A Tree of Memories

Sunday was the day for stringing popcorn and cranberries and decorating the tree with the help of friends and family. We're fortunate to have a core group who've done this so often that I could just leave them to it.

But I don't. I love to watch the old familiar ornaments appear and get put where they belong-- like the tree-topping angel that I made from a kit almost thirty years ago.

At last the popcorn cranberry chains are done -- about 75 feet of them -- and Justin and Cory take on the job of draping them to my exacting standards.

Then there are the scarlet ribbons for the tree . . .

. . . and the dogs . . .


. . . and one cat (Eddie was having none of it.)

The ornaments are an eclectic mix -- from this shabby blue ball that still bears the traces of the glitter-traced "Skip" that either my brother (Skip) or I adorned it with over fifty years ago. . .

. . to store bought crocheted snowflakes and candy canes and tin 'icicles' and a few porcelain bells that once adorned John's grandparents' tree. . .















. . . and this kinda tacky thing that was part of a box of ornaments my parents bought from John who was selling them as part of a club project back in high school . . .
















. . and this sequined heart made by Justin way back in third or fourth grade. . . .















. . and still another heart, made by Theresa, Aileen's mother.

















The finished product isn't glamorous-- but it's laden with memories.