OLD FASHION CHRISTMAS - STRINGING POPCORN

It's 'Old Fashioned Christmas' day tomorrow over at Jann Olson's blog, Have a Daily Cup.  I thought what is more old fashioned at Christmas than stringing popcorn as a garland for the Christmas tree.

Here is our tree this year with its popcorn garland.

Those of you that have read my blog over the last few years have heard about our tradition of the red balls and the popcorn garland.  For those of you who haven't heard -----

In Christmas 1958, we had been married three months, were still teenagers and poor college students.  We managed to scrape enough money together to buy a tiny tree and one red ball.  We painted the year on the ball, and strung some popcorn for a garland.  Here is a picture of that glorious tree from 57 years ago.

Every year since, we have bought a red ball and painted the year on it and added a popcorn garland.  That's 58 red balls now and a lot of popcorn.  When our kids were growing up, it was a family activity to string the popcorn.  After they left home and before the grand kids were old enough, Bob and I (mostly Bob) continued to string the popcorn.  The grand kids then strung a lot of popcorn with us, but are now teenagers and not around as much.

On the home tour last weekend, one of the most asked questions was about the popcorn.

Here are our secrets -- 

In order to keep the popcorn from crumbling,  string using a very fine (quilting) needle and strong quilting thread.  Keep your thread at about 20 inches long threading in short units, then tying the ends together to make longer garlands.  Try to stick your needle through the puffiest part of the popcorn kernel.  

But, here is our biggest secret of all that we figured out when kid labor was no longer available ----

The garland freezes wonderfully.  I have a big Tupperware container that we twirl the garland in, then stick it in the freezer until next year.  Every few years, it's necessary to replace some or all of it, but that is so much easier than doing the whole thing over each year.  And now you know!

 And ---Try not to eat too much popcorn as you string along.

I'm joining the following:
Common Ground for Christmas Open House Dec. 9th
Have a Daily Cup for Old Fashioned Christmas Dec. 10th
The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday
Smiling Sally for Blue Monday (stretching it with my Uncle Sam ornament!!)

I VOTE FOR CHRISTMAS!

I knew that when we scored this treasure for a few dollars at an auction several months ago that it would be great to decorate for Christmas.  It is an old ballot box from our county previously used for elections.  Of course, it didn't look like this when we got it.  The main reason we did bid on it was because the glass part was still intact.  Bob then did his magic to restore the wooden parts.

I love this brass band that separates the two glass parts enabling access to the inside.

To decorate for Christmas, I first poured in a layer of Epsom Salts, then added some of our collection of vintage ornaments.

The huge green ball is from Belgium, measures 6" in diameter, and belonged to my mother.  The glass beads and most of the other ornaments also were inherited from my parents.

This big gold tree topper is a beauty from our vintage tree topper collection.

The wooden box under the table came in pieces with the glass ballot box.  Bob reassembled it and the whole thing fits together perfectly for storage.

Our local home tour is Sunday -- I think we are ready -- more pictures next week.

I'm joining the following:
Tea Time with Trina for Silver and Gold Christmas Blog Tour on Mon. Dec. 7th
Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday
Coastal Charm for Show and Share Tuesday
Ivy and Elephants for What's It Wednesday
Common Ground for Christmas Open House on Dec. 9th