Home for the holidays!! My ornaments, that is

[perc-o-prince]

While driving home, the other day, I was so excited. Not only for what I was bringing home but that I knew of a group of people who I could share my excitement with and who would understand my happiness!

As a little boy my grandmother would often tell me of the terrible fire that took their home, in 1959, just before I was born. Living with my grandparents were my cousin and his new bride. My cousin and bride lost everything including the meager life savings that they had kept, in cash, in the house. With the holidays fast approaching, my grandparents let them borrow the family Christmas ornaments that had remained fairly safe in a closet. As my grandmother approached the end of her life she would often talk of these ornaments and how much they meant to her since some of them were HER mothers(My great grandmother died in the mid 1940's) and she would have liked for me to have them (my grandmother/best friend died in 1991). Well...I dropped hints to my cousin but they were just glossed over then last year I just came out and asked if they still had these ornaments. The answer..."I'm not sure what you are talking about. I don't have any old ornaments"

Just two weeks ago we celebrated my cousins mothers 90th b-day and my cousin approached me with "I have some old ornaments that I think were your grandmothers. Would you like them?". Would I? Hell yeah! Well...it went from giving them back to sharing them with me (I get 6). When I went to the house I couldn't believe what I saw...A 7 foot tree covered with my family ornaments! Since they have had them for so long they really have become pert of their family so I took the 6 that I wanted and came home feeling like it was Christmas day!! I just set up my fifth and final tree. This one is one that I went to the woods and cut based on the description of the type of tree my grandmother grew up with. It now sits in the middle of my library and though it is the scrawniest tree I have ever had it holds the most meaning to me. I just wish my grandmother were alive to enjoy it. My 89yo grandfather remembers the ornaments but unfortunately he is now legally blind and can't see them but he, like myself, is glad that they are finally HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS!!!

I am sharing a picture of it below. I am told that the two little mica covered houses were the ones that belonged to my great grandmother. I don't know how to date ornaments so perhaps one of you can shed a little light on this?

Happy and healthy holidays to all!
Rich

 

[knitwits1975]

What a touching story! We still have a blown glass Santa Claus that was given to my late grandfather on his first Christmas. He displayed it every year I can remember, until his death in 1992. It's probably still packed in My Grandma's stash. I feel inspired to go through the stuff and finding this most treasured Christmas ornament of his. I also have some ceramic ornaments that My mom painted by hand. I also have some she painted Christmas of 74, when she was pregnant with me. I am hanging on to them for dear life. Just goes to show you how the little things can mean so much. It's great that you found all these treasures!
Merry Christmas!
Jason

 

[SactoTeddyBear]

Re: Ornaments and Christmas-Time:

Hi! Rich, what a beautiful, perfect Christmas Tree for you to display your Families Ornaments on. I think that it is great and the Ornaments are so beautiful. It is difficult to tell for sure about the House Ornaments, but I think that my immediate Family had almost the same House Ornaments, but at this time unfortunately I'm not in a situation to be able too get to the Families Ornaments to check them out.

We used to have the great Bubbler Lights and just so many other neat and unusual Ornaments, when my Brother and I were growing up, especially to me compared to the ones they have these days.

Definately enjoy your "finds" and the Holiday Season. It is being quite an interesting Holiday Season for me, of being Happy, Sad and Lost feeling without my Parents and Life-Partner not here with me.

Peace, Happy Holidays and Cheer, Steve
SactoTeddyBear...

 

[polkanut]

I am envious of you guys. When great-aunt Alvera passed away in 1987 her youngest son was in charge. Well, not being a very sentimental person, he put all of the Christmas ornaments, some of which were her parents, in the trash. God forgive, but even though my cousin has been dead for 3 years, I will never forgive him. I cry every time I trim my tree. Her b-day was Dec. 30th so it makes it even more difficult this time of year. Thanks for letting me vent.

 

[toggleswitch]

You vent all you want. I send you light, and love and peace.
Is is possible that grannies love ya more than a mom does?. I thought mine may have.

I have all of my grandmother's Christmas stuff in a box too. Next year I will trim a tree.

I had a cat for the last ten years, so I did not want to deal with her busting my balls, or driniking poisonous pine-water from the stand.

 

[drmitch]

Neat story Rich, It makes me think of the things my great grand parents had. Their children sold everything at auction and kept very little to pass on. I wound up getting the faimily pics. Love your tree! Do you have a victorian? It looks gorgeous!

 

[rayjay]

Rich, What a beautiful story and memories. I to have some really nice ornaments and decorations from my grandmother. She had a stroke when she was 48 years old. I was very young then, but I started to put her Christmas tree up when I was about 8 years old, until I was in my late 20's. My cousin (her other grandchild) wanted to take over for me. So we both used to put her tree up. After she passed, i was given some of her ornaments which I still put on my tree every year. I gave my brother her Nativity set since I already have a few. My cousin and I did split up the rest of the ornaments and decorations. I also received some Christmas decorations from a great aunt whom I was very fond of. My great aunt also left me in her will a beautiful mahogony Duncan Phyfe bedroom set and a Governor Winthrop secretary desk. This furniture MEANS more to me and my wife than some of the other furniture we have in our home.

