Monday 22 December 2014

Celebration!


I hope you will have a lovely holiday season.  Will you be decorating?  S and Little A helped us decorate the tree yesterday, and it really was fun.    Every item has memories, from the dough ornaments we made one year to the beautiful star at the top that V coloured in wax crayon


and the little Thomas the Tank engine ornaments dating from when S was so obsessed with Thomas.
Globes large and small that came from my mother, a bead angel from South Africa, and glittery glass Volkswagens that recall trips to Germany with Little A (who for years was convinced that it ALWAYS snowed in Germany whatever time of year it was, since he has always gone in winter). There is a very handsome frog prince from Zurich, who wears a grand golden crown.  There's also a cheerful bauble we found discarded in the street one wintry walk in London, and rescued.   And K and her best friend took about an hour to choose this mouse one year, when they were into cute mice.


The latest acquisition is a jolly cardinal bird which we bought in an "Everything $1" shop in the USA.  Can you spot it in the middle of the tree?  It's supposed to whistle when you go near - but of course it doesn't. Just as the kiwi we got in New Zealand doesn't.  Do these birds ever whistle?  Never mind.  We love them anyway. The tree is from last year and has grown outside all year.  It's got so much bigger that T went and bought some new lights for it.

More blog posts of our trip are on the way. Meanwhile, enjoy the coming days!

72 comments:

  1. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to You & Yours!
    Beautiful tree.

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    2. Thank you. I hope your Christmas and New Year are bright and that the sun shines for you and I look forward to more of your lovely art work.

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  2. Lovely, Jenny. It is wonderful all the different memories that decorating a tree can evoke. Coupled with the right (or wrong) type of music and there's barely a dry eye in the house! Have a fabulous Christmas :-)

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    1. Thank you Mike. We don't usually go for background music somehow but Christmas is the one time when it is essential - getting the presents wrapped isn't the same without it. Have a gread 2015.

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  3. We celebrate Yule so everything had to be done by yesterday. Now I can take it easy while everyone else is fretting! I agree about the baubles. It's like welcoming old friends when I unwrap them each year.

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    1. I have never been to a Yuletide celebration but imagine it has lots of holly and ivy. All the best for 2015!

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  4. One of the nicest things about Christmas is the memories that they evoke. The ornaments from years ago are always so special.

    Have a beautiful holiday, Jenny, and I look forward to your posts next year where you will take us to places where we have never been.

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    1. Thank you so much and I am continiuing to enjoy your lovely blog. May 2015 be bright for you.

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  5. What a pretty tree, and even better for a nice red bird. Merry Christmas to you and your family, Jenny.

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    1. The same to you, Patricia... I can see why you noticed the bird! :)

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  6. It is good to have tree ornaments that bring back memories. Unfortunately I don't have such things ... all my Christmas stuff was mislaid when moving house. Hopefully the memories will never be lost as well. Wishing you and yours a very happy Christmas and a bright New Year.

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    1. How annoying to lose something as personal as ornaments. I hope your new ones are starting to build up good memories, Valerie, and all the best for a good 2015 to you and Joe.

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  7. It's a wonderful tree! My sister and my mother will decorate the one at my parents' place together on the afternoon of the 24th, just like they do every year. Such ornaments with history are the best, aren't they! The mouse is very cute, and I like the cardinal.

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    1. Thank you, Meike. and from your blog I see you had a very nice Christmas. I look forward to reading more about your life, doings and thoughts in 2015.

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  8. i always decorate - your tree looks lovely!

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    1. One of my late relatives used to love decorating the tree so much she kept her decorations topped up all year - not the tree, though, just the decorations. I hope your Christmas was beautiful. I couldn't access your blog when I tried - maybe you can let me know the address directly?

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  9. Your tree looks so much like mine!
    I love it. And the best ornaments always have stories, don't they?

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    1. Oh definitely! And they are the best bits. I hope 2015 will be good to you and yours and will look forward to continuing reading your blog.

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  10. Nothing better than ornaments that bring back memories. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

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    1. And the same to you! I hope 22015 is good to you. I mean, 2015 - I don't think quite that far ahead ;)

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  11. Decorating help is always filled with "Do you remember this one....?" Best part.

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    1. Very much so. Although S and A didn't actually remember quite a lot of the baubles, as they have their own tree. They were thrilled to have another one to decorate, and it was such fun doing it with them.

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  12. How lovely - a tree full of stories! The very best kind of tree.

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    1. What a nice way to think about it. I hope yours was lovely, Jo. I will be checking blogs after this.

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  13. It's great reliving memories provided by Christmas ornaments. We have a few on our tree that were wedding presents forty years ago. Take care.

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    1. Wow, I'm impressed you kept them all so carefully. I don't think any of ours go back that far! Happy 2015!

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  14. What a charming tree! I Hope you have a delightful Christmas, Jenny!
    I am presently living in my new empty house in Tennessee with my three cats. Unfortunately my furniture is still in storage and won't be delivered until January. It is very lovely and peaceful here in the mountains.

    I've ended "Lone Star Concerto" and started a new blog - - "Lone Wolf Concerto".
    www.lonewolfconcerto.blogspot.com

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    1. I love your new blog and will be following your life in Tennessee in 2015. Happy 2015!

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  15. No, I'm not putting up a Christmas tree or decorations...there is only me and my two furry rascals...but I do have my decorative golden paper maché reindeer and a Santa sitting side by side on my coffee table. They enjoy coming out of the closet after spending most of the year in there...spending some time once a year out and about over the Christmas/New Year period.

