family memories with my tree too. Still have some glass ones and I look for more. I treasure my German finial tree topper with reflector but every ornament tells a story about a person I love.
Enjoy your time with loved ones. It is the most important thing and I look forward to your posts in 2022!
Thank you, Janet. They do all tell wonderful stories. Merry Christmas
I love the picture of your mom. I can tell that she was spicy! Thank you for going down memory lane. We don’t have our tree up this year as we are in the process of having our cupboards painted. (Great timing?!). We’re making do with LOTS of poinsettias!
Timing is everything but you will love the result. What color are you painting them?
I love the sight and smell of dried citrus on a tree! One year I did lemons, limes, oranges and grapefruit, tied on some cinnamon stick and clove studded mini-citrus (can’t remember the variety, maybe a kumquat?); one of my favorite trees so thanks for brining back the memory! A popcorn garland might be a cute addition to your little tree. Merry Christmas to you and yours
I need cinnamon sticks and popcorn! Merry Christmas
I love a tree with lots of colors. As pretty as the silver and all gold tress are, I still prefer the traditional tree. I miss icicles! I think they quit making them for safety reasons. I wanted to make a small singing Christmas tree this year with little choir figures and musical instruments theme but I waited too late. Maybe next year. Merry Christmas Jennifer to you and family. (((Hugs)))🙏🏻🎄🙏🏻
Merry Christmas! Tinsel used to be so fun. We started putting it on one strand at a time but that didn’t last long:)
Christmas certainly does bring on all the memories. My mom always made sure to make Christmas extra special for all of us. Of course those were the days when most mothers didn’t work and she had time to do it all. I can remember stringing popcorn and cranberries and we always had so much fun sitting around our table. I, too, love the glass ornaments and also bubble lights. We always had those on our trees growing up and I was able to still find them some years ago. I so admire your mom’s adventurous spirit. That is not me, but maybe I need to work on that. Have a beautiful Christmas with your beautiful family.
I remember bubble lights!! Mery Christmas to you too, Cindy
Jennifer, thank you for sharing your precious memories. As time goes on, they are what keeps us going along with the new ones made each year. Enjoy the time with your daughter!
The homespun trees are the best and I would not change a thing in your decorating style!
Thanks too for the fashion tips. I very much enjoy each and every one of them. Merry Christmas! 🎄💕
Merry Christmas!
Ah, your post brought back memories! Growing up, my dad declared that year’s tree “the prettiest one we ever had.” It’s a family joke I repeat each year after the tree is up in his honor.
Do take some time and enjoy your holidays with your family. This post gives me the occasion to tell you how much I appreciate what you do. Honestly, don’t know if I have what it takes to try on clothes, take a photo and post on a blog. Seriously. Yet, I am so glad that you do, Jennifer, because your ideas are so helpful to me. Even in a period where I am conscious of consuming less, you give me so many “shop the closet” ideas.
Thank you and Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas!
Every year took our kids shopping to pick out a Christmas ornament that “spoke” to them. They’ve all flown the nest and have families of their own now (with the exception of our son who flew to heaven at 15, 20 years ago). Our son’s last ornament pick was a glass peanut and it is now the first one hung on the tree each year and the first one removed. It’s always sweet to hang their ornaments and to see who had quirky tastes (reference the peanut), who liked chocolate (S’more snowmen abound), and who was obsessed with angels. Treasures all.
Thank you for sharing your story, Janet. Merry Christmas!
I love seeing what people put on their trees. years ago we had 3 trees! one of them I decorated with bows I had made in different materials. it looked nice! Now I use Santa ornaments in all styles and add little clip on cardinal birds since I am a bird watcher. I also like soft plush ornaments. I have cute ones that are little bunnies that are from Pottery Barn. We also buy ornaments whenever we go on trips. Merry Christmas to y and your family. Unfortunately, I don’t have any ornaments from my parents.
I’m becoming a Hummingbird watcher:) Merry Christmas!