Christmas is coming soon!
Are you ready? I am just now decorating for the Christmas holidays, because I am a “traditional girl,” I MUST have my Thanksgiving first, thennnnnn the tree!
After we married, we bought a 1903 Dutch Colonial home in Illinois, in a small river town. We lived in the historical section, on a low hill between two rivers, the Illinois River was one block in front of our front porch, and the Fox River was two blocks behind us. All of the Spring floods, and there were more than one, missed us as we were perched safely on our little hump of land!
In our little yellow house, we had an original Butlers’ Pantry located between the kitchen and the dining room, and in that area was a small window overlooking white hydrangeas lining our back fence. Each Christmas, through that window and over the fence, we could see our elderly neighbors, both donned in red sweaters, bent with their heads down, busily baking Christmas treats for their grandchildren. We know this for a fact, because they told us that they could “see us” also!
I’ve always loved old, antique, homemade, utilitarian objects, always made by hand and for a specific purpose. The first “eclectic” Christmas tree I’ve ever created sat in a wicker picnic basket in front of the window in the Butler’s Pantry.
This year, my home is newer, from THIS century, my kitchen is larger, but my Christmas tree remains “eclectic”, which normally would mean “outside of the box”, NOT the norm, but my tree now SITS IN A FIREBOX with old mustard colored milk paint on it!
The ornaments are not ornaments at all, but a mix of orange slices dried, handmade toddlers’ mittens, a small grater, a sieve, antique candy molds, cookie and biscuit cutters, candy canes, and the trees’ branches are wrapped in bright bold-colored wool-pompoms garland! Each item chosen for the story it represents, for the memory it triggers… the little tree with its treasures each carefully placed, now holds a new place in my heart.
Remember the “traditional me”? I’m honestly surprised at how much I love the mix of the “old and the bold” on this tree. I bought those pompoms two years ago, and I’m just now finding a perfect place for them!
A new home, a new look, my past and my present combined!
What is your favorite ornament that you MUST include on your Christmas tree?
Without telling me, I’ll bet there’s a story behind it, one that you obviously cherish.
This week on Facebook and Instagram, I’ll be sharing small close-ups of the items on the tree. (along with their stories, of course!)
Hope to see you there!
P.S. If you like what you see, please share it with a friend, I’d love it if they chose to follow along, as I navigate home, DIY’s, new recipes and old, and simply share “home” and “life” with you!
Blessings,
xx,
So very cute! Love it.