Ornaments
January 2, 2010 Sometimes it feels like we're just too busy to have any traditions in our little family, but we do have one that I cherish from year to year... Our Christmas ornaments.
(Our Christmas tree is still up, by the way. We were late in getting it up and decorated to begin with, and now I don't have the heart to dismantle it. Last night half of the lights stopped working, however. I think it's trying to tell me something.)
Every year since we got engaged we have purchased one or two new ornaments for our tree. Most have them have some sort of hidden meaning, either in the ornament itself or simply the memory of where we purchased it. During a time of year that is supposed to be steeped in meaning, yet always seems to be chaotic and stressful, hanging our ornaments on the tree forces me to slow down for a second and look back on happy memories...
The wagon wheel, circa 2007. Purchased in Steamboat Springs, CO. Mr. Blue Eyes took Little Blue Eyes and I there (he was just a tiny baby then!) as a little post partum getaway. It was only for a night, but it was a good little outing for our new family. I picked out this wagon wheel ornament because, in case you hadn't noticed, I love wagon wheels.
Snowman Moose, circa 2002(ish). Purchased in a Christmas shop just down the street from our first apartment. Looking at this ornament always makes me happy, I don't know why. It's a moose, but it's a snowman. And it looks like a marshmallow. But you can't eat it. But you want to.
Lucy. Beloved beagle, brave huntress of lands far and near. Reminds me of days gone by and those who are no longer with us. Sad tears. Happy tears.
Seashell, circa July 3, 2000. I will always remember the day we bought this ornament because it was on our trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and it was on that trip that Mr. Blue Eyes asked me to marry him one dark night on the beach. He kind of yelled it at me, actually. "FARMER GAL (except he called me by my real, full name, at the time), WILL YOU MARRY ME?" I'm not quite sure why he yelled... A combination of nerves and trying to be heard over the incoming waves, I suppose. That still makes me laugh.
Golden Retriever, circa 2009. Since I couldn't have this guy with me for Christmas this year, Mr. Blue Eyes got me this ornament instead. Now I will be able to remember him every year. Do you think his wife got him an ornament of me to hang on his tree this year? I'm sure she did. Retrievers are thoughtful like that. So are blue eyed husbands.
Well, I'm off to cook and clean... Not much new there! But we have friends coming over this evening, so it's much more rewarding. Still debating if I should make a tried and true recipe like this one or use them as my guinea pigs for something new. I'll let you know what I come up with.
Reader Comments (3)
I am glad you are posting again. It is fun to read your ramblings.... how random is it that I click into your blog today (and I haven't looked at it for quite awhile) and you talk about your "guests" tonight. I think your guests would like the mushroom chicken =)
The chicken dish looked delish! Loved the story of your ornaments. I have some that have special meaning too.
I think I like the wagon wheel the best.
Just took our tree down yesterday...way overdue, if you ask the dried out tree. We too, collect ormanments, new ones every year...this year a Minnie and Mickey Mouse ornament...to celebrate our return to Disneyland after a haitus of 19 years. I love looking at our ornaments and remembering the stories behind each one.