Thanks for sharing.
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays

Ray

 

[perc-o-prince]

Do you have a victorian?

Hi Donald,

Thanks so much for the e-card that I woke up to this morning!! How beautiful!!!What an organ <smirk> ( I could explian this BUT...I won't ) I can just imagine sitting in that room with a hot mulled cider listening to beautiful music, by candellight. Perhaps you will post that card for all to see?

My home realy is Georgian Colonial in a basic sense but the library, I decided when I was a teenager, would have a Victorian flavor. I am living in the family home that I was born in. This house was entirely designed and built by my grandparents and my grandmothers brother who lived with us. My grandparents were in their late 40's when they started to build all the while they were running their own business. They would come home, at night, and pick up the hammers and board or dig stones and mix mortar working many times until early in the morning. What started out to be a modest sized house turned into a 20+ room house. The one comment that I allways hear from folks who visit is that it may be large but it is very warm!! This was my grandmothers doing. She was a handy seamstress and she had a nice eye for color. All the draperies were hand made by her and are still hanging to this day. My grandfather will not let me touch them for as long as he is alive. If he stands back he can still see partially see them and that is enough for him! If I sound like I'm boasting....I'm NOT! I am just so happy to be in the home where I grew up and I'm so proud and in awe of my grandparents and their "nothing is hopeless/impossible" attitude.
I would be happy to post some pictures of other decorated areas of my home if anyone would care to see.

Rich

 

[rayjay]

Pictures

That room is beautiful. You can post more pictures. Would love to see.

Ray

 

[drmitch]

Rich, I would love to see more pics sometime! I bet its stunning!

 

[geextrarinse]

That Tree is absolutely adorable!

I have an entire tree of vintage ornaments that i collected all myself from flea markets and such -a select few are the originals my grandparents had from when they were married and some others were my great grandmothers. Our family however was always up with the times and they got rid of things as the fashions changed - I was saddened to find that many of their old ornaments didn't survive, aside from those aweful satin covered balls and some plastic ones. So I've recreated a 1940's/50's tree and I love it. Real c-6 and c-7 lights and glass beads and real aluminum tinsel icicles. Its beautiful and everyone who sees it loves to reminisce over the ornaments - Shiny Brites and all! I will post a few pics when i take some from this year!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Matthew

 

[perc-o-prince]

Matthew and all who replied!!

Thank you for such kind words and I will try to post some pictures tonight or tomorrow. I really enjoy decorating but found that I just couldn't bring myself to do it for several years after my grandmothers passing. She and I would do it together every year. It has been just the past few years that I have gotten the spirit back and I am having a ball!!

Matthew, Your tree sounds just beautiful!!!! Please post some pictures. I would love to see it and I have a feeling so would others

Merry Christmas!!
Rich

 

[bendix5]

Rich, this is a beautiful story. It seems that Christmas brings back the memories we all hold close thru ornaments, lights and wonderful food. My wife and I have collected vintage ornaments for 34 years. Some of our first new ones they consider vintage now. Many of the oldest are from our family homes. Since we now have a smaller home we only put up one tree instead of two or three. We put up our favorites this year, mini lights with one string of 1948 bubbling lights at the top. We wish you all a very Merry Christmas from Nevada> I am sending a pic of our tree and also a story that was sent to us today from a friend.
Sincerly
Dan and JoEllen
Bendix 5

I remember my first Christmas adventure with Grandma. I was just a kid. I
Remember tearing across town on my bike to visit her on the day my big
Sister dropped the bomb: "There is no Santa Claus," she jeered. "Even
Dummies know that!"

My Grandma was not the gushy kind, never had been. I fled to her that day
Because I knew she would be straight with me. I knew Grandma always told the
Truth, and I knew that the truth always went down a whole lot easier when
Swallowed with one of her "world-famous" cinnamon buns. I knew they were
World-famous, because Grandma said so. It had to be true.

Grandma was home, and the buns were still warm. Between bites, I told her
Everything. She was ready for me.

No Santa Claus?" she snorted.... "Ridiculous! Don't believe it. That rumor
Has been going around for years, and it makes me mad, plain mad!! Now, put
On your coat, and let's go."

Go? Go where, Grandma?" I asked. I hadn't even finished my second
World-famous cinnamon bun. "Where" turned out to be Kerby's General
Store, the one store in town that had a little bit of just about everything.
As we walked through its doors, Grandma handed me ten dollars.

That was a bundle in those days. "Take this money," she said, "and buy
Something for someone who needs it. I'll wait for you in the car." Then she
Turned and walked out of Kerby's.

I was only eight years old. I'd often gone shopping with my mother, but
Never had I shopped for anything all by myself.

