Sunday, December 16, 2007

Christmas Tour of Homes

We interrupt our regularly scheduled travelogue to participate in some Christmas fun. I am re-posting last year’s Christmas Tour of Homes, and will rejoin the travelogue in progress (if you guys think I should – is anyone tired of it yet? There’s so much more to say and show and I don’t want to belabor the point if it’s too long – please let me know!) Add a year to everything that is date sensitive in this old post.


New memories are being formed every day as I care for the kiddoes. Care Bear is really aware of what Christmas is about, thanks to Sunday school, Christian preschool, and reinforcement at home and at Grandma's. She was excited about seeing Santa today at the mall, but yesterday it was all about Jesus. She and Feisty were playing Mary and Joseph yesterday. Feisty wanted to be Baby Jesus, but Care Bear informed her that she couldn't be Baby Jesus, because he had not been born yet - she had to be the donkey that Mary rode on to Bethlehem. Pretty good for a 4-year-old! Care Bear has also been very concerned this week about King Herod's ordering all of the baby boys to be killed. It was a great learning moment for us.


Last year I bought the Fisher Price Little People (known as Things That Go Guys to Care Bear - another story I'll let Kristen tell) nativity set, because my traditional set was showing the wear and tear of being rearranged by little hands - several animal ears have fallen victim. When you push on the angel on top of the stable, it plays "Away in a Manger." They arrange, rearrange, lose, find, the characters many times a day.


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I have decided a safer place for the set I made (with the help of a really crafty friend) many years ago is the top shelf of the entertainment center. On the shelves below is my growing collection of angels.

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A few days ago I mentioned that I have two trees. It happened because I always wanted to put a tree in the living room window and the kids always wanted the tree down in the family room. I compromised - the tree full of memories continues to be in the family room, and I bought myself a tree which I have added to every year since. It has been a labor of love, but lots of work!

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I made this crewel embroidery picture years ago and love to hang it every year. Now it serves as a reminder of how ambitious and creative I used to be - and patient.


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I love this wooden Christmas Windmill. It is very special because my son bought it for me for my birthday a few years ago. It has 3 levels of the nativity scene, and of course twirls when the candles are lit. The grandkids love it as well.


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I had a hard time narrowing down my favorite ornaments. Our first tree was full of blue satin balls from our flocked wedding trees the December before. That's all we had on our first tree. I wish I had a picture of it. Every year after that I would give away a box (we had 6 dozen of them) and replace it with a new set. We also decided to acquire a special ball each year. Most of them are dated. The very first one we picked out was crushed, along with many others, when one of those real trees with a lousy trunk tipped over while we were gone for the evening. That was sad.


When I was a young mom, we had a great time at Bible study. Sometimes we had a craft time. One year we went through this phase. The balls were styrofoam made to look quilted - lots of fun to make, but I haven't done one since I made so many that year. But this one has stayed on my tree ever since - I wonder how many of the gifts I gave are still "hanging around."

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This was our 1979 ball, bought to commemorate the first year in our new house - we are in the same house 28 years later. I posted about that on July 1.

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I made this for our 10th Christmas together - the only needlepoint project I ever did - I did lots of crewel embroidery, regular embroidery, and counted cross stitch, but only this one needlepoint. That makes it VERY special, as well as very sentimental.

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For our 25th anniversary, 9 years ago, we went to the Big Island of Hawaii. We stayed outside of Kona at a Bed and Breakfast called The Dragonfly Ranch (Kim would love it!). It was so wonderful - no windows on our cabin so the birds and even roosters woke us up in the morning. We drove around the hills one of the first days and came upon a beautiful old very small Catholic church. They were having a craft sale that day and we bought this hand-made ornament as a memento. We also attended their Christmas program later that week. That was a blessed experience - seeing the Christmas story portrayed with hula was unbelievably moving and beautiful - I never would have believed it if I hadn't seen it.

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This is our 1995 ornament in honor of our little dachshund, Fritzie - I wrote about him a few weeks ago. This was one of the last pictures we took of him before he died.

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Last, but not least, our 3 grandkids are gracing the tree with these adorable pictures.

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This has been fun - I hope it's not too long for your to enjoy it as well. Merry Christmas!




24 comments:

Karen H. said...

