Christmas

Annalee Tree

Do you have a collection that you’re not sure how to display?  How about dedicating a tree to your collection.

My Aunt Sue started giving me Annalee mice when I was in high school.  You can find Annalee figures everywhere now, but that was not the case in the late 1970s.  Sue had to order them directly from the factory in New Hampshire.  They were incredible special then.  She always got me the grey mice.  Over the years I have continued to add to my collection, but only the grey mice – I am very finicky when it comes to my Annalees.

annalee

 

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annalee-3

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As my collection grew, I was running out of places to put them.  I saw a display of Dickens Village houses on a wooden tree and I came up with the idea of putting all of my Annalee mice on their own Christmas tree.  Genius!  It is such a fun tree and a great conversation starter.

Try it out with your favorite collection that is getting to big to display!

These caroling Annalee’s were my Gran’s.

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Ornaments, Ornaments, Ornaments

Each year as I pull out ornaments to decorate my Christmas tree I relive so many memories.  I’m sure each of you go through the same thing.  Please be patient with me as I walk you through some of my memories.

painted-flower-ornament

My mother-in-law, who is an amazing artist painted this beautiful bulb.

mitten

My grandma Grace knitted this sweet mitten for me.  At one time it had a mate, but like most children I lost it.  I’m so glad that I still have this one.  Many years ago I came up with the ingenious idea to hang it on my tree every year.  Instead of being tucked away in a box, I am able to pull it out each year.  It is one of my most precious possessions.

kindergarten-ornament

I have had this little ornament since I was in Kindergarten.  I got it from my Sunday School teacher and it was filled with CANDY!

grandma-pinecone-ornament

I gave this beautiful ornament to my grandma Grace and a couple of years before she died she gave it back to me.  She loved it so much that she displayed it all year long.  I lovingly pull this ornament out each year and remember the love that was my grandma.

deborah-ornament

Another ornament from my grandma Grace.  She had made for her each of her grandchildren.  They hung on her tree for years.  Another thing she made sure I got.

christmas-pickle

The German pickle!  It is supposed to be the last ornament
on the tree and whoever finds it first on Christmas morning gets a prize.  We have never done that since there is only one child in our family.  My Aunt Sue gave me this special ornament.

casey-ornament

Another beautiful ornament painted by my mother-in-law Rozanne.  This is a painting of my Cocker Spaniel Casey.  He was our first baby and then became Cameron’s protector.  We had this sweet boy for 16 years.  He could be a pickle, but he was loving and loyal.

beehive-ornament

My sissy, Amy, gave me this bee hive.  My name means bee.  If I wasn’t The Domesticated Maven, I’d be the Queen Bee!  Amy is always on the lookout for bee themed ornaments.  I just love this one

 

clover-ornament

glass-ireland-ornament

These two ornaments are from Dublin, Ireland.  I took a group of high school students on a mission trip to work in a youth camp.  I loved being a youth leader.  The relationships and memories I have from this trip will be with me forever!

 

Christmas Foyer

It took me awhile to find the perfect tree for my foyer. I wanted a tall, skinny tree.  I’ve had a couple of different versions.  Meet Foyer Tree 3.0 – it’s finally the right one!  I handmade all of the pretty ornaments using beads, mirrors, crystals and bells.

mirror-ornament

These ornaments are very difficult to photograph, so take a close look.

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I have all kinds of treasures in the secretary.  Treasures from my mom, my Gran and my Aunt Sue.

secretary

When we built our house ten years ago, I was so excited to have a banister!  I couldn’t wait for our first Christmas so I could decorate it.

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Elf on the Shelf

Many of you are working feverishly every night to come up with new mischief for your Elf on the Shelf.  We have many in our house that resided in my husband’s home when he was a little boy.  That was way back in the 1960s!  Way back then the elves didn’t cause mischief, there were many of them and they had new hiding places every morning.  When my husband and his brother woke up, they would look all over the house to find all of the elves.  We continued that tradition when our Cameron came along.  Now that he’s grown the elves only get hidden once.  Hiding the elves is my husband’s job!