This year, the only thing that's hanging on the tree's fake forever green branches are lights.
Lots of them.
They sparkle and shine, the teeny teardrop shapes, the vintage elongated ones, and the round orbs. All together, they shed the most magnificent glow.
Simple is best this year. For sure.
But I do love my vintage ornaments, handed down from my grandma and assorted relatives ... and gleefully gathered from random shops and flea markets over the decades. And even though they remain attic-bound this season, they are sure to make another holiday appearance before long ...
over time, those aqua and pink babies on the left rarely saw the light ...
their vibrant colors are as spectacular as the day they were bought
one year I didn't even bother stashing these gems in their ancient cardboard homes ...
instead they resided in big ol' glass jars where they were appreciated all year 'round
chips and scratches and flakes don't distract
one single bit from this star-struck lovely
this oh-so-faded marred red and white striped beauty
still catches the tree's glowing lights
one of a very few left from a larger collection,
this fragile baby is tissue paper thin
an ancient celluloid Santa light holds court way up high atop a jam-packed jar,
while his felt snowman friend sports a battered hat and holds a tiny broom
old snow globe Santas join the colorful orbs as they party all over the place,
while a wee little celluloid friend and a cardboard gift tag nestle in the freshly clipped holly
more and more companions arrive to join in the fun ...
and I can't help thinking that Grandma would be oh-so-pleased and
very much surprised to see her holiday belongings bringing joy to so many
You just might love these little albums, too ...
I love this! It is always the memories behind the decorations that make them beautiful in our eyes. I also have ornaments passed to me from family that are still in boxes in the basement but the love that is shown in every chip, scratch and ding is what it's all about. Thank you friend for stirring up my memories too. Love you!
ReplyDeleteThese are the 'things' I want to keep hold of. Not just the objects, but the memories, the stories, that come hand in hand ...
DeleteI love that we're lookin' back together ... and appreciating the legacy that's been passed down to us. Thanks for kicking off this conversation, Mary. I just know it's gonna be a good one!
;-}
My mom used to have some old ornaments and passed them down to me. But my wife tends not to be a very sentimental person so I believe many of them have disappeared over the years. Some of yours reminded me of them.
ReplyDeleteOh oh ... I hope she found them some lovely homes along the way!
Delete;-}
Hi Linda,
ReplyDeleteI also treasure the ornaments in my vintage collection. I had many given to me from my mom, grandma and my MIL. Three years ago, our dogs knocked the tree over the same day we put it up, and many of the vintage ornaments were destroyed. That was a heartbreaking day. I have since added numerous vintage ornaments from yard sales, anique shops, etc but still feel sick over that fateful day. The tree gets tied up now and we haven't lost any ornaments except for 1 or 2 that the dog's tails bat off the tree as they run by. Anyway, I wanted to compliment you on how pretty the ornaments look in the jars - that might be a good idea for storing more ornaments if I expand the collection. Happy holidays - nice job on the post. I hope to link up this week.
Amy
Gasp! Stomach dropping. I hear you about the falling tree. For it's not just about the ornaments themselves, it's about all that they represent ... the legacy, the beauty, the memories, the sense of family.
DeleteThere were years when our kids and grandkids were little that I only used the unbreakables so they could have at the tree and have a ball and I didn't have to worry about THINGS. It's times like that when mantels and jars come in mighty handy.
So good to meet you today, Amy! I'm glad you're here. I'll be by to see your place soon!
I love the look of putting ornaments in big glass containers. I think I will try to do that next year! Each year I try to get rid of the decorations that I never use but maybe it's time to get out some of those vintage balls and put them back to work. :)
ReplyDeleteOh yes, these beauties just beg to be enjoyed, don't they?
DeleteChristmas blessings to you, to yours, Lisa ...
SIGH--wonderful memories wrapped in beautiful baubles!
ReplyDeleteI so agree, Lulu!
DeleteI hope this is a good week for you, friend ...
