Monday, 7 January 2013

Decorations packed away


Taking down the decorations is never as much fun as putting them up. However for me, this year, it has been enjoyable. I was not feeling well enough to dress our tree as normal this year, so daughter Jess did. As she is celebrating a belated 21st birthday, in New York, this week, she is unavailable for the de - decorating chores. Luckily,in my gap between chemo treatments I’ve been feeling good, so have got stuck into removing decorations and lovingly wrapping them until next year.

Each group of decorations comes with a story, that I have enjoyed reliving as I’ve wrapped and stored each little treasure.
The whole pile.......from the US, from Ireland, from Hungary, Prague, Mexico,India, Australia( note the Koala angel ! ) and various parts of the UK.
the Santa Collection...some of which were acquired from Kohls in Sheboygan in 1984....others were gifts
Americana....elephants, New England fishermen and red barns

graham crackers, chocolate & marshmallows........a reminder of a brilliant log cabin vacation in Door County when Jess learned all about smors.

Henry VIII & a few wives....and a Bishop....

Scarlett O'Hara, Mark broke the original one brought carefully from the US as a gift for Christmas..... so we had to go in search of a replacement....eventually found in Door County, Wisconsin, one steamy hot August day....still looking for Rhett though.

Betty Boop....discovered in a TK Max sale bin in Huddersfield.... I was thrilled.
Flying cat

home made by the children at various stages

Gifts from friends in Wisconsin in 1984... we had a secret Santa ornament giving session between the staff at the school where I taught. These were my acquisitions, and remain two of my favourites.

 
The Arizona collection 

I have a whole series of these beautiful wooden ornaments, celebrating Christmas in Kohler...every year since 1984.

Door County.....and NYC.

Anyway, they are all packed away again now.....carefully preserved in tissue paper, ready for next year.




 

 
 
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26 comments:

  1. Used-to-Bees7 January 2013 at 14:34

    What an amazing and eclectic collection! I think it is lovely to have a collection where each bauble is a memory jerker - and what an extensively travelled collection you have! I'm pleased you are feeling better between treatments - good luck for the next one - keeping you in my thoughts.
    x

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    1. Janice7 January 2013 at 16:49

      Thanks Alix, It is always a treat to unwrap the decorations, I look forward to it every year. J.

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  2. Unknown7 January 2013 at 14:38

    I didn't realise you'd lived over here! Wisconsin looks beautiful.... all those lakes. I will keep an eye out for a Rhett for you x

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    1. Janice7 January 2013 at 16:52

      I loved Wisconsin.... no, I still do. I try to return frequently. It is a wonderful state, although some of my friends from the 1980s , having now retired, have moved to sunnier climes...Arizona seems favourite amongst my retired Wisconsin teacher friends. Wisconsin winters do go on for a very long time. J.

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  3. Kathy7 January 2013 at 15:01

    Gosh, you must have a lovely big tree to hang this wonderfully varied and interesting collection on, Janice. I love the way you can remember when and where you acquired each item or set.

    Since I retired in 2007 we don't do a tree at home any more, as we're always away with the children for the whole of the festive season, and I have to confess that I still miss the decorating and undecorating. I'll be taking down our cards and lights later this afternoon, but it's not the same....

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    1. Janice7 January 2013 at 16:54

      We always used to have a huge tree, but since moving to the little Hebden Bridge house, it has been smaller scale. Somehow I manage to find space for all my important treasures though. Jess did a good job this year. Jx

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  4. the fly in the web7 January 2013 at 15:05

    What a magnificent collection...I did enjoy seeing them.
    Glad you're feeling better during treatments and looking forward to you getting through it all and recuperating in Caunes.

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    1. Janice7 January 2013 at 16:56

      Hi Fly.... so far I seem to have 2 or 3 bad days, but then things get better....so not too bad at all. Believe me, I cant wait to be recuperating in Caunes !Jx

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  5. nilly7 January 2013 at 15:09

    How fantastic to have a decoration collection that tells such stories. I'd love to be able to do "Our Life on a Tree", but we've lived such a quiet one!(In terms of travel, anyway.)

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    1. Janice7 January 2013 at 16:57

      I think the favourite ones are those that have been given as gifts..they always seem that little bit special. I love the idea of "our life on a tree". J.

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  6. Ayak7 January 2013 at 16:21

    What a wonderful collection Janice, and so many memories attached to them. It must be lovely to look at them every Christmas and remember the stories behind them.

