Mosaic Monday #8 - My Christmas Romance

(internet)

What makes me such a romantic when it comes to Christmas?

Could it be the blue and white dinner ware with a Currier and Ives scene, which were a constant in my childhood?








Could it be the vintage Christmas records played on a vintage stereo, both inherited from my parents?

Could it be my memories of making hand-made bows and Christmas ornaments with my oldest sister, the florist?










Could it be the anticipated joy on Christmas Day, when we sing Happy Birthday to Jesus in the nativity set, and then pass on that joy to others through gift-giving?

It's all of that, and probably more, that leads me to a romantic, tradition-bound approach to decorating for the season, especially inside the house.  And it's not just the outcome but also the process that is important to me.

The pink ribbon marks the spot!

The ideal example?  Our Christmas tree.  In my world, a tree should be fresh and one that you cut yourself.  For many years, our family tradition dictated a trip to the Christmas tree farm.  Last year, our mighty foursome trekked public lands to secure a sweet-smelling pine. This year, we took it to a whole new level by reaping a 15-foot Engelmann spruce from our back forty.  





(Spousal Unit and I selected the tree in November, which prompted Spousal Unit to construct a tree stand from scratch - our old, leaky plastic tree stand would be no match for this tree!)

Normally, all four of us would select, harvest and decorate the tree.  This year required some adjustment, given that #1 Daughter's first-job-out-of-college meant that she will not arrive home until December 23; none of us could stomach the idea of waiting that long to put up the tree.  So, the day after #1 Son arrived home, we set to cutting and transporting this beauty.

Can you see Spousal Unit under the tree with the chain saw?

Timber!!!

Two men and a tree …

With teamwork and patient perseverance, the tree was secured in the stand (and I am pleased to report that it is still upright!)  We let the branches dry for 36 hours (snowy here, you know!) and then the big morning came for trimming the tree.  Of course, we can't place a single ornament without Christmas music, so #1 Son cranked up the vintage stereo with the three albums.

Yes, that's a marshmallow fork that

we are using to place the angel!

It is customary for the kids to take turns placing the angel atop the tree as the last decoration, but the size of this pine caused us to put the angel on first.  Quite simply, getting the ladder close enough to the tree to reach the top meant we couldn't have any other ornaments on the tree for fear of knocking them off.  Yes, we CAN adapt when the situation calls for it!

After the lights have been strung, the true fun begins - the joy of re-discovering our ornaments, and telling stories about them.  Like the glass ball from Chincoteague Island - and how I dropped it right after we bought it, spilling sand and shells onto the ground from which they came.  Fortunately, we were still on the island and we secured another one that I was not allowed to carry …

Like the three crocheted angels that my Mom made for all of us some years ago to represent three family members that had gone Home before us.

Like the hand-made-in-school ornaments that remind us of those innocent days gone by.

I could go on for several hours, as we do when decorating, but I will stop before I get carried away.  This year, we saved ornaments for #1 Daughter to put on the tree - "her" ornaments, as well as a representative sample of other general decorations.  More joy is coming!

So, I think you get the point - we cherish the result and the journey along the way.  In future years, I may tell you about other decorating traditions, but for now I offer some additional mosaics.

Mosaic Monday is open as usual this weekend; it will take a break on December 31 and the next link will open on Sunday, January 6.  I pray that you and yours may have a very blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year.  See you then.

Mosaic Monday

Welcome to Mosaic Monday, a weekly meme where we get together to share our photo mosaics and collages.
Please include at least one photo mosaic/collage in your post.
The link will be open from 1 p.m. Sunday until 11 p.m. Monday (U.S. Mountain time).
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Please link back to this post so that your readers will be able to visit and enjoy more wonderful mosaics; taking the MM blog button from my sidebar is an easy way to link back.
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Thank you for joining in today and sharing your mosaics with us. 

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