Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Thursday Thirteen - 137 - 13 of My Mom's Christmas Ornaments

My husband and I are roomies with my mom. We have our own apartment downstairs, but I spend part of each day with Mom upstairs on the main floor, so all of her Christmas decorations fill my Christmas with fun. Here is just a peek at her ornament collection.


- 1











This is Mom's Christmas CD holder, otherwise known in a previous life as my Great-Grandpa Meuse's toolbox, which he made for himself.


- 2











This figurine is known as Angela Angel, whom my sister and I named when we were kids. She used to stand in a snow scene Mom set up which we always referred to as Santa in Fairyland. Mom received this angel when she was 14 from a neighbour of her Uncle Benny's in Halifax. Mom lived in Sydney, Cape Breton at the time, and used to come down to Halifax to stay with her grandparents and aunts and uncles.


- 3











These are the Candy Cane Kids, also given to Mom from that same neighbouring family. They were also part of the Santa in Fairyland set-up. Mom recently had them repaired by a man in Truro who does excellent ceramic repairs.


- 4











This little angel was a gift from Mom's friends Charlotte and Yvon when she used to live in Yarmouth. I love the little lantern, which swings.


- 5















This Santa comes from Virginia and used to belong to my mom's sister, my Aunt Sheila. Mom inherited it when Sheila passed away. My aunt was a certified Christmas freak like me. There could never be too much Christmas for her.


- 6











This is Mom's Christmas stocking which she made from recycled material - fabric she collected from used clothing store garments.


- 7











This is an oversized clear glass ball with silvered texture that Mom bought for herself last year at Winners. She's rather enamored with it.


- 8











These three angels each have their own origin. The tall clear one at the back Mom found in Michigan, where we lived when I was very young and where we still have family and friends. We visit there as often as we can. The middle one Mom found here in Nova Scotia. And the little resin one in the front was actually Gram's, given to her by my step mom, Doris when Gram was in the hospital.


- 9











These three embroidered velvet hearts were given to Mom by my husband and me a few years ago. We found them at Winners.


- 10











Mom calls this carved stone piece The Green Women. She bought it a little over 10 years ago, on one of her trips to Ontario when my sister and I lived in Toronto. We took her for a day trip to Niagra-on-the-Lake and she found it there. She sometimes puts a candle in the centre, but at Christmas she fills the center with ball ornaments.


- 11











This ceramic Father Christmas was made for Mom by her Yarmouth friend, Carolyn. That's a picture of Mom when she was a little girl to the right.


- 12











This is a crystal lamp shade Mom found either at Frenchy's, Value Village or the Salvation Army - she can't remember which. She just fills it like a bowl with glass ball ornaments.


- 13











This is a little stuffed cotton print Santa that always gets hung on a lamp cord or lampshade. And his jingle bells ring.

Adelle Laudan says Most of my decorations are from years gone by.

Toni says I *love* the toolbox CD holder and the nostalgia of it.

Journeywoman says I like the 3 women.

12 comments:

Unknown said...

Lovely decorations, especially the glass angels. I could sit back and stare at my tree for hours. Most of the decorations are from years gone by. Thanks for sharing.
Happy Holidays!

4Me2Know said...

Goodness, I *love* the toolbox CD holder and the nostalgia of it. And I love me some retro ornaments too (want your mom's). And the crystal bowl with glass balls is just elegant!!!
Blessings,
~Toni~

Ire said...

WOw! All these decorations are classic! Hope you have a wonderful Christmas!

Journeywoman said...

I like the 3 women.

Merry xmas!

Susan Helene Gottfried said...

Gorgeous stuff. I said it last week and I'll say it again: I think the best part of Christmas is the ornaments and the stuff that goes along with the holiday. I'm only now realizing what a strong chain it makes, present to past.

I am Harriet said...

They are wonderful! You are very lucky.

Have a great day!
http://iamharriet.blogspot.com/2009/12/do-you-work-huh.html

storyteller said...

How fun to see these 'vintage' decorations filled with wonderful family memories. Thanks for sharing. Happy T-13 ... mine's at Small Reflections this week ;-)
Hugs and blessings,

Alice Audrey said...

I love the toolbox.

poefusion said...

oh Julia~ these ornaments are great. i especially like the Candy Cane Kids, Angel w/ Lantern and the Green Women.

i used to live in Michigan as a toddler or younger, i'm told. my dad had family there then.

that picture of your mother as a child is adorable. hope all is well. have a great day.

Akelamalu said...

Those are just lovely Julia! :)

Anonymous said...

So many beautiful shinys!! I love the stone women and hearts. : ) x0

Pop Art Diva Enterprises said...

Those are wonderful! I too love the glass angels but that stocking JUST ROCKS! I have 2 ornaments from our family tree that are over 60 years old - they were my two favorites on our tree every year and are very special to me.

I think it's wonderful you have so may memories of your Mom at Christmas time.