Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Finding Comfort in Old Christmas Ornaments


This is the first year that I have decorated a Christmas tree in the
living room.  For the past couple of years we brought in a big tree
and I managed to get lights on it, but that was all.  When I brought
out the big box full of family ornaments I found the ornaments so 
carefully placed in large zippered bags organized by size and 
color and style.  This was the last task performed by my Mom 
before she passed away.  She was a very meticulous person and
was so careful to save and preserve the family's memories with
ornaments, little cards and notes about the age and history of 
these treasures.

Opening this box and removing the ornaments from each bag 
was like opening a doorway to a past filled with happy Christmas
memories.  Each ornament came to life bringing with it friends
and family treasured moments.  


The date on the back of this Santa Christmas card is December 25,
1916.  The card is 100 years old and hung on my great grandmother's
Christmas tree on her farm in Pennsylvania.  There is a little tear 
across the beard that someone repaired, but otherwise it is in very
good condition.  I never knew my great grandmother, but I know
that her name was Emma Rose Nelson and that she was a very 
petite woman who loved animals and children.  I think that there
were six children in all, two girls and four boys.  She and my
great grandfather lived on what is called a "gentleman's farm"
in a small town not too far from Penn State University.

Apparently my great grandmother was a very cheerful person
with a good sense of humor that she passed down to her children.
I am sure this is true because her daughter, my grandmother had
a very good sense of humor and I loved listening to all of her
amusing stories and jokes.  Now that I think about it, great
grandmother needed to have a good sense of humor with six
children and four of them boys!



The little angel has been on the Christmas tree for as long as I
can remember.  There are three of them.   The little banjo was 
one of Mom's favorite ornaments.  She always liked a lot of
variety on her tree and would always find a few new and special
ornament to add to her collection each year.


Being a horsewoman, this little circus pony is a favorite of mine.  There
are two of them and I think they are precious.

I am glad that I finally I decided to open that big box filled with family 
Christmas ornaments.  I thought it might make me feel sad, but if fact
it was comforting and fun to bring all those memories back to life.

Big Texas Hugs,
Susan and Bentley




6 comments:

  1. Hi Susan!
    This was an enjoyable read. I too had a mother who LOVED Christmas ornaments, and who always had a varied collection on her tree. I always thought of my mom's Christmas trees as a bit of a hodge-podge; of this and that too.
    I have enjoyed the photos and seeing of some of what makes your mother's collection of tree ornaments so special. Having a tree ornament that dates back 100 years is Priceless, but even more impressive to me is that each generations kept them in such good order that they are still enjoyed today,is Astounding!
    Good on your mother to have everything ready for whenever it was time for you to bring them out again.

    Have a Very Merry Christmas Susan!

    elizabeth

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wonderful ornaments that tell beautiful stories of a never forgotten past. Have a Merry Xmas and a Happy 2017. Tina

    ReplyDelete
  3. How sweet and memorable past Christmases can be. I'm so glad that you were able to get the ornaments out and enjoy.
    Merry Christmas and hug,
    Sissie

    ReplyDelete
  4. Susan, you were ready for the memories this year. I'm so glad they made you happy. I love old ornaments and the sweet memories warm our hearts. Hugs!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh Susan what a beautiful post about your memories. Your ornaments are treasures. You are very blessed to have them. I love to hear the stories behind each one. I wish you a very Merry Christmas. Karie

    ReplyDelete


  6. تعد خدمات التنظيف المتعلقه بالمنزل بصفه عامه ان الامور الهامه حاليا لما لها من ترابط وثيق بالصحه والقضاء علي الامراض وخصيصا تنظيف الخزانات والتي تعد من الضروريات حيث يجب تنظيفها بصفه دوري
    تنظيف منازل بالخرج
    تنظيف خزانات بالخرج
    فان كنت عميلنا الكريم من الرياض او الخرج او جده فنحن نوفر لك افضل خدمات التنظيف العامه بمعدات حديثه وعماله مدربه

    ReplyDelete

Oliver and I LOVE and read every comment.

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...