I love that idea!!!! I think I may have to grab this idea for my heirloom decoration gems. We lost a couple glass ornaments this year and displaying them in large glass jars may be the better way to go. We don't have tons of lights this year because hubby was unwilling to buy German adaptations for just a couple years ;-) We do love our lights as well!! Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteI see that you'd miss those lights, Kay! Maybe lots of candle-glow could take their place ...
DeleteAs long as there's some kind of light, I'm good! Enjoy the experience of being in a new place at this very familiar time of year. And thanks for sharing a bit with us today!
Your ornament collection made me smile. My mother has boxes of ornaments from her childhood and they are so special! :)
ReplyDeleteThat this little daybook brought a smile to your heart makes my own heart soar, Claire. Your encouraging words are sunshine!
DeleteYou have a beautiful collection, Linda! I have some vintage ornaments too, that have been handed down through the years. Except for the ornament collection I started for my husband and I when we were married, every ornament on my tree was a gift. So many memories of times gone by. Thank you for sharing! Blessings!
ReplyDeleteAn ornament collection for your husband? I absolutely love this, June. I've done this for my daughters and grandchildren, but I never, in all of our 38+ years together, dreamed of this imaginative idea. And I bet he would have loved it all along ...
DeleteThere's always next year, right?
;-}
Lovely vintage ornaments...I love them in the jars.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Gail! The jars seem to be a big hit!
DeleteThey always seem to come in handy here and there ...
The jar idea is great! I always hate putting them away for 11 months :(
ReplyDeleteAnd then all we have to do is figure out where to display them!
Delete;-}
these are an adorable set. Really, they've been handed down? Cute.
ReplyDeletehttp://purposefulandmeaningful.blogspot.com/
Thanks, friend! Yes, these little old treasures make me smile ... I loved my Grandma and have lots of wonderful memories of our times together.
DeleteI LOVE vintage anything, but ornaments are an especially coveted piece of history and glory, Linda! How blessed you are that your grandmother (and perhaps mother) made sure to pass these down to you! My mom didn't understand the value of "heirlooms" or why I would even want the old ornaments that she probably threw out in the 60's or 70's when we got an aluminum Christmas tree. What in the world was she thinking ... about the ornaments but also about that tree! ha! Although I will say I loved the rotating spectrum light that would shine on that glorious piece of Americana! Thanks for sharing your beautiful family ornaments with us, sweet Linda! They are a feast for the eyes, even on my computer's "flat" screen. Merry Christmas too, my friend! To you, Tim and the whole clan!
ReplyDeleteOh no! An aluminum tree! And the matching rotating spectrum light, too? I think I hear disco music coming down the pike.
DeleteYikes.
As an old friend of mine used to say, 'there's a lid for every pot!' And we each have our own sense of style.
Or not.
8-}
My apologies to anyone out there who's loving their aluminum tree right about now. Like my artificial tree is any more real than yours?
8-}
Like the idea of simple. this year I decided what is left after I decorate the tree will go the thrift store. If I don't use it then I don't need it. I might do away with breakable ornaments too and invest in some more wooden ones and some cute cloths ones the grand kids like for next year. Never too late to start another family tradition.
ReplyDeleteI like your desire that your tree be user friendly for your little ones, Betty. Go ahead and tuck away those breakables ... and some day the kids will be delighted that you saved those Christmas goodies for them to keep and remember you by ...
DeleteThanks for being here to celebrate!
It's amazing how things as simple as holiday decorations can not only remind us of beauty but remind us of those close to us.
ReplyDeleteFor sure! It's not about the stuff, it's about the relationships. Always!
DeleteThanks for being here today, Loren ...
What an amazing collection of ornaments you have! And even more cool that some of them are family heirlooms.
ReplyDeleteIt's been fun to share these little gems with you all ...
DeleteChristmas blessings, Anita!
What lovely ornaments!
ReplyDeletePutting them in jars is one of my favorite things to do too!
I love vintage ornaments! I have several of them, which my mother-in-law gave us as a gift for our first Christmas as a married couple. Thank you for sharing your home with us! I wish I could be there to join the fun! xoxo
ReplyDelete