Thursday, December 30, 2010

Traditions new and old



This Christmas I failed to do some of my long-standing traditions- my Christmas cards all ended up standing on the sideboard, never made it to their Poinsettia hangers.
Actually, the Poinsettias weren't even hung up.





The little guy on the left, made by middle daughter when she was tiny (I love it!) always hangs on some door key and that did happen.
The stocking hangers on the right are something I have wanted for years, couldn't find while they still had Santa, but I bought them nonetheless when I saw them this year.

On Christmas Eve, when I reached for "The Night Before Christmas" to read it (albeit I would have been reading it to myself, which I was willing to do!), I couldn't find it, so had to resort to an internet version (which, incidentally, was different??). Our own one still hasn't turned up, I'm wondering did someone hide it to prevent this madwoman reading to teenagers as though they were little ones?



This decoration, made by the 3 children when they were little, always hangs on this fireplace. Except for Christmas morning, when we light a fire in it. Except this year, we never got round to lighting the fire!




And we did adopt one new tradition, and I hope it will become part of our repertoire. I came across this on the internet (where would we be without it?)..
When taking down the tree, you cut a log off the bottom of it, leave it outside to season, and on the night when you put up this year's tree, your old log goes on the fire.

Well, as readers of this blog will be aware, we had snow for a week before Christmas, so I had to dig deep, first to remember where in the garden I had last seen the damn log, then in the snow to recover it.








But recover it I did, and here are the pics of The New Tradition!
You can see the hole from the stand here.
This year, I finally found the stand I've been looking for, with a water bucket underneath, so no hole next year. Next year, I'll be organised enough to get them to cut a slice off the tree before I bring it home- it takes in more water that way (internet again!) - we forgot to do this, and ended up scraping the bottom to get the same effect.
So here it is burning on the fire.




What interesting Christmas traditions do you have in your family? I'd love to hear about them.
And are there some that are non-negotiable?

7 comments:

  1. I feel your pain on the traditions that just did not happen this year. I fell very short of doing our house up like I normally do for Christmas. After just returning from China and going back to work, I did not have the energy to go all out. It was fine, but I still feel guilty!

    I love your new tradition with the log.....how cool is that! Lucky you found it with all that snow:)

    Thank you for all of your super sweet and heartfelt comments. Reading yours always puts a smile on my face.

    Wishing you and yours the happiest of New Years! May 2011 bring you lots of joy and happiness!

    xoxo,

    Lisa

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  2. Lisa, you had a decent excuse! A trip to China, and a new baby..nobody could be expected to go all out on decorations too, and your priorities were right; getting Reagan settled into the family.
    I, on the other hand, had a week off school cos of snow, but still didn't even get "the usual" things done.
    Ah well, it's over now and we survived!
    here's to 2011!!

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  3. Mimi, Thank you for reading, and, for your kind comment on Middle Passages. I look forward to reading more about you too. Happy New Year!
    Liza at Middle Passages.

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  4. Hello. I've blog hopped from Java’s Follow Friday blog hop and am your newest follower. All our traditions went out of the window this year...we had inteneded going away but snow thwarted our plans at the last minute and we stayed home in the UK.
    Please drop by and maybe follow me if you fancy a laugh. I'd be delighted to welcome you.
    Friendly wishes and a very Happy New Year.
    Carol from www.facing50withhumour.blogspot.com
    – the blog that gives you laughter lines. (Has that put you off?)

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  5. From the blog hop
    Nice blog. I was attracted by the name. I'm a new follower and I'll return.
    Wishing you a peaceful and loving New Year.
    Manzanita
    Wanna buy a duck

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  6. Hi! I'm a new follower via blog hop. Great blog! would love a follow back if you like at http://www.forttyandtryingtobefab.blogspot.com

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  7. Christmas Traditions at our house changed a bit a couple of years ago with the arrival of our grandchild. Since my husband wished to be called "Pop" I wanted to be called "Lolli". (that is actually how I came up with the name of my blog). So, we decorate the house in the usual fashion setting about fresh boughs and candles, so the smell of chrismas is everywhere. I bake & decorate gingerbread men to hang on the tree. There is Christmas cake and pudding (always a must) along with cinnamon pinecones around the house for more scents around the house. But, now we have the added "Lollipop" decorations in cookie, candy & decoration". Not too much just for fun. Love your pictures and Christmas decorations.

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