    Merry Christmas to you, Jenny. Have a wonderful one. Cheers. :)

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    1. Ah, Lee you have the beauties of summer to lift your spirits and don't need those gaudy ornaments :) Golden reindeer and a santa sound Christmassy enough. I hope your 2015 is great and I will look forward to more of your great blog stories and recipes.

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  16. Beautiful tree. I love when there are memories in the decorations!
    Merry Christmas! :)

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    1. Thanks Rita. You will be able to start building memories with little Ian - how exciting!!!!

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  17. I love, love, love hearing about your tree and how your ornaments came to be! They have such delightful stories! Now, you have your recent USA ornament. Want to hear about that cardinal? I think I bought the same one to taunt Lizzie with but it didn't whistle like it was supposed to either! That's probably why it was in the dollar store! But you're right, it doesn't matter.

    I know you will have a meaningful, merry and joyful Christmas -- especially with little twins adding to the twinkle! And I'm still catching up on you!

    Sending huge joy! I'm so glad we're friends!

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    1. Thank you Jeanie! I hope you liked the ecard I sent. I know people don't always like to open ecards but these ones are not like that.
      Yes, I think indeed that my red cardinal was in the $1 store for a reason! :)
      I hope your 2015 is wonderful!

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  18. I love that you use a live tree, and that the ornaments have so many memories attached to them! Most of mine don't, other than a few that were given to me.

    Merry Christmas!

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    1. I really like a live tree, and it also means the needles don't drop. I hope 2015 is a good year for you and your boys.

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  19. I hope you and yours have a very Merry Christmas!

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  20. A lovely tree with precious memories. Thank you for sharing these Jenny.

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    1. Thank you! And my best wishes for a wonderful and successful 2015 afloat for you, Val!

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  21. Lovely story with your family tree Jenny, and may you and yours share a truly blessed Christmas.
    I have been missing in blog land of late but I am of this minute going to enjoy catching up with your travel posts.
    Think of us here in Australia melting in the heat and humidity (well in my neck of the woods anyhow!)

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    1. Thank you Rose. I am fairly envious of your heat as I sit here trying to keep warm in my impossible to insulate Victorian home! All the best for 2015!

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  22. Enjoy your Christmas Jenny. So glad you have others to help at such a time! :)

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    1. It was lovely that they were so excited even though they are getting rather big and sophisticated in other ways. All best wishes to you for 2015, Adullamite!

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  23. Your Christmas tree is so lovely with each precious memory, Jenny. I imagine how big and tall the tree will grow next year. Wish you a happy Christmas with your family including the new member of twins.

    Yoko

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    1. Thank you so much, Stardust! I hope your holiday season has been and will continue to be good!

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  24. What a charming tree and so full of memories for you. i love Christmas Ornaments and always picked one or two up on trips too. Merry Christmas to you.

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    1. Yes, they recall a wonderful mixture of things, don't they. Have a happy and lucky 2015!.

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    1. You too, Pat! look forward to reading more of your blog in 2015.

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  26. What lovely stories to accompany your decorations. I think the memories are the best part. We always decorate, have already done so, in fact, though today when I was out shopping, I saw a lovely silvery Christmas star/snowflake that I decided we simply had to have. So home it came, along with the cans of soup and boxes of tea bags. Tomorrow I will hang it from the chandelier over the dining room table. Happy Christmas, Jenny. xoxox

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    1. A new memory to bring out each year. We don't have a new bauble every year at al but the red cardinal will remind me of that $1 store ! :) as well as the boys trying to figure out a way to clip it on the tree without it toppling over. It's funny how a wonky ornament can be just as nice on a tree as a sophisticated one! All the best for 2015. I appreciate your comments even though iI can't find a blog of yours to comment back on.

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  27. Happy Christmas Jenny and wishing you a New Year filled with goodness. Your tree looks wonderful and the story behind each ornament makes it all the more special.

    Helen xx

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    1. Thank you Helen! I hope 2015 is a great year for you too!

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  28. Hi human, Jenny,

    A round the world trip of memories on your beautiful tree, my kind human friend.

    I decorated my human's tree and didn't eat any of the decorations!

    A pawsitive Christmas to you and your loved ones,

    Penny :)

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    1. Thank you Penny! I was admiring your human's beautifully decorated tree on the blog, you seem like youwill have had a festive Christmas of peace and joy and I hope 2015 is a happy one for you and your human!

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  29. A beautifully decorated tree. Have a great Christmas, Jenny!

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    1. You too, Nick. I hope 2015 is a good one for you and Jenny.

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  30. Hi Jenny,

    I hope you have a wonderful Christmas with your loved ones! I love your Christmas tree.

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    1. Thank you, and I hope your Christmas was also great! all the best for 2015!

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  31. I love your tree! Merry Christmas to you and your family.

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    1. The same to you and I look forward to reading your posts in 2015!

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  32. I don't have a conventional Christmas Tree and I don't decorate but I love the idea of decorations which have a special memory and significance.

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    1. I was hoping our tree would smell like a live one (after all it is alive) but it is missing that scent of pine. It got a bit soggy in its pot while we were away and perhaps it is convalescing. I have been making mulled wine though so the place still smells Christmassy. I hope 2015 is good for you and yours!

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    2. Thank you Jenny. I wish the same for you too.

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  33. It's great that you have a tree that doesn't get trashed at the end of the holidays. Merry Christmas!

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    1. While we were away this one got over watered, left outside in its pot, because it rained quite a lot. It' is recovering quite well!

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  34. Belated Merry Christmas to you and yours.

    My new ornament this year was a red cardinal also!

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    1. and I hope you didn't get your cardinal from the same $1 shop! :)

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  35. Thank you Jerry! And Christmas greetings and New Year are better the more they are exchanged - so I hope all is merry and bright!

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