Friday, 5 January 2024

Disdecorating & memories


You'll have to forgive my header. We lost all our snow, although we had a skiff Wednesday night and this morning. It looks so much better with snow.  It fits the season. We've a Polar Vortex here. It is a tad chilly. 


We are in the process of what my Mom called 'disdecorating!' We're putting away our indoor holiday stuff. Outdoors we'll keep our bears up, though. It's such a nice light in the dark days of January. 

I've cleaned out our Christmas trunk. My late mother had 5 trunks. I packed it all up and donated it to her church summer bazaar in 2006. I wish I wasn't in such a position of grief, and kept some. 😒 

I told JB that 59 years ago last December I took a bus to Sudbury, to attend the pre-Christmas wedding of my dear choir friends. When I returned home, my parents had bought some wee ornaments, and decorated a 2' tree, which sat on my dresser. I've kept the ornaments, and added to them. We've been trying to clean some things out, and I was going to pass them on, but I am not ready. Sending Joseph into the post-Christmas sales, he was to try find me a new wee tree.

These, my mom made from a kit, sold at a church bazaar. I bought them. She complained bitterly about how long it took her to make them, and how little they asked for them. We happened to be there in Bala, and here was mom working the sale. 


Daisy really enjoyed the ornaments, back in the day! Daisy chewed on the old one, and burned her tongue. Since she has been rehomed a few years ago, we may be able to put one up.


Nutmeg likes to sit on the satin tree skirt, beside our Charlie Brown Christmas tree. I think it has had its day, though. Soon, Father Christmas will go back downstairs. She likes to 'turtle' as we call it. Head down, relaxed.


I've two blooms on the Amaryllis, the third, which I broke off, is in a mug. There is a 4th bud on the way. It is such a wonderful spot of colour in the winter.


The cats have enjoyed the toy train set. JB had enough of it, and put it away. It needs repairs, although JL, our SIL, worked on it on Christmas Day. The lights remain. Cinnamon was quite keen on it. 


Nutmeg likes to sit on the table, too. JB took this with his wee camera.




We have eased ourselves into the new year. Wednesday night, we finished off all 6 seasons of Unforgotten. It was amazing, and kept us on the edge of our seats. 

Normally, we begin our evenings watching an episode of Escape to the Country! We have learned so much about the UK. The scenery is amazing and we've learned lots. We learned about the Tolpuddle Martyrs the other day. The beginnings of the union movement. Fair wages for good work. The news is full of the fact that CEO salaries are in 
Canada's top 100 CEOs are averaging $14.9 million in 2022 and they make 246x the average worker. Then there are sports stars, but I digress! Have a great weekend!

14 comments:

Olga said...

It's nice to leave a few touches. I have gotten my decorations down to a large bin and a smaller one for the Santa collection.

Tom said...

...our tree and decoration will remain until who knows when.

RedPat said...

It always feels sad to pack away the Christmas decorations. I pulled out my bins last night and will start undecorating on the weekend.

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari OM
Unforgotten is one of my fave shows, too! I am currently working my way through Elementary, a modern reworking of the Sherlock Holmes story, which is very good indeed. Yeah, keep the header - snow will no doubt show once more! YAM xx

KarenW said...

Nutmeg is such a handsome and dignified looking fellow.

Divers and Sundry said...

We call it undecorating, and it'll be much more complicated now that The Husband has moved back in full time. We really should get rid of some things, and maybe we will. I have his cheap wreaths in mind. He bought them for the house he's been in the past 5 years, and there's not much place for them here. Surely there'll be other things...

In my experience church sales are notorious for underpricing hand-made goods. I'm glad you got them. We have a poinsettia that still looks good, but your amaryllis is beautiful. I loved Unforgotten. I cried at the end of season 4 and haven't liked season 5 nearly as much. I still haven't finished that season. I'm unfamiliar with Escape to the Country and will look for it. Thanks! Our minimum wage hasn't changed in decades. It's not enough to live on, not by a long shot. And yet the company CEOs keep getting more :(

Elephant's Child said...

We really like Escape to the Country too. The mystery house often gets our vote.
Love how comfortable the cats are. Have a great weekend yourselves.

Kathy G said...

I like the term 'disdecorating' :-)

Cloudia said...

Cinnamon is my second favorite cat after pixie! I think it's wonderful that you will leave the bears up through the dark winter. And congratulations to your choir friend! Hello Aloha my friend

Nancy J said...

Have you watched any of the " Alone" series? I am following "Alone, Frozen" or is it " Frozen, Alone" ? 6 contestants dropped off by the North Atlantic coast of Labrador. dropped off at the start of winter, frigid conditions, already the days are at 34F, or 2C, catch your own food or starve!!!My decoration this year was a few sprigs of greenery in a bowl on the fire, so added to the compost. I agree with Harry, and for your keeping the decorations, DO keep them, they are irreplaceable.My treasure is a small linen tablecloth that my Mum embroidered, probably before they were married.

Kay said...

Your mom's ornaments are so beautiful. We didn't even get to put our tree up this year. We've been watching Unforgotten too. :-)

Red said...

Two cats make decorating interesting and a challenge.

Anvilcloud said...

It's hard to top Unforgotten. We've recently been witching Shetland, rewatching the old seasons and enjoying the newest one. We have many many bins of many many things, including Christmas decs in the abasement.

DeniseinVA said...

I started a few days ago. Enjoyed your photos, always hard for me to start taking them down as I love this time of the year. Your mom's ornaments are very pretty, more treasured knowing she made them and the story behind them. Thanks for the good ideas on what to watch too.