Julie sent me a couple pix of her silver bell tree.  Sorry I cut off the top, but I wanted you to see the beautiful silver bells and angels that she hangs on this tree.  Looks like somebody has been busy with the silver polish.

 

Julie reminded me of the story behind the first silver bell gift in our family.  She was working at Spertner Jewelers in Norfolk, and bought the first bell.  She had it engraved with Daddy's initials:  GHT and the year:  1974.  

 

When Momma stopped putting up a Christmas tree, she distributed the bells to each one of us.  We chose the years that had special significance to us, and Julie got the first one.  Momma continued buying us silver bells for years after that.  Julie has 25, I have at least that many, Betsy and Linda have the rest.  Even Momma's grandchildren have silver bells for their Christmas trees.  What sweet memories they hold for all of us.  

 

 

HAPPY CHRISTMAS DECORATING!!!

 

This may not look like anything to many people, but to the Trout girls it means Momma's birthday!!!

 

We always make cheese biscuits on Momma's birthday, because that's what she did on her birthday.  That and put the candles in the windows.  Well, our candles are already up, so the next thing is to make cheese biscuits.

 

If you would like to make them too, you can find the recipe in the "neighbors sharing" section of this website.  There is also a great picture of Momma on her 94th birthday, making cheese biscuits.

 

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOMMA!!!

 

Here are some of my fun ornaments.  Laser cut hummingbirds, shells, s'more snowmen, straw angels, cayenne peppers, gifts from students, glass reindeer from New Mexico, and this cute gourd angel.  

 

If you would like to email me some Christmas memories that hang on your tree, I will be happy to share them here.  

 

 

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!!

 

Look how rich we are!!!  We have hundreds of ornaments collected over the years.  I have some from Momma's childhood Christmas tree, some from my life in Germany, some from other places we have been.  This is why it takes so long to put them on the tree:  I have to stop and remember how I came to own each one.  What a fun few days it has been traveling along our Memory Lane.

 

I hope you are having fun remembering Christmases past.

 

 

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!!

 

Well, it only took me a week to get it done.  Hey, sometimes life hits the fan, and everything goes every which way.

 

We are back on track:   still happy and healthy,  and our Christmas tree is decorated, to within an inch of its life.

 

 

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!!

 

 

 

So far:  the tree is still standing, and Gizmo seems at ease with it in the house.

 

No ornaments on it yet;  we've been a little preoccupied, but maybe today will be the day for decorating our new tree.

 

 

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!!

 

Here it is all put together.  Actually, it is prettier than this picture;  I just want you to see how tall it is.  I love it.  I had no idea that an artificial tree could be so pretty.

 

The first night, Gizmo did check it out, but didn't climb it.  He slept an hour under it on the soft red tree skirt, but hasn't bothered with it since.  We will see how he likes all the sparkly ornaments.  

 

Stay tuned.  

 

 

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!!

 

Thank goodness!!!  It came in four parts.  Each one is fairly heavy, but manageable.  And it is prelit with 850 LED lights.  I am so excited!!!  Did I tell you that it is 9 feet tall?  

 

HAHAHA!!!

 

 

HAPPY DECEMBER Y'ALL!!!

 

All my life I have loved fresh cut Christmas trees.  And up until 2020 we had a fresh cut tree every year.  Well, that year we got a cat from the shelter, so we decided not to put up a tree.  We weren't sure how Gizmo would do with a tree in the house, knowing that he loves to climb trees outside.  So we just decorated with our usual snowmen, poinsettias, and Father Christmas decorations.  

 

I guess we got out of the habit of putting up a Christmas tree, because it has taken me this long to get around to it.  Anyway, we have lots and lots of beautiful ornaments, so this year we looked at a few trees, and we didn't really see anything we loved.  So we started to look at artificial trees and some of them are really pretty.  We looked in quite a few different places, and decided on this one from Home Depot.  

 

Uh-Oh!!!  It weighs 66.67 pounds.  Hope we didn't make a mistake. 

 

 

I WILL LET YOU KNOW...

 

Wow!!!  Talk about fall into winter.  

 

We were walking in the park, and this Sycamore grabbed my attention.  I just love those wintery trunks.  I love how they poke up into the wintery sky.

 

I hope you have sycamore trees near you so you can be awed by their starkness.  

 

 

HAPPY END OF NOVEMBER!!!