What my Christmas tree says about me
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas here in garden-blog land, with numerous posts about holiday ornaments. Last night Layanee’s question, “What does your Christmas tree say about you?” made me pause to consider our tannenbaum.
As you can see in the photo above, we hang a lot of ornaments on our tree. This 7-foot Virginia pine cut at Elgin Christmas Tree Farm (a family tradition we all enjoy) is decked out with ornaments my mother collected for me for years until I had my own tree, many more I bought for myself, dozens acquired by my children as gifts since they were babies, and a number made by the kids themselves. It’s a sentimental jumble of color and style, and each ornament has meaning. The kids are still young enough to enjoy decorating the tree with me, and they tell each other the stories of where their ornaments came from as they hang them, exclaiming over each one, “This is my favorite!”
This baby-pea-in-a-pod represents my second child, whom we called Baby P (for Penick) before she was born. My mother gave us this ornament for Christmas that year, addressing it to “Baby P, who isn’t here yet.” Now that she’s here, she claims this glass ornament as her own.
An ornament only a mother could love. My son made this purple gingerbread boy many years ago, and he still hangs prominently.
This is our Madison ornament, a tribute to the wire fox terrier we loved for 15 years.
Austin is famous for its bat colony, so what more appropriate ornament to represent Austin? Ironically, I got this bat when we lived in Raleigh.
The jackrabbit was made by the same craftsperson. He bounds past a glass birdhouse ornament, one of a set of gardening ornaments I was given last year.
As you may recall, I’ve collected a flock of birds outside on the porch and in the garden. A number have come to roost in the Christmas tree too. This rainbow-colored glass bird is one of my favorites.
Here’s a white version.
This jay represents my son—noisy, raucous, hungry, and fun to watch.
The wren is my daughter—always singing, making nests for her stuffed animals, poking around the garden with me.
A painted, wooden bird adds country charm.
Many of our ornaments remind us of our travels. We used to visit Maine in the summers with my husband’s family. One year, after going on a puffin-watching cruise with them, we received this puffin ornament as a souvenir.
This Maine lobster arrived the same way.
While in Tanzania last summer, I bought this beaded star in a Masai village. Its peculiar odor of wood smoke and other camp smells was strong at first, but it has dissipated over the months.
When I lived in Houston, I bought this ornament for myself. Made of fabric and wood, the wise man in a turban rides a beribboned elephant.
This Santa made of painted driftwood was a gift from my sister.
A number of Texas themed ornaments hang on our tree. Remember the Alamo! This is one of a set of annual ornaments sold at the state Capitol, for those who enjoy a little Texas history in their Xmas decor. Hey, why not? Beside it hangs a blown-glass chile ristra, a reminder of a Thanksgiving trip to Santa Fe with my dad.
Meta-tree. This sequined tree represents the tree it hangs on.
While I’m feeling sentimental, I’ll show you an embroidered wall hanging of the “Twelve Days of Christmas.” My mother sewed this years ago, and as a child I used to stand in the hall where it hung during the holidays to sing through the song while looking at the felt-and-sequin depictions. I was thrilled to have it when she gave it to me a few years ago.
Here’s a detail representing the three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree.
So, that’s what my Christmas tree (and other decor) says about me. When every ornament tells a story or recalls places you’ve been, you find that the tree says quite a lot. What does yours say about you?
All material © 2006-2007 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
Your tree is lovely! It’s a bit hard to get in the holiday spirit with this 80 degree weather we’re having in Austin isn’t it 😉
That and the bright orange foliage on my new crepe myrtle! The orange leaves are lovely, but it just doesn’t work with red and green Xmas decor. 🙂 —Pam
Pam: That is a very lovely tree! I love the baby in a pea pod and the blue jay! LOL at that one. Two kids? Three kids? Whatever, it is more fun to decorate a tree with kids! The Equipment Manager went to Tanzania a couple of weeks ago. He had a GREAT time. I am glad he went and not sad that I stayed home although he said that the Masai were wonderful people! Love the wall hanging. Have a wonderful Christmas surrounded by all that love and the beautiful tree! Best, Layanee
Thanks, Layanee, and the same to you! I’m happy to hear the EM had a great time in Tanzania. It’s an amazing place to see, and the people were very friendly and welcoming. Yep, I have two kids, though they create as much chaos as three! —Pam
Your tree looks very festive and is decorated the way a Christmas tree ought to be decorated, with ornaments that each have a story, or bring back a memory of someone or someplace. Merry Christmas.
Carol, May Dreams Gardens
Merry Christmas to you too, Carol. Thanks for commenting. —Pam
Awww! I love your ornaments, Pam! What a lovely tree! You have so many pretty birds and sweet sentimental pieces too. What a wonderful entry idea.
Merry Christmas!!!
Thanks, Dawn. It was a fun post to do because it gave me a reason to reminisce about Christmases past. —Pam
Pam thanks for sharing your tree and lovely ornaments. Isn’t it fun to look at those old or new sentimental ornaments?.
I wish you and yours a Merry Christmas.
I often want to put off the decorating, but once I start it is fun indeed to reminisce over the ornaments. Merry Xmas to you too, Lisa. —Pam
Okay, this post made me cry. I’m in that pre-xmas fragile emotional state anyway and reading about your treasures and their family connections and then finally getting to your mom’s sweet felt wallhanging, I just lost it. These little back-story ornaments and particular the handmade ones are the essence of Joy. Merry Christmas!
Yes, the essence of joy. Thank you, Libby. Merry Christmas! —Pam
Lovely, sentimental tree! That puffin ornament is great – a North Pole bird, so appropos. Merry Christmas!
Isn’t he cute? Thanks for your comment, MMD. Have a wonderful holiday. —Pam
Lovely tree, Pam… and I smiled at why the wren represents your daughter. Sounds like you’re starting the next generation of gardeners off wonderfully! 🙂
That wall hanging by your Mom is amazing. No wonder you were so excited to get it! How long did it take her to finish all of those, do you know?
I don’t know how long it took her. I’ll have to ask. Thanks for your comments, Kim. —Pam
Thanks for the wonderful blog, Pam. I’ve never commented before but I want to thank you for the daily dose of Texas and gardening your blog provides, especially as I suffer through grey days and 18 degree weather here. I love all the stories behind the ornaments–I have 3 little boys & listening to their walk down memory lane as they unpack all the ornaments is the best! Also, I need to find some ristras like yours for my tree next year!
Carolyn, first-time comments like yours just make my day! Thank you for saying hi and telling me a little about yourself and your family of boys. I hope you can find a ristra ornament in Utah for next Christmas. Happy New Year! —Pam
Great photos! Love some of those birds 🙂
We live in Ghana, have no little kids at home anymore, no Christmas spirit, no pressure, no snow.
Our tree this year is made of black iron with 10 Ghanaian made glass stars hanging from ribbons. There is space for tea lights at the end of each branch, but doubtful they’ll be lit. We’re going to the beach for Christmas. 🙂
Thanks for commenting, Holli. Your tree sounds lovely, and different! Have a wonderful Christmas at the beach. —Pam