Farm Fresh Blog

Wednesday, December 22 2010

As a crime scene investigator, I go into a lot of homes, and I have always said that you can learn a lot about people by looking at their bookshelf. But you can also learn a great deal about people by looking at their Christmas trees. Some people have "theme" trees. Some have trees so ornate they compete with department stores. And some people, like us, have Christmas trees that serve as "Way Back Machines."

Over the years you collect ornaments, some fancy, some plain, but each evokes a memory. We have two trees. Other Half likes a large tree in the living room, (where Cowboy is delighted to discover that he now has an indoor restroom!), and I like a rosemary tree on the kitchen table, (where my porcelain ornaments are safe from the dogs!) Each tree has memories. His family has a Christmas tree lot, and so his big tree always comes from that lot. It is decorated with old ornaments and treasures the kids made (up high, so Cowboy doesn't pee on them!)

The kitchen tree tends to be more animal-oriented. Go figure . . .

. . . a little heavy on the horses!

"The First Noel"

Some ornament hold more memories than others. Years ago, I bought two Belgian Tervuren ornaments at a dog show.

Is this not cute or what!

It was Kona's first Christmas and he climbed up onto the kitchen table to help himself to the Christmas tree. He mangled this ornament. The little angel puppy hanging on the star no longer had ears, his halo was crooked, and his wings kept falling off.

Instead of having a fit, I put it back on the tree and told myself that this ornament would always remind me of Kona's first Christmas.

He was such a clever little guy.

And he grew to become a good working partner. I had no idea he would only have eight Christmas trees. Now I am so glad that I kept that silly broken ornament . . . for it will always remind me of Kona's first Christmas.

And now he is my angel with the crooked halo and the fallen wings . . .

What memories does your "Way Back Machine" take you back to?

Fleece Navidad, Everyone!

Ma Bad!

Well DUH! Yesterday I changed the "Comments" date from Dec to Jan, but failed to change the YEAR! Thus, I apologize to everyone who tried to post a comment yesterday and were told that comments were no longer being accepted! Thanks to everyone who caught the error and emailed me privately to let me know about it! I've corrected that! Ma BAD!

Posted by: forensicfarmgirl AT 10:25 am | Permalink | 4 Comments | Email

Comments:

We have a way-back tree as well. Right now, a majority of the ornaments that bring back memories are of our kiddos. They all still live at home, but the first born went off to college this year. The really way-back ones are from our first C'mas together. Cheap, wooden, made in China, bought at WalMart. A time when we had way less money, but way less responsibility. Love the Kona/ornament memory. :)

Posted by CeeCee on 12/22/2010 - 02:53 PM

We don't have a tree but if we did, it would be full of the non-traditional ornaments. Love the horse ornaments and the bloodhound. A Terv with a crooked halo? Nope, not appropriate at all! :-)

Posted by Vicky on 12/22/2010 - 06:23 PM

I try to buy a new ornament each Christmas and I enjoy taking that trip down Memory Lane each year when I unpack the decorations. Each time I reach into the box, I pull out another memory!

Posted by forensicfarmgirl on 12/22/2010 - 08:11 PM

I don't put up a tree, but I love Christmas trees and the lights. Christmas trees should be all about memories.

Posted by Lynne on 12/22/2010 - 08:59 PM