I can relate to this. The Christmas tree tradition went away when they went off to college. My family's decorations have been packed away with all the children, not just out of the house, but out of the state. That included my wife's large hand-made Christmas stockings - made using Christmas-patterned cloth with a shiny metal ornament (bells, stars, etc.) attached to each one, making each one unique in every way except size and shape.
Those are amazing heirlooms! I don't anticipate grandchildren - perhaps ever, but certainly not living close even when they may arrive - so I decided that rather than be melancholy, I'd create new and different traditions for the empty nest.
We have been lucky and we still have most of the homemade ornaments made throughout the years by various family members. Just looking at our tree is a trip down memory lane. Plastic Canvas embroidered drums, boxes and Reindeer that I taught a den of Cub Scouts to make and the Ojo de Dios made by our Girl Scouts. Stained glass ornaments made by my sister's husband. A friend gave me his old 3D printer, so our fake tree got a Death Star as the star on the top to accompany. And then there are the Christmas stockings made with love for each family member.
It is a blessing. I’ve never been one to worry about decor, and having a theme, on my Christmas tree (or anywhere else for that matter). I didn’t grow up having a Christmas tree, so when the kids were small I wanted it to be a display for memories, like yours is!
One year I made a bunch of Ojo de Dios using toothpicks and embroidery thread. You can go larger with Popsicle sticks and larger still with dowels. As you can imagine once you get the concept the sky is the limit. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NADFCl7_bFQ
Our trees were cut on our property. Usually 20-30 foot spruce, the top 6-7 feet the Christmas tree, the rest posts or firewood.
Mostly home made decorations, including baked gingerbread ones until one year we noticed they kept disappearing, only the support threads hanging on the limbs.
We found one of our dogs, Abner, an Irish Wolfhound, would, when we were sleeping the house quiet, get up on his hind legs balance and nibble them off not disturbing any of the other ornaments or knocking down the tree.
The first tree picture in the post is a Balsam Fir my Dad planted on the farm, along with quite a few others, specifically to be Christmas trees, and until they were big enough we would get whatever conifer was needing to be thinned from the woodlot. A white pine makes a very Charlie Brown Christmas tree!
When the kids were little, we began a tradition of "elves in the house." Starting with the first snowfall after Thanksgiving, we had a series of "secret visits" that included the delivery of a tree outside the kids' window, artificial "snowflakes" mysteriously sprayed on mirrors and windows, and lights springing up outside over night. By Christmas Eve all kinds of fun things were happening. Christmas Morning, I was pretty bushed but delighted. Lots of good stories/memories from those years.
Dad did that when mine were little, on Christmas Eve. He would make reindeer tracks, complete with ‘deer poo’ outside the house, boot tracks he said weren’t his, dropped bits of sparkly paper from presents. He would faithfully eat cookies and drink milk :D He really enjoyed getting to be Grampa-on-the-spot!
Awwww. Without fir-needles, what will you have to vacuum constantly but all-season fur fluff? 😋
If you have any clear glass balls that the tops come off, you can decorate them with drops of ink, shaken or stirred...
Shells dipped in inks are fun to experiment with
Origami canes made with metallic wrapping paper (red is especially festive and apropos) and you can use sparkly beads to anchor the hanging embroidery floss you punch up through the bottom to make your hanging loop.
And yes, mine are all glittered. I love the superfine stuff for card embellishment!
Oh! Also tiny miniature hanging books!
I haven't done any of this since the Covid and its ancillary disasters.
You are welcome! And yes, there will be glitter. Also, I have two cats. One of whom has never seen a Christmas tree in her life. I will be sweeping up and picking up things all season!
I got the outdoor lights up Friday on a wonderful, sunny 60° day. Lights clipped to the gutters front and back, icicles trailing below and I was good for the day. Saturday night the temperature dropped 30° and it snowed. Awfully early for us.
I’m old fashioned enough that I turn the lights on after Thanksgiving dinner.
And overnight Sunday through Monday, 4" of snow. Darn earn for that around here. But at least the job is done and the lights will look nice if I turn them on "ahead of schedule" tonight
One of my favorite lost ornaments was a blown-egg diorama of an angel in a cloud of glitter-speckled angel hair. I could recreate it, but I haven’t found suitable angels.
I can relate to this. The Christmas tree tradition went away when they went off to college. My family's decorations have been packed away with all the children, not just out of the house, but out of the state. That included my wife's large hand-made Christmas stockings - made using Christmas-patterned cloth with a shiny metal ornament (bells, stars, etc.) attached to each one, making each one unique in every way except size and shape.
Those are amazing heirlooms! I don't anticipate grandchildren - perhaps ever, but certainly not living close even when they may arrive - so I decided that rather than be melancholy, I'd create new and different traditions for the empty nest.
