The Simple Things

Monday, December 19, 2011


It's the simple things that can make the holidays memorable. I found this string tied with a bit of greenery at my local antique shop.


 

     The tree is finally decorated. It seems harder to get it all together....but so worth it. All the vintage glass balls have been hung with whatever wire we could find.

     The tinsel you can see in the lower left of the picture above is some I've used each Christmas for about 23 years. I haven't been able to find any more like it and it's my favorite. We pick it off of the tree at the end of each season and reuse it the next year. My husband and I laugh about which of our children might inherit the tinsel. We were trying to decide if they are tinsel worthy. Jeff.....you are definitely not getting it! (He's the one that globs it on the tree and then laughs!!!)

 


     I have a small collection of Wagner flocked animal ornaments from West Germany. These felted animals are always sweet. I purchased them in the 1980s when the kids were small. I did have lots more....but the dogs ate some of the ones that were within reach. Now we never decorate the lower portion of the tree. 


     During this hectic time Barb and I wish you all a bit of time to enjoy the simple things you love.

Until later,

Alma

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37 comments

  1. KerriDecember 19, 2011 at 3:50 PM

    I feel better knowing I am not the only neurotic tree decorator. I can't remember the last time I had a tree with ornaments on the lower branches - maybe someday but I doubt it.

    Thanks for making my year filled with wonderful stitching projects.

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  2. MargaretDecember 19, 2011 at 4:41 PM

    What a nice post! Love your decorations. We try not to put delicate ornaments low down because of our kitty, but so far so good. lol! I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year!

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  3. NancyDecember 19, 2011 at 4:48 PM

    Such beautiful Christmas decorations! I enjoyed reading your post very much. I hope you have a very Merry Christmas!

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  4. KaisievicDecember 19, 2011 at 5:04 PM

    Lovely decorations - my cats are slowly destroying both my tree and my decorations but it wouldn't matter if I only decorated the top as Furio just launches himself at the tree from a great height! lol!

    Hugs, Kaye xoxoxo

    http://kittenstitching.blogspot.com

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  5. WoolenSailsDecember 19, 2011 at 5:25 PM

    I can't decorate any tree without the cats going to town with it, so my collectibles are boxed up and I have little trees with soft ornies, scattered around the house.

    Debbie

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  6. Jean BeeDecember 19, 2011 at 5:40 PM

    Happy Holidays! Love your string! I collect that and have some in a large wool bowl - I put a piece of old folded quilt in it pined together with a rusty pin and white buttons and stuck a white batting Santa in there. Propped a boxwood wreath from Country Sampler behind it (it sits on an old farm chair) - love it. It's one of my favorite christmas "props".

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  7. AnonymousDecember 19, 2011 at 5:45 PM

    Your tree is beautiful. You sound like my mom when it comes to the tinsel. The tinsel was her job when I was a kid. I think that is because us kids liked to throw it on, it was fun. I gues I wouldn't inherit the tinsel either if I were one of your kids.

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  8. Carol E. in AZDecember 19, 2011 at 5:50 PM

    Merry Christmas to you and Barb. May you both have a great, happy and safe holiday.

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  9. marlyDecember 19, 2011 at 5:52 PM

    The sprigged string is perfect for me. The bulbs you featured are the exact ones I have packed away with the others from mom. For 25 years we had pups that would tear the padded ornaments off the tree, thinking they were new squeak toys. We can now decorate to the bottom, but miss the thievery very much. Merry Christmas.

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  10. LindaDecember 19, 2011 at 6:20 PM

    For the longest time, I did not decorate the lower branches of the tree because our fur people tended to play with the decorations they could reach. I hang several dozen small and medium sized bells in the lower branches. They are indestructible and have become an early warning system.
    Thanks for sharing so many wonderful things with us.

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  11. Sherry :o)December 19, 2011 at 6:21 PM

    And merry, merry to both of you and your families.

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  12. P.J.December 19, 2011 at 6:24 PM

    Love your recycle reuse of the tinsel! What a quaint family tradition. You the kids will be talking about their crazy parents using the same tinsel, for many years. Great memories. Your photos brought back fond memories of my mothers tree, growing up we had some of her grandmothers glass ornaments. It just feels like home when I see the old style ornaments.

    May your holiday be merry and bright.

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  13. FayeDecember 19, 2011 at 6:28 PM

    You have quite a few sentimental ornaments on that tree...And they look great!! I loved the story about the 23 yr old tinsil and seeing who was tinsil worth to inherit it~~~

    Merry Christmas to all fo you and I look forward to more in 2012~~

    Always,
    Faye carolinastitcher

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  14. Peggy LeeDecember 19, 2011 at 6:38 PM

    Love those old ornaments but that tinsel has lived a good life. That is so funny about which child will inherit it!

    Merry Christmas to you and your family....

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  15. CariDecember 19, 2011 at 6:47 PM

    Lovely post Alma. And Merry Christmas to you and Barb as well.

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  16. LabbiegirlDecember 19, 2011 at 7:20 PM

    Always fun to read your blog. ;-) This year, I made an even dozen fabric birds[I don't know how that happened.] with tulle decorating their necks, etc., because our 3 labbies' tails can wreck havoc on anything. Our female alpha lab thought at first they might pheasants to retrieve. Oh, my!! Of course, our 130 lb. male labbie "baby" sleeps on his orthopedic bed near the tree with his head on the Christmas train tracks under the tree. What a sight!