The store seemed big and crowded, full of people scrambling to finish their
Christmas shopping. For a few moments I just stood there, confused,
Clutching that ten-dollar bill, wondering what to buy, and who on earth to
Buy it for. I thought of everybody I knew: my family, my
Friends, my neighbors, the kids at school, the people who went to my church.

I was just about thought out, when I suddenly thought of Bobby Decker. He
Was a kid with bad breath and messy hair, and he sat right behind me in Mrs.
Pollock's grade-two class.

Bobby Decker didn't have a coat. I knew that because he never went out to
Recess during the winter. His mother always wrote a note, telling the
Teacher that he had a cough, but all we kids knew that Bobby Decker didn't
Have a cough; he didn't have a good coat. I fingered the
Ten-dollar bill with growing excitement. I would buy Bobby Decker a coat!

I settled on a red corduroy one that had a hood to it. It looked real warm,
And he would like that.

"Is this a Christmas present for someone?" the lady behind the counter asked
Kindly, as I laid my ten dollars down.

"Yes, ma'am," I replied shyly. "It's for Bobby."

The nice lady smiled at me, as I told her about how Bobby really needed a
Good winter coat. I didn't get any change, but she put the coat in a bag,
Smiled again, and wished me a Merry Christmas.

That evening, Grandma helped me wrap the coat (a little tag fell out of the
Coat, and Grandma tucked it in her Bible) in Christmas paper and ribbons and
Wrote, "To Bobby, From Santa Claus" on it. Grandma said that
Santa always insisted on secrecy. Then she drove me over to Bobby Decker's
House, explaining as we went that I was now and forever officially, one of
Santa's helpers.

Grandma parked down the street from Bobby's house, and she and I crept
Noiselessly and hid in the bushes by his front walk. Then Grandma gave me a
Nudge. "All right, Santa Claus," she whispered, "get going."

I took a deep breath, dashed for his front door, threw the present down on
His step, pounded his door and flew back to the safety of the bushes and
Grandma. Together we waited breathlessly in the darkness for the front door
To open. Finally it did, and there stood Bobby.

Fifty years haven't dimmed the thrill of those moments spent shivering,
Beside my Grandma, in Bobby Decker's bushes.

That night, I realized that those awful rumors about Santa Claus were just
What Grandma said they were: ridiculous. Santa was alive and well, and we
Were on his team. I still have the Bible, with the coat tag tucked inside:
$19.95.

May you always have LOVE to share, HEALTH to spare and FRIENDS that care...

And may you always believe in the magic of Santa Claus!

 

[retromom]

Merry Christmas!

Rich:

What a beautiful and heartwarming story! The ornaments are not only lovely, they hold so much meaning for you as well! You are so fortunate to have such treasured family momentos to enjoy.

Dan and JoEllen: Your story also filled my heart, and your gorgeous tree as well.

A blessed Christmas to you all! You have made me smile!

 

[veg-o-matic]

It's funny how we get wrapped up in our ornaments...

Every year when I put up the tree, I start with Mom's antique ornaments. They're very lovely and quite valuable, I think. But they don't mean anything.

Then I start on the REAL ornaments--the very tattered angel with the gold mesh "dress"; the blue ball that I remember breaking when I was about 3; the ugly, sequin-encrusted balls my brother and I made when I was about 4 (Dad took off work early one day, stopped at Grant's (I think) and got balls and supplies then came home and we all sat around and made our ornaments. It was a total surprise and one I'll never forget); the weird little Santas with the googly eyes; and the two turtle doves that always end up at the top of the tree. Truthfully, they might be French hens or even partridges, but since there are 2 of 'em, they're turtle doves.

Those are the REAL ornaments--the ones that count.

veg

 

[drmitch]

Dan, and Veg, Sweet stories! Merry Christmas!

 

[perc-o-prince]

I'm so glad that I started this thread!!

Thank you Venus for the kind words and Dan and Bob for sharing your great stories!! I gotta tell you, Dan, that it takes a bit to make me teary eyed but your story did it!! It kinda makes me think of my grandma and how so many of us have these relationships with them. For a while we lived with my grandparents then we moved away (next door) so when I would run away from home, guess where I would run to? The phone would always ring a few minuets after I would get there and my grandmother would be very short with answers such as "yes, no and sure" which I didn't realize was my mother asking "Is Rich there yet? Is he being a brat and can he stay there for the night?". My parents still live next door and we recall these memories quite often.

Thank you all for making this a special holiday with your stories and pictures!! I feel privileged to have joined a group of such nice people!

Healthy and happy holidays to all!

Rich
ps...I will post some more pictures but it will have to wait until tomorrow. My partner wants put up one more tree!!

 

[perc-o-prince]

more pix as promised!

Well, you wanted to see them, so here they are! It may be a few more than you expected, and I know it was more than I thought it would be, but hopefully you'll enjoy them!

Hope everyone had a great holiday!

 

[perc-o-prince]

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