What's on YOUR Tree

2014

 One of the best parts of the run up to Christmas is decorating the tree. It's a bit of a chore heaving the boxes from the junk room downstairs, but once 'the staff' have dumped them in the sitting room I rather enjoy unpacking the delights of years gone by, placing them carefully into their places on the sadly artificial tree. I love the smell of a real tree, but not the needles and the mess they leave behind.
Fortunately we have a beautiful bay window - perfect for a nice big tree!

Three Christmasses ago we bought and moved into my husband's parents house. His Father now lives with us and so we have inherited a second set of tree and decorations. Each year I was always 'volunteered' to decorate their tree so am very familiar with the special decorations and traditions they had. We also have our own special decorations, with memories that I love to recall as I look for a suitable spot on the tree.

 This slimline Santa was made by our eldest son Jordan many years ago - he is now 21. Along with a pipe cleaner reindeer and snowman. The two of us spent a lovely hour or so at the table chatting and making them - some were given to relatives, the three best ones kept for our tree.

 This Partridge and chick in a nest was given to me by my Mum when Michael and I had our first Christmas together in 1987. I lost my Mum in 1995, so this reminds me of her every time I nestle it amongst the branches, well away from the dogs.

In December 1999 I decided to do something to commemorate the new millennium. I bought some clear glass baubles and wrote a personal message to the family and friends I gave them to. I now have two on the tree, the one I made for my Mother and Father in Law and the one I made for us.  Friends of ours mention the one I made for them every year when we meet up for a Christmas meal.

Over the years we have had many trips to Florida and collected a lot of decorations while there. We like to buy them with name and date if possible and get one each time we visit. This one was bought in St. Augustine in 2008.  We also have a lot of glass Disney ornaments, bought for the children when they were young. Unfortunately several of them were smashed when the tree toppled over a few years ago.

These four dudes are always the first on the tree. The Three Kings and Father Christmas have been on the tree for decades. Mother in Law liked them all together. Father Christmas has lost his silk ribbon so now has to sit on a branch.

This is the old lady of the tree.  She has been on top of the tree since MIL and FIL were married in 1958 - 56 years ago.  She is a little grubby, and her wings wobble but as you can see she still has a smile on her face.  I would like to think she looks over us all and keeps us safe all year round.

I would love to know what your special decorations are, do you have traditional themes or go for modern ones each year?  Before you take them all down, get some photos and let everyone see

 'What's on Your Tree'.