Christmases Past

We love this week between the holidays as a time to reflect on the past year and those of many years ago. As I sat at the dining table my eyes rested on this antique etched glass hurricane filled with antique glass ornaments. Some are mine from my early youth, some are from my Aunt's tree of the 40's while others graced my family's tree of long ago. They are too fragile to hang on my tree along side the angels but they are so special to me I try and display them in an antique silver bowl or in this hurricane. I will loving put them away New Years Day while everyone watches the parade and games until they reemerge next year.

Every few years Bird adds a Christmas book to her collection that has touched her. This year "Madeline's Christmas" was added to commemorate the birth of our granddaughter. We reads the stories or leaf through them with our grandson just as we did with our boys. Of course, the "Polar Express" is there along with old time favorites such as Dickens. Perhaps it's time to find a large basket to hold them all next year. Ah the hunt is one!

Bird and Duchess wish you a Happy, Healthy and Loving 2010!
Bonne Annee!

My Collection for the Holidays

As a wedding gift over 30 years ago we were given "Butch" our first Simpich angel. These were handmade by a family in Colorado Springs, Colorado. They also made Thanksgiving figures as well as Dickens figures in tabletop size. Luckily my mother-in-law lives there and I received an angel every birthday and Christmas. It breaks my heart that the Simpich family has ceased making them since 2007 and this will be the first Christmas not to receive one.

Every angel has a different face and expression. Each is named and very special! When our children were small, angels arrived with soccer or basketballs, other times they were holding a puppy or kitten, some just carried a starfish or train. The little one in the red robe is holding Heidi, the name of our daughter-in-law. You can find them once in awhile on ebay. They began making angel babies but I have stuck with these charming characters. I hope you enjoy them too!

We would love to hear what you collect. It makes decorating the tree even more memorable every year as I unwrap them and remember the time it came to me.