This article comes at the perfect time. Your insight into 'imperfect beautiful irreplacable things' is profound.
We have been lucky and we still have most of the homemade ornaments made throughout the years by various family members. Just looking at our tree is a trip down memory lane. Plastic Canvas embroidered drums, boxes and Reindeer that I taught a den of Cub Scouts to make and the Ojo de Dios made by our Girl Scouts. Stained glass ornaments made by my sister's husband. A friend gave me his old 3D printer, so our fake tree got a Death Star as the star on the top to accompany. And then there are the Christmas stockings made with love for each family member.
It is a blessing. I’ve never been one to worry about decor, and having a theme, on my Christmas tree (or anywhere else for that matter). I didn’t grow up having a Christmas tree, so when the kids were small I wanted it to be a display for memories, like yours is!
Artist got to create, I know cause I was married to one.
I got myself a Nativity scene when I moved into my own place.
Bought a tree somewhat later.
One year I made a bunch of Ojo de Dios using toothpicks and embroidery thread. You can go larger with Popsicle sticks and larger still with dowels. As you can imagine once you get the concept the sky is the limit. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NADFCl7_bFQ
Our trees were cut on our property. Usually 20-30 foot spruce, the top 6-7 feet the Christmas tree, the rest posts or firewood.
Mostly home made decorations, including baked gingerbread ones until one year we noticed they kept disappearing, only the support threads hanging on the limbs.
We found one of our dogs, Abner, an Irish Wolfhound, would, when we were sleeping the house quiet, get up on his hind legs balance and nibble them off not disturbing any of the other ornaments or knocking down the tree.
The first tree picture in the post is a Balsam Fir my Dad planted on the farm, along with quite a few others, specifically to be Christmas trees, and until they were big enough we would get whatever conifer was needing to be thinned from the woodlot. A white pine makes a very Charlie Brown Christmas tree!
When the kids were little, we began a tradition of "elves in the house." Starting with the first snowfall after Thanksgiving, we had a series of "secret visits" that included the delivery of a tree outside the kids' window, artificial "snowflakes" mysteriously sprayed on mirrors and windows, and lights springing up outside over night. By Christmas Eve all kinds of fun things were happening. Christmas Morning, I was pretty bushed but delighted. Lots of good stories/memories from those years.
Dad did that when mine were little, on Christmas Eve. He would make reindeer tracks, complete with ‘deer poo’ outside the house, boot tracks he said weren’t his, dropped bits of sparkly paper from presents. He would faithfully eat cookies and drink milk :D He really enjoyed getting to be Grampa-on-the-spot!
Man, that’s really sweet! Maybe we’ll get the chance to do something similar with our “grands.”
No glitter on your handmade ornaments?
Awwww. Without fir-needles, what will you have to vacuum constantly but all-season fur fluff? 😋
If you have any clear glass balls that the tops come off, you can decorate them with drops of ink, shaken or stirred...
Shells dipped in inks are fun to experiment with
Origami canes made with metallic wrapping paper (red is especially festive and apropos) and you can use sparkly beads to anchor the hanging embroidery floss you punch up through the bottom to make your hanging loop.
And yes, mine are all glittered. I love the superfine stuff for card embellishment!
Oh! Also tiny miniature hanging books!
I haven't done any of this since the Covid and its ancillary disasters.
So thank you very much.
You are welcome! And yes, there will be glitter. Also, I have two cats. One of whom has never seen a Christmas tree in her life. I will be sweeping up and picking up things all season!
I put the tree up yesterday. It's never too early to start being festive if you're feeling it.
I’m planning to put it up, and put what I have for ornaments on it, while you and Laura are here. Doing it with family will be wonderful!
I got the outdoor lights up Friday on a wonderful, sunny 60° day. Lights clipped to the gutters front and back, icicles trailing below and I was good for the day. Saturday night the temperature dropped 30° and it snowed. Awfully early for us.
I’m old fashioned enough that I turn the lights on after Thanksgiving dinner.
And overnight Sunday through Monday, 4" of snow. Darn earn for that around here. But at least the job is done and the lights will look nice if I turn them on "ahead of schedule" tonight
We had our first hard frost here, not excessively early, but earlier than it has been in a few years.
One of my favorite lost ornaments was a blown-egg diorama of an angel in a cloud of glitter-speckled angel hair. I could recreate it, but I haven’t found suitable angels.
that sounds lovely! I’m not sure I’m brave enough to try and make an egg diorama. I do have three blown goose eggs, though.
I think the only hard part would be creating the opening without destroying the shell entirely.
Yes. I wonder if a Dremel would work? I may have to try this.