    Glad to hear that you are feeling ok between chemo sessions. You're always in my thoughts xxx

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    1. Janice7 January 2013 at 17:00

      Thanks Ayak. I do enjoy my tree ornaments...probably one of the boxes I'd salvage if we had a fire or a flood...and it is mostly to do with who gave them to me, or where I found them. I'm doing well between chemo sessions...and looking forward to the end of April, when hopefully...there will be no more sessions ! Jx

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  7. ArtyZen7 January 2013 at 16:54

    That really is a fantastic collection - I particularly liked the Koala angel and the wooden Kohler ones. Many, many memories here. I whipped our tree down in record time - feeling rather guilty about not wrapping in tissue now. This is the first year we didn't buy any new decorations for the tree but that's because I couldn't remember where I'd put the new ones I got LAST year until this year, so thought they would count...hope that makes sense.
    And of course, thinking about you and hoping each day you feel a little better. Axxx

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    1. Janice7 January 2013 at 17:04

      I have only spent so long wrapping them this year because I didn't have the pleasure of unwrapping them to put on the tree before Christmas. Normally they get hastily wrapped in tatty kitchen roll...but this year I've done them proud.My only new ornament this year was a Liverpool bauble, with the 2 cathedrals painted on....present from Jess, so another important one ! Jxxx

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  8. GaynorB7 January 2013 at 18:01

    Like you our decorations all have memories.

    I have a friend who does a different 'designer' tree every year, and, whilst I'm not knocking it as her trees are always fantastic, I don't know what I'd do with my collection and the memories thy hold.

    Yours look lovely and I'm pleased that you felt well enough to pack them away for next year.

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    1. Janice9 January 2013 at 11:15

      I've liked the idea of designer trees...but can never decide not to put all the ornaments I already have on the tree....I just couldn't do it. Jx

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  9. Erica (Irene)8 January 2013 at 02:35

    Janice...your decorations are just amazing...and I love each one has a story. Such nice warm memories to remember during Christmas. I love love Betty Boop. :-)
    I'm still keeping my tree up because I celebrate two Christmases and this is the old one today going by the Julian Calendar......it was great growing up as we had one Christmas after another.
    Glad you are feeling better between treatments.....and hope you feel much better each day.
    Happy be-lated birthday to your daughter....ahh New York, I miss living there in the old days.
    Take care....(((HUGS)))

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    1. Janice13 January 2013 at 16:28

      Thanks, not sure I could cope with 2 Christmases...but i'm sure it was fun whe you were a child...and jess had an amazing time in New York. Happy new Year Jx

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  10. The Broad8 January 2013 at 08:17

    Your ornaments are such a treasure! I too have quite a collection, but I must confess I have not taken such thoughtful care of them. As a result this year I managed to break one of my favourites :-( It will be great to hear from you when you finally get back to Caunes ...

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    1. Janice13 January 2013 at 16:31

      I have a box of "waiting to be repaired" ornaments.... and one day, maybe I'll get round to sticking things back together where it is possible. At the moment, getting back to Caunes for a decent period of time looks like being end of April/ start of May, but I'm hoping to go out for a few days maybe at the end of Feb/ start of March, if I can fit it in within the 10 days -2 weeks that I seem to feel ok between chemo sessions. Jx

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  11. Patricia8 January 2013 at 10:34

    What a wonderful collection of ornaments you have, Janice! I really enjoyed looking through them, and love Scarlett O'Hara! My collection is also largely international, and I have a few similar, but not the same. The Arizona set is very attractive too. Thank you for sharing, and I hope the chemo is not too overwhelming. xx

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    1. Janice13 January 2013 at 16:33

      Yes, Scarlett is special, which is why she had to be replaced when husband Mark managed to break her. He never quite understood why we spent hot summer days searching Christmas shops in Wisconsin...it was not the way someone from the northern hemisphere normally spends their summer vacation. jx

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  12. Penny O'Neill8 January 2013 at 18:16

    What a pleasure it has been to see all your ornaments, Janice. I'm so glad you shared them. It is like spending time with old friends, some new, isn't it, this putting away of Christmas?

    Hope your next round of chemo goes as well as the last and you don't have too many bad days.

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    1. Janice13 January 2013 at 16:35

      Things are good Penny. ONce I hit the feeling good between treatments patch, I'm pretty good at forgetting how lousy I felt just a few days before hand....and long may that continue. Jx

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  13. Jessie14 January 2013 at 21:31

    Love the pictures mum! theyre great!
    One of the Arizona ones on that picture is actually from Mexico :) i brought it back for you and dad after Beck and Spug's weddings in 2007

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  14. Janice16 January 2013 at 14:22

    Oops, sorry Jess, xx

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