    Can't wait to begin stitching "Christmas Garden" and the new stocking design. Love the stockings!!!

    Wishing you and yours a healthy, happy, holiday season!

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  17. AnonymousDecember 19, 2011 at 9:21 PM

    Merry Christmas Alma and Barb!
    Thank you for sharing your wonderful talent, and best wishes for the New Year!
    Lancy

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  18. QuiltdollsDecember 19, 2011 at 9:23 PM

    I wanted to tell you how much I love the new book & line of fabric... thank you
    kim

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  19. Robin at The Primitive HutchDecember 19, 2011 at 11:39 PM

    Wonderful post! Loved all the pics.
    Thanks for keeping us in stitches ~ can't wait to see what the new year brings!
    Happy Stitching!
    Hope you have a Very Merry Christmas!
    Prim Blessings
    Robin

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  20. LidaDecember 20, 2011 at 1:06 AM

    Here no tree, the dog would destroy it! But I love yours and here you still can buy that tinsel! Enjoy the holidays, I will make lots of stitches at part two of LF.
    Season greetings
    Lida

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  21. MichelleDecember 20, 2011 at 1:39 AM

    A lovely post xx

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  22. GiovannaDecember 20, 2011 at 4:15 AM

    A Merry Christmas to you and Barb and families!

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  23. MariaDecember 20, 2011 at 5:02 AM

    Merry Christmas ;)
    ciao Maria

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  24. suzDecember 20, 2011 at 6:29 AM

    Merry Christmas to you and your sister. Thank you both for all you share with us throughout the year and for your wonderful designs. I love that you recycle the tinsel and I thoroughly understand it! Your ornaments are lovely. My older cat would lay on her back under the tree for hours looking at the lights. My younger cat doesn't bother with it - it doesn't taste good and won't pat her, so it's not good for anything as far as she's concerned!

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  25. The Nebby NeedleDecember 20, 2011 at 8:20 AM

    Merry Christmas and a Quilting New Year...ooops...I mean "Happy". Oh dear, I'm hooked!

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  26. DedeDecember 20, 2011 at 1:11 PM

    Wishing you both a very Merry Christmas! THANK YOU TWO for so many hours of stitching pleasure. Can't wait to get the Christmas sampler to start in the new year.
    I am a tinsel hoarder too. Have used the same for several years but not as long as yours! LOL
    All ornaments on the lower branches are the non breakable kind-old habit from the kids and now grandkids! I was the lucky person to get the old ornaments from my inlaws stash. They downsized to a condo so don't put up a big tree. Lovely old ornaments.....with precious memories.
    Wonderful photos!!!

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  27. BethDecember 20, 2011 at 4:18 PM

    Love your decorations. We do not decorate the bottom branches of your tree either. Same reason...dogs.
    My tree is still naked. We plan on getting it done tonight. (Maybe)
    Better get it done soon.
    Happy holidays

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  28. Jennifer Ann FoxDecember 20, 2011 at 4:47 PM

    Sweet pictures of all your special ornaments and the tinsel reminded me of growing up and my parents always had tinsel as well. My dad even put some on my pilow and used to tell me Santa left it there when he was checking to make sure I was asleep LOL

    Here's wishing you a very Merry Chrismas!

    Jennifer

    http://www.feathersinthenest.blogspot.com/

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  29. MaryDecember 21, 2011 at 9:12 AM

    Wishing you both a Merry Christmas! Thank you for all your great designs.
    I love reading your blog. Mary

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  30. AnnaDecember 21, 2011 at 9:42 AM

    Oh Alma...what can I say...but you are my guru! I had to laugh because my dad used to get so angry when i would throw the tinsel on...I am not tinsel worthy.

    I really love the little animal ornaments!

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  31. LizziebethDecember 21, 2011 at 1:20 PM

    You can find Christmas tinsel at VermontCountryStore.com, item # H2746. Love reading your blog.

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  32. NIKYDecember 21, 2011 at 3:23 PM

    Merry Christmas my dear friend Alma. see you soon in Nashville, can hardly wait.

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  33. BertieDecember 21, 2011 at 5:12 PM

    Love those vintage baubles and the animals are so cute.

    Happy Christmas and healthy and creative 2012 !

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  34. Pine Valley QuiltsDecember 22, 2011 at 4:14 AM

    I Love the Donkey, very cute.
    Merry Xmas to you both.

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  35. Jenny MDecember 22, 2011 at 6:15 AM

    Beautiful photos of your decorations. Wishing you & Barb a lovely Christmas with your families. I bought the Weekend book online and had it posted to me in Australia, I refrained from looking at it, and wrapped it up & told my son that was his gift to me. That way I get what I want & save him the agony of going Christmas shopping for me!

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  36. JennyDecember 22, 2011 at 4:38 PM

    I caught our cat leaping into the tree to steal one of my hand stitched ornaments. Think I might join you in moving all the ornaments out of (kitty's) reach!!

    Merry Christmas to you and Barb and your families!! Hope you will be teaching next year!

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  37. garigoDecember 27, 2011 at 10:52 AM

    Jolies photos! Joyeux Noël!

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