Wednesday, December 10, 2008

TRIM THE TREE THURSDAY

It's Trim the Tree Thursday hosted by Brett at The Hostess with the Mostess. Check out her blog for a list of wonderful Christmas participants.


This week I want to share our Christmas tree that is set up in our living room. But, first, I want to show you our very first Christmas tree. The year was 1958, and we had been married for three months. We were college students living on nothing, but we bought this little real tree. To decorate it, I made some red things (?) out of some red net fabric I had and strung some popcorn and cranberries for garland. Then we bought ONE red ball, which we painted the year on it.



And, thus, began our very own traditions. Every year since, we have painted the year on a red ball to add to our tree. That makes 51 balls this year!! We have, also, had popcorn garlands on our tree every year. As a matter of fact, Bob and the grand kids finished stringing popcorn for this year's tree just last night.

Of course, in addition to the red balls, we have added lots of ornaments to this tree from our travels, kid's projects, and gifts from friends.

Here is that very first 1958 ball next to our 2008 ball.


About 30 years ago, I found these old-fashioned type of candle holders that clip on the tree. We have always been afraid to light the candles, however!!!



Twenty-five years ago, I started a Hallmark Christmas ornament series of houses and buildings. I never had any idea that the series would go on this long. I have all 25 in the series. We also are on the 13th in the series of the train ornaments, plus there is a completed Santa Claus series on the tree.


My parents brought this Holy Family made from corn husks back from Santa Fe, New Mexico to us one year.


A Teddy bear in a basket with his very own pieced quilt that I made.

There are four of these gingerbread men that Bob brought back from a business trip for our son's first Christmas 40 years ago.




I've only shown you a small portion of the hundreds of ornaments on this tree. It takes the two of us all day to hang all of the ornaments. If we have help from the grand kids, it takes even longer!! We always relive what was happening during a specific year when we hang the red balls. New baby years, new house years, no money years; they have all been joyful years!!!!



I love this tree probably even more than the tree I showed you last week with the blown-glass ornaments on it. I can't imagine a Christmas without it!!


I hope you enjoyed it, too.


Sally


26 comments:

Confessions of a Plate Addict said...

Oh Sally...It's lovely! I can understand why you would love this tree best!It must be so nice to see those ornaments each Christmas and relive the wonderful memories that go with each one. Have a great evening...Debbie

Tootsie said...

girl...it is so beautiful...and so special....all the memories you have in this tree...makes me feel warm and fuzzy all over to think of you all going through each year and each special memory...you are so blessed!

Happy To Be/ Gl♥ria said...

Sally this has got to be the most beautiful Christmas tree I have ever seen because of all the love that has been added throught the years...what a wonderful post this was for me to read tonight...I really did love this..I am really a sucker for family memories like this..very special you must feel real proud..hugs and smiles Gloria

Sue said...

You've come a long way baby!! the first tree looked like you dug it up from someone's yard....You certainly have upgraded over the years.....Sue.

Kathy said...

Your home is so beautiful and your Christmas decorating is wonderful!
Merry Christmas,
Kathy

FrenchGardenHouse said...

What a beautiful tree, and what makes it most special is that you have such sweet memories attached to your ornaments.
xo Lidy

cinnamongirl93 said...

What a wonderful story. Great memories hang on your tree. Beautiful!!!!

Chari at Happy To Design said...

Hi Sally...

What a beautiful tree...and I just love that each and every ornament and decoration has special meaning to you and your family!!! I also love how you add a red ball ornament with the year...what a great tradition!!!

Warmest wishes...Chari

Lisa (aka) French said...

Oh how wonderful what great memories! We have a few like that as well and I cherish them greatly! French;)

SmilingSally said...

You've come a long way, baby! We married in 1958 and had a second Christmas tree almost identical to your first. (Our first was 6 inches high!) I collect corn husk dolls and nativity scenes, so you know I love yours.

Anonymous said...

Sally! What a fabulous legacy you and your husband are living. I love the red bulb tradition you started years ago. Congratulations on all those years of marriage!! I love your comment about if the grandkids help it takes longer :0)
Blessings on many more red ornament years!!

brettinsky said...

This is just perfect! I am a sucker for anything sentimental. The red balls are precious-I would be so overly cautious with them, LOL! And the popcorn garland-what a fun tradition!

Terri Steffes said...

I love how the red balls just tie the whole thing together. The best part, though, is the time it takes to put up that tree. I just imagine you sitting lovingly in front of it, putting each ornament in its special place.

Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME said...

I love this post. My hubby and I on our first Christmas got a free tree after midnight Christmas eve. I had satin styrofoam balls that I put out names and dates on and borrowed lights from my mom. For years, that is what we had on our tree. I no longer do a memory tree due to a family circumstance, but I loved reading about yours.

Anonymous said...

Your tree is wonderful and I love the dated ornament idea! You were brilliant to do that!

Cami @ Creating Myself said...

Oh Sally....those 51 ornaments actually brought a tear. What a neat, wonderful, fabulous, marvelous idea! Oh how I wish I had thought of that!!!!!

Scooterblu's Whimsy~Rhonda said...

Hi Sally, Your tree is so beautiful! ...and the memories behind the ornaments is touching! Thanks for sharing! ~Rhonda :)

Hallie said...

Love your decos. The Hallmark house ornament series started the year my oldest daughter was born. She has rec'd one each Christmas. We love them as well, but wonder how LONG will the series go!!! Merry Christmas.

nikkicrumpet said...

hey Sally...that is a great idea with the red balls. And I love the strings of popcorn! Your tree is so full and lush and beautiful! I can see why it takes all day to decorate it! But the effort sure pays off.

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful tree you have! I love it and I love the tradition of the red balls! Great memories!

Unknown said...

What a lovely memory tree! Our tree in the living room is like this.... so precious!

~Liz

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

What a wonderful idea to have a red ball with each year on it! And that look fabulous on your tree! All of your other ornaments are beautiful too, but the red balls just tie it all together. Absolutely wonderful. laurie

imjacobsmom said...

Your ornaments are priceless! That is a wonderful tradition! Your tree is just beautiful! ~ Robyn

redsoxmom said...

Sally,
Thanks so much for sharing the story behind your red bulbs. I also like that you relive the moments from each year as you decorate. Just lovely!

Blessings,
Linda

Bo said...

What a wonderful tradition you started 51 years ago...I wish I had been smart enough to do that...I'd have 40 of them now... I had to chuckle about it taking longer to decorate your tree when the grandkids helped...Your tree is fabulous! ;-) Bo

lvroftiques said...

I am feeling teary eyed Sally!!*sniffles* Your tradition of putting the year on a red Christmas ball and seeing the one marked 1958 next to the one marked 2008 is just sooo touching!! What a fabulous tradition!! One I'm going to start today!! (Well mine will be gold but ykwim?) My mother started buying me a Hallmark ornament each year back in the 70's.....so many happy memories! I think this is the best Christmas post ever! Thank you for sharing! Vanna