Saturday, December 12, 2015

Old Decorations

Well there you have it.  Most of my Christmas decorations are old.


This is one way to spice up the old Douglas Fir Pine Cones that I got someplace not sure where... years ago.  Maybe I will remember in the middle of the night when my mind is calm.  They are so old they have mostly lost their tails....but I like them anyway.

What you don't know about the tails?  An old Pacific Northwest legend tells the tale.  There was a forest fire and the mice having short little legs couldn't out run the fire so the mice asked the mighty Douglas Fir if they could seek safety in his branches, forevermore the scales of the cones were decorated with two little legs and a tail.  When you are a horticulture student you grab onto anything that will help you make an identification!

Anyways the old crock bowl was my Mothers and she had it on a garage sale so I  bought it.  $10 I think…a bargain.  Those gold pine cones are really candles from a garage sale.




My Mother also made the Mr. and Mrs. Santa. She sewed the outfits and dressed a couple of dish soap bottles filled with plaster of paris.  This is my second pair.  I had another set that was her second attempt and one year she came and replaced it with these.  I think nearly everyone in the country was gifted a pair of Santas.  It used to be quite a workshop when she was making Santas.
 

I have the Shiny Brite tree up but it has no decorations yet.  Soon.  Life gets in the way sometimes.

22 comments:

Moms Musings said...

Old decorations are the best. They carry the memories of Christmas' past.

DJan said...

I hadn't heard that about how to identify Douglas fir cones. I'll be checking next time I see one! And I look forward to another year of the Shiny Brite tree. :-)

Tired Teacher said...

The memories attached to old decorations make them priceless.

Mac n' Janet said...

I do like the Claus's.

Unknown said...

Another beautiful header!

Shirley H.

Shirley said...

I love that crock bowl. I have some of those golden pine cone candles too.

Gravy said...

We learn where you got your creativity!

Terry and Linda said...

Your mother is talented...I see where you get your gifts from.

Linda

Rita said...

All precious, priceless Christmas decorations, for sure. :)

Gail said...

I love old the best. Beautiful.

Patsy said...

You will have it all done in time to take it down.
That is why I don't like to start.
But this year, living here Christmas is a big deal all month.
So I got busy and got it all up early.

Linda said...

Nice to see someone that likes to decorate....I'm not sure if I even will as we're not doing much this year...just the two of us and the big family do is at the school.

Red said...

You have a great keepsake from your Mother.

Henny Penny said...

I like the old things best. No wonder you are such a crafts person, you got it from your Mom.

Karen said...

Looks like the Christmas decorating is coming together! You are ahead of me:) You have a nice collection of blue stained glass, and your weather is like ours:(

Cynthia said...

I've never heard that about the Douglas fir pine cones before. Cute story. I save the old ornaments that have lost the hanger things on their neck and put them in s big bowl. I've never added pine cones before but I like the look. Thanks for the idea! I love your mom's bowl.

Granny Marigold said...

I'm looking forward to seeing your Shiny Brite tree all decorated.

Linda W. said...

I like the old decorations so much better than the ones they have now. Cute story!

Linda Reeder said...

I live in the land of the Douglas fir and I have never heard that mouse story before!

Primitive Stars said...

Morning Connie, cannot beat the old ornaments these days, always enjoy putting mine out year after year. Love the story, so cute.Blessings Francine.

Lynn Hasty said...

I love old decorations! My favorite. xo Lynn

Sam I Am...... said...

Learn from you all the time! Love the bowl, the santas and the ornaments! Looks really cute in the bowl.