Celebrating with family

Not really With My family as they are not around. Yet I have memories of family around me.

My Grandfather on Mom’s side carried creative genes (and might have passed some along). He put together this Christmas tree with parts and pieces of stuff and things.

Grandma would probably recognize her broken jewelry. The bottle caps may have been from jugs of Thunderbird wine, their favorite.

Mom hung this tree in her living room, all year long, and plugged it in every night.

Then there’s my fake 18 inch tree…

…decorated with Mom’s rhinestone earrings.

Also a copy of A Christmas Carol given to my Grandmother in 1917, and I can’t find a copy write date in the book.

And my Aunt Helen carved this whistle.

 All these people have passed on so I feel very fortunate to have an adopted family.

 

Patty and Darrel raised Mike and his four brothers with love and respect. I’ll spend Christmas with this caring family. Darrel is sick right now, although we all pray he’s made it through the worse. Chemo seems to have killed the stomach tumor yet he is scheduled for two more sessions. Then physical therapy to regain his strength. He’s known as “The Giant”, a Big man with a Big heart.

Christmas is All About Love

MWT – Oh Christmas tree…is getting bigger

Having lived in some form of RV for the last 13 years meant downsizing Christmas decorations, especially a tree. And although I fought against the “fake” tree as a pre-teen it’s almost funny how I fully support the idea now. My mother would certainly laugh. Any way, my first tree measured 6 inches (15.24 cm) and came with some tiny baubles glued on from, but of course, a thrift store. Probably cost me a couple bucks. Really, I’m not cheap, just thrifty.

A couple years ago I bought a 12 inch (30.48 cm) tree with optics at a thrift store for $5 and decorated it with clip-on rhinestone earrings. I really do like the idea of packing the tree away in a plastic grocery bag which I always forget where I put the following year.

This year, Mike was pushing for a REAL tree. What? Why kill a tree? No he meant a LIVE tree we could plant later. We have no space. Yet once again a thrift store saved the day when I found a 24 inch (60.96 cm) tree complete with star, stand and red ribbon for $3. The first decorations added, Stacey’s felted acorns. (I love these, thank you.) Next I dug out some spun glass ornaments I’ve had--and rarely seen--over 25 years. And finally the rhinestone earrings. We’re both happy with this tree.

And yes it’s small. Maybe too small to shelter the gift of love we exchange. Or the newer 5h-wheel we’re looking to buy. But at the growth rate of Christmas trees, in a couple years, we’re going to need a bigger house/RV.

Happy Holidays!

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RV Christmas Tree

Alright, I did it, put up the Christmas tree. Had to drag it out from under the bed and make space for it.

Living in an RV doesn’t lend itself to a very big tree. This is an 8 incher, decorated with rhinestone clip-on earrings, and it sits on my TV.