Good Evening Dawn,
"WELCOME BACK HOME". I hope things have settled down and yall are getting back into the swing of things at home. I haven't gotten tired of hearing about your Hawaiian Trip. I have really enjoyed it. I am looking forward to the rest of it. "THANK YOU" for sharing it with us. I love all of your ornaments. They are beautiful. The homemade ornaments seem to mean more than the store bought kind. I love the Christmas Windmill. I have an Aunt that lives in Mississippi and she has one like it as well. She doen't ever light the candles on it tho. She keeps it up year round. I think her son sent it to her while he was overseas in the Army one year. I haven't posted this weekend. It's been a busy weekend around here. I did leave a comment on your previous post about the rocks. LOL. It was 4:41a.m. when I had left a comment. A bit early. Well, take care my friend and have a great evening. May God Bless You and Yours. Again, "WELCOME BACK HOME".

Hugs,
Karen H.

Nadine said...

Lovely. I have picture ornaments on my tree too. Aren't they fun.

Anonymous said...

I love the sweet stories about all of your special ornaments. And the styrofoam ball that looks quilted? Awesome!!

Susan said...

Enjoyed seeing these nice ornaments.
Susan

Robin said...

I loved your little Christmas tour! It's the little things and the people we love whom they represent that gives it all so much meaning.
I would like to have two trees too - but I would have to put them both up and I can bearly do one!

Quirky said...

My mother has that same Christmas windmill! We used to play with it every year when we were kids. I'd forgotten about it until I saw yours. Thanks for sharing something so special. You have a lovely home!

Hootin Anni said...

Love the embroidery work best I think.

I have a slide show for my tour.
I hope you can get connected to view with me, if not, I have a few thumbnail images on my regular blog too.---

My Slide Show Tour

Jenni said...

Wonderful ornaments, and wonderful, cozy home! TFS!

Carole Burant said...

Hello dear Dawn:-) I do remember this post from last year but it was just as fun seeing all your lovely ornaments and trees again!! I, for one, am not tired of your Hawaii adventures...it's the next best thing to actually being there! lol xox

ellen b. said...

Dawn,
I enjoyed your tour. I think both your trees are great! Blessings on you and yours this Christmas!

Tammy said...

Welcome back, Dawn!
I'm not finished reading all of your adventure yet...I'm making my way through it as time permits...I hope to read another part later today! :)

I loved your tour and your very special ornaments!

And the embroidery picture is so lovely...how talented you are!

Stop by my tour when you get a chance...I have hot chocolate waiting! :)

Southern Heart said...

Thank you for the tour of your lovely home. You have so many personal and family touches, and that makes Christmas so special! You have a very warm and welcoming home!

Merry Christmas,

Andrea

groovyoldlady said...

You are in Hawaii AND giving us a home tour? You are an amazing woman!

I LOVE that windmill. It is VERY groovy!

Unknown said...

Thanks for the tour, I love the german windmill. Everything looks so nice.

Mary said...

Dawn,

I love all your decorations but the Fisher Price Nativity set is awesome. What a wonderful way for little ones to learn about Jesus' birthday.

The trees are very pretty. The one with the blue on it reminds me of the tree that my daughter puts in her living room. They always put one tree in the living room and one in the family room. The boys can put whatever they like on the one in the family room, but the other always has a blue theme.

Thanks for dropping by my blog. I haven't had a chance to get over and visit lately. My apologies. I hope you are having a lovely holiday and that your ankle is fully healed.

Love and blessings,
Mary

~Becca~Bluebird Rose said...

Your decor is lovely; that crewelwork you did is stunning! :)

Karen H. said...

Good Morning Dawn,
When you have time, stop by. I have a couple of Awards waiting for you. I hope you enjoy them. Well, take care my friend and May God Bless You and Yours. Oh, by the way, when do we get to hear the rest of your Hawaiian adventure? I am so looking forward to it.

Hugs,
Karen H.

Unknown said...

Lovely! How nice that you were able to participate on the heels of your whirlwind vacation. Welcome home!

nancy said...

Dawn, It's my first visit. Thank you for sharing your beautiful home. I remember the styrofoam quilted year, as well. We made so many, and, like you, I haven't done it since! We have one or two on the tree.
God's blessings on your home.
Nancy

Unknown said...

the two trees are absolutely beautiful!

Rita Loca said...

Merry Christmas!

Chrissie said...

Thanks for the tour, Dawn! Everything's so very lovely!
God Bless You!
Chrissie

Dawn said...

I had a nice time visiting your home! Thank you for opening it up to me...and everyone else :-)

Your home is nice and cozy.

Those German windmills..I just can't get into them. But they are very popular here...

Merry Christmas from Dawn in Germany!

Anonymous said...

Merry Christmas! Thanks from the tour from a far. Everything looks festive.