Christmas Tree

Our tree has always been a family tree, ornaments the kids made when they were growing up, ornaments I've made, ornaments from friends and family. It is so full of ornaments that we have to make sure it doesn't tip over - and some years it has, and with no help from our cats either. We are better at balancing the ornaments all around now so rarely do we get the dangerous swaying.

One year, when we still had real trees, the trunk of the tree was so crooked that the stand was about a foot away from the center of the tree, but we even got that one balanced. Come - enjoy our ornaments - and there are lots to enjoy.

We'll start with the lights - bubble lights. Don is in charge of lights on the tree and he puts on hundreds of tiny colored lights, then bell lights and big round colored snowball lights and finally bubble lights. We've almost always had bubble lights and some years you can find them in stores, and some years not. More recently the ones in stores have clear bases and are too bright to even look at - they look like searchlights on the tree. So if we need to replace any we'll have to look for vintage ones.

Some cute "candy" ornaments. They do look like candy, but are only plastic - and cute . . . this reindeer is a lollipop . . .

Birds are always a favorite on our tree - this was a gift from Jamie . . .

Two little Eskimos from a famous artist in Alaska - although I grew up in S.E. Alaska, where we didn't wear parkas and have a lot of snow and cold, these are a cute reminder of Alaska. . .

One of my favorite geese . . .

A Hawaiian Nene Goose ornament, brought back by Rusty and Jamie from their honeymoon . . .

A goose painted on a flat round of wood . . .

And some of Don's bells. He loves bell ornaments and has quite a collection over them, gathered over the years. Some vintage, some new and some that are now vintage but were new when we bought them.

Humpty Dumpty made of felt, the year our first child was born. He's held up pretty well . . .

Our grandson Jahn-Zyel made these paper gingerbread ornaments for each family member one year . . .

Picture frame ornaments with Jahn and Ben when they were younger . . .

Linus and Sally - special ornaments that Don and I put on the tree together each year . . .

Lori made this ornament in early grade school - one of our sentimental favorites . . .

A moose from Maine - do you see his lobster? Thanks Lili!! He's always right out front on the tree. . . I wonder if he rode in their skiff the Chowdabowl before he came here?

Another felt ornament that I made - the year our youngest daughter was born . . .

Shiny vintage ornaments . . .

A very heavy glass pear. This one often is near the back of the tree to help balance the tree and keep it from tipping forward - I told you it was heavy . . .

I hand painted this christmas pie, it is cut from very thin wood . . .

Shiny, white, glittery glass pinecone . . .

And what tree is complete until you have a slice of pumpkin pie? An ornament from the annual ornament swap our family has.

More glitter, more shine. I love the glass beads . . .

Fancy lace snowflakes made by my friend Franni . . .

This little guy is about 3/4 " tall total - but looks like he can get into plenty of mischief . . .

Made from ash from the Mt. St. Helens eruption 30 years ago in Washington . . .

I adore vintage ornaments - these little girls add such cheer to the tree . . .

And Christmas trees always need angels. These two were given to me by my father when I was 5.

They have stiff angel hair wings and soft clouds of angel hair to sit on. . .

And a lacy angel that I made. Her body is made of thin painted wood and a tulle and lace skirt with lots of ribbons.

I hope you enjoyed a little tour of our tree. What are your favorite ornaments?