Christmas 2011

I finally put out my decorations, maybe a little later than most folks, and I didn't go as big as previous years.  This will be the first Christmas without my mother and my grandmother.  They made Christmas traditions so special.  Christmas Eve was our family gathering at my grandmother's and then just the immediate family gathered on Christmas day.

My grandmother carried on the belief of Santa Clause, but my mother always keep the focus on Christ.  Her decorations were more winter themed.  This year I put out our traditional things, but honored each of them in some way.

First off I had to get a new tree.  When we built the log cabin I was finally able to have a huge tree, but this year was not the year for the 9 ft tree.  I have a white one...but I just wasn't feeling the white one either, so I went out this morning and bought this little pre-lite tree...on sale, always a good thing.

 I decorated for my dad earlier this week and pulled out my mom's Christmas quilts.  This is the log cabin tree that she made.  I love all the presents she had under the tree.

 Part of my decorations are on display in the china cabinet.  I love my plates and Adam's cars.  My grandmother made the Christmas bell cookie jar and the tree candy dishes.

 When the kids were little, my mom made this calendar for a count down.  This is the first year I've had in up in a while.

 Mom gave me the Santa pitcher last year.  She and Grannie made these.  The cups were added from Grannie's collection.  One is without the handle and the little ones include salt and pepper shakers.

 I love my church that lights ups.

 And of course the Nativity scene that my grandmother made for me.  Tradition would have her make everyone pieces each year.  It wold take several years to get the complete set, but she made me a smaller set and gave it to me all in one year.

 This angel has now topped our tree, or sit somewhere in a place of honor, for 25 years.  She was the first thing I bought after we married for our Christmas decorations.

 My mom painted ornaments.

 The one I added this year in honor of her.

 My aunt made this one over 24 years ago and it is my theme for this coming year.

 Mom loved snowmen and she was in the process of starting me a collection.

 This is one of my first quilted projects, made about 25 years ago for Grannie.  I made the pattern from a picture in a magazine.  It's all log cabins.  As you can see...it wasn't square!

 I always loved the detail of the flame, the glow around it and the "wax" dripping down the candle.

 This bowl of ornaments were my grandmother's and these lights were always on her tree.  They get too hot to leave on for long.

 Merry Christmas!!