a few Christmas memories from my younger years—and I’d love to hear some of yours.This is a picture of my sister and me on a rare visit to see Santa Claus. It’s one of my favorite pictures from my childhood. Please note those fashionista headscarves we’re wearing. I’m the one standing closest to Santa. My sister and I were probably around five and six when that
picture was taken and Bugs Bunny and Porky Pig were the rage, so we were very proud of those headscarves. The coats we're wearing are ones our mother cut down from adult size coats and remade on her treadle Singer sewing machine. I’m still amazed at the things she did in order to make ends meet and provide for us. A few years later, I received my Porky Pig watch. That’s a picture of it on the right. And yes, it still works. All I need to do is wind it up and it ticks and keeps time perfectly and even the red plastic band is the original. It was one of my favorite Christmas gifts.
One of the things I remember doing with my sister and brother was making Christmas decorations for our tree. My uncle worked for Sealtest milk back when milk came in bottles and had aluminum caps of different colors—whole milk had one color, skim milk, another, buttermilk, another. Those caps were stamped out on a huge machine and around Christmastime, my uncle would bring us some of the surrounding foil that was left over. My mom cut it apart and we would roll the strips around a pencil, slip them off and tie them together to make “stars” that would reflect in the tree lights. I wish I still had one, but they all disappeared over time.So what are a few of your favorite Christmas memories of a gift, a picture, an ornament or special treat? It’s the time of year for sharing, so do share with us.
Merry Christmas to each one of you, and may you find joy as you celebrate the birth of our Lord and Saviour? ~Judy
Love the pictures. At first, I was thinking the Santa pic was a screen-capture from a movie! And I love how your watch still works!
ReplyDeleteTrying to think of favorite Christmas memories. Off the top of my head, I can think of my favorite ornament on our tree. I worked at Hallmark for 9 years through school and then after I was in the work force (by that time, I was on an "as needed" basis), which also means that I worked there for 9 Christmases. And while I love their ornaments, my favorite is the one my grandmother gave me several years back. It's just a simple ball that's tarnished and is missing glitter...but it was one of the first ones that she and Granddaddy had on their tree. They were married in 1953, so it's special to have a little piece of their history on my tree each year. And to go along with that, one of my favorite gifts is an apron Grandmother sewed for me last year. When she gave it to me, some of the sewing notions on it are actually from my great-grandmother's collection (she died when my father was young). Since I have picked up sewing over the last couple of years, it helps me to feel even closer to my grandmother and ancestors. :-)
What beautiful memories! I love the Santa picture and your Christmas crafts! Nowadays that would be called upcycling. Who knew you were decades ahead of the trend? LOL
ReplyDeleteI think some of my favourite Christmas memories revolve around the anticipation. I remember a group of us sneaking down to my friend's furnace room and sitting around in the dust and cobwebs thrilling each other with speculations about what Santa would bring us and how he would get into our chimneyless apartments! We kept the lights off and whispered in case we were discovered (which we eventually were) so it was kind of scary and exciting and I still feel that same thrill just thinking about it. I guess it was all that was good and innocent about childhood.
Such sweet memories, Judy and Catherine. Judy, LOVE the picture and the watch. I was just thinking that we are so blessed in this country to be able to even have such sweet memories. God is so good to us.
ReplyDeleteOne of my most favorite memories is the year my cousin Ernestine (she lived across the street) and I received Batons for Christmas. These were not just ordinary Batons,no way... but these were shiny, Blue (hers was pink) Batons that were used by Professional Baton Twirlers that we saw on the "Ed Sullivan Show" and also used by those beautiful majorettes in the big marching bands... or so we thought! (smile)
On that Christmas morning we each ran out of our houses after opening our gifts, screaming in delight, meeting in the middle of the street. And right there we started doing our twirling routine that we had practiced beforehand with sticks. LOL How wonderful it was to be a kid at Christmas!
Have a very Merry Christmas ladies. I will be traveling to Patti Jo's neck of the woods, beautiful Georgia. I covet your prayers for safe traveling.
Hi Judy! What a gorgeous little girl you were and you both looked so very happy, sporting a big smile for the old gentleman!
ReplyDeleteOne of my favourite ornaments given to me by my wonderful Dad, was a little white china angel, with the hands clasped. The Angel had an exquiste face and the hair was like spun gold.
That little Angel,still hangs on my tree today, along with some other discs with carol singers pictured on them. These still have a smell of camphor about them, giving off a very subtle pleasant aroma.
I think the excitement of Christmas approaching, has addled my brain! I do know how to spell, but the "e" eluded me! Also I wanted to thank you Judy, for taking me back all those years ago and re living all the precious memories, that my Dad and I shared together!
ReplyDeleteChristmas Joy to you Judy.:)
@ Veronica! Sending prayers your way, for safe travelling. Have a wonderful Christmas my friend!
ReplyDeleteRosie.:)
Thanks Rosie and may you and your family have a wonderful Christmas and a blessed, healthy and properous New Year my dear friend!
ReplyDeleteYou sweeet ladies have blessed me with your wonderful childhood stories. I was upstairs baking a cake and straightening up the kitchen so I'm slow getting down to the office today, but what pleasure to read each of your posts.
ReplyDeleteCatherine, I love having things that have some family history attached to them--there's nothing more special so I relate to you loving that tarnished ornament--and handmade things like your apron really do mean more, don't they? It's as though the person added extra love when they give you something that has taken their time and effort to make. I'm sure that apron will remain a treasure for years to come.
Kav, I chuckled reading how you and your friends would sneak down to the furnace room and share your anticipation. For children, I think it's that building anticipation that is as much fun as Christmas morning.
Veronica, you're right about God blessing this country and the fact that we can look back on our lives and have sweet memories--there are many in this world who can't say the same. Smiled at your baton story. My sister and I received batons one year, too. I about knocked myself senseless with that thing--needless to say, I didn't become a majorette. My sister did. LOL. Have a joy-filled Christmas in Georgia, sweet lady, and I'll be praying for traveling mercies.
Rosie, I can picture that sweet angel hanging on your tree and I know it hold special meaning since it was a gift from your father. I'm praying all is well over there with the family and that you are able to enjoy a wonderful, warm Christmas holiday down under.
LOVED this post, sweet Judy! And that photo of you, your sister and Santa is priceless---what a treasure! Thank you for sharing these wonderful memories with us. ~ Since it's getting close to midnight now (and I'm finally sitting down to my computer for the first time all day, LOL) my brain is rather fuzzy, but I'll still share a memory. ~ One year I decided to put on a Christmas play for my family in our living room, so I gathered my stuffed animals and had them "act out" the parts of the Nativity story. I was around 7 or 8, and I remember having so much fun doing that (I LOVED my stuffed animals!). But the sweetest thing was my family's reaction--they seemed amazed that I'd done that, and acted so proud of me (I can even remember my Mama asking if my Sunday School teacher had suggested the idea, but I admitted to Mama that no, it was just something I wanted to do). It's funny--because I hadn't thought of that in a long time---so thank you, Judy---for encouraging us to stir up some fond memories! ~ Merry Christmas to all! ~ Hugs, Patti Jo :) p.s. Veronica, praying for safe travels and a wonderful time with your family!
ReplyDeletePatti Jo,
ReplyDeleteI love the story of your stuffed animals and the play you put on for your family. Isn't it wonderful to take time and think back of those precious memories once in a while? Thanks for sharing and Christmas blessings to you and your family!