Monday 22 December 2008

Crimbo Decorations - Im A Bad Internet Ornament Swapper...And The Most Beautiful Surprise Pressie..

Ok..... so the tree was up in its new cast iron stand and it stood like that for 3 days before I had time to do anything with it, all the minded nippers thought it was funny, cos I told them that we didnt have any decorations or fairy lights for it so that we was just gonna have a naked tree this year LOL



But in actual fact I have boxes and boxes of stuff...... some of it is very precious to me... some of it going back to our first crimbo in this house....



This is just one of the boxes of bits and bobs....

I told me maties over the school about how our tree decorations are well old and mostly wooden or glass and all hold a special meaning for me - but ya see, me maties all have these fake trees all done up like something out of House and Garden magazines, each year they change all the baubles to a different colour and have everything matching and designer LOL - well call me ungrateful, and maybe I am, but ya see..... me matie Anne turned up in the week with an armful of boxes of baubles.... PLASTIC BAUBLES.... bloody plastic - now, this is when I say as much as I love me maties, they really truely dont know me..... Anne says, ya know you was saying all your tree stuff is old, well Ive bought you some new stuff..... you cant have old junk on ya tree and she handed me over 4 boxes of what basically I call CRAP lol....see, how ungrateful I am....

She just didnt get it..... I treasure each and everyone of our OLD ornaments... and every year I hunt out and find a wooden one, usually a father christmas and I write on the back the year and all our names and ages.... its like a record of who was here on crimbo day on that year.... all the actual baubles we have are glass NOT plastic and Ive had them since the first crimbo in this house.... I love that they are old and faded and have seen so many christmas's here....





Like these two, these must be 27 years old, and even the little wax holly on the silver glass is still intact....

The most precious little ornament I have is tiny and is two little glass sort of stickmen.....ya see, I remember these on me parents tree when I was a kid, but more importantly I remember them on me dear nanny's little tree she use to have in her little flat.... ya remember the nanny that loved me.... well, I rescued these little glass ornaments when me parents got divorced and me mother threw loads of stuff in the bin.... I rumaged through the bin like some bloody hobo looking for a pasty crust.... and I found these, to me, the most precious item I actually have in my home.... cos its my only connection I have with that nanny that loved me, and each year when I hang them on my tree, it not only makes me smile but it makes me cry with such a rush of emotions that I just cant explain it to anyone......



Here they are, old and faded and almost now faceless, but they were my nannies before they were my mothers, and now they are MINE cos I rescued them, and also rescued a precious memory of me nanny at the same time..... how dare me matie call it old tat... see, they just dont get it....

I wanted me lads to have special little glass people to remember when they are old like me.... so about 8 years ago I found these......



They to are glass with dangly wire legs with names upon their hats.... there are 4 of them but we had not yet found our Bens in the box until after I took this photo....

I have stuff on our tree that me lads have made over their growing up years at school and even as far back as preschool LOL..... my friends think Im crazy to put them on our tree year in and year out.... but then, I dont do plastic very well either LOL... each to their own...



My Ben made me this 21 years ago LOL and each year I get it out the box and it looses a little more glitter and it gets a little more curled, and I gently hang it on our tree and it makes me smile.... cos on the back it says TO MUM - I LOVE YOU - lov Ben..

Oh and a few years back I made 4 of these....guess what they are made out of...



Its an egg that I carefully made a hole in each end and blew out the insides then hand painted the faces upon them..... alas we only have 2 of these left now, cos they are quite fragile, maybe I should make somemore out of Janets eggs come the spring :) - aint they good - I aint just an ugly face ya know lol

When Jacob was a baby, so that would be 15 years ago now lol I also made each of me lads a moose head out of salt dough... never in a million years did I expect them to last all this time.... we do pack them up carefully every year and hope that they dont break in between crimbos...



Aint they cute LOL...

These will all in turn be upon the trees of my lads when they have families of their own, and I hope they will remember them upon our tree all through their growing up years and have such wonderful crimbo memories of our time together...

I can tell you where each of the hundreds of little ornaments came from and when we got them and if they were gifts, from whom they came lol....

I so love the little wooden bits and bobs.... here are a few of me favourites..



Date on back 2001..



Date on back 2003

Even though I dont do 'god' as such...... I LOVE little wooden angels LOL..



She has little tin wings..



Glass chicken from my dear doodle matie JBelle - 2008



A little handmade beaded elephant that my Indian friend Shimla made me a few years back, cos I let her child come to my pre-school for over 6 months without her paying a single penny, cos she was going through a rough spot and she had no money to pay for it... I LOVE this little beaded elephant cos it was made with pure love....



This little china and tin fairy thingie that I found a few years back which I absolutely fell in love with and is NEVER packed away, but lives constantly hanging on a hook from me dresser.... I LOVE this little magical fairy, I think its me favourite one... besides me nanny's stickmen that is..

This one Ive had for just 19 years and it to is one of me favourites lol..



Sam, ya bloody twit, get out of there LOL

We dont have that tinsel stuff on our tree, but strings of red beads and stings of silver musical instruments and a few years back I found some strings of wooden moose/reindeers and red tin bells all joined with twine.... I LOVE em....

Ok way way to many to show them all LMFAO..

I have had a white tin norwegian star hanging in me window at christmas for about 20 years, me sister sent me it when she was living in Norway and it lights up our window each and every year as a welcoming light to friends and me lads who will always be able to find our little house down our dark lane at night...... it even has the same orginal bulb in it from after 20 years lol





A bit fuzzy but oh well, tough tittie LOL

And one of the most important last on the tree things of all........ our little 3 inch angel LOL...... no posh huge angel on the top of our tree, this little angel has been on my tree since my first christmas in this house..... it is only 3 inches tall and is sorta made of felty stuff.... it will ALWAYS be our tree topper, and each year we take it in turns as to who puts it on the top, which we do when we have finished decorating the tree.... this year it was MY turn LOL



My maties would die if they saw me little angel, Anne has a new tree topper every year, and sharon has some electrical thingie LOL.... me matie Wendy is a little more like me with traditions and things, she approves of me tree LOL, black Michelle just loves plastic so shes out the bloody door.... yep Im the only one that has a tree full of pure love and tradition and memories by the score....



A wooden little CHRISTMAS strung thingie that hangs over me fireplace :) yep wooden and handpainted LMFAO



ok OK so I love wooden father christmas's LOL.....

Still on the Ornament theme..... I found a blob a few months back that seemed like fun, it was someone co-ordinating a doodle ornament swap.... I had never heard of such a thing before so like a fool I put me name down LMFAO..... omg.. to dam funny.... the idea was when all the names of who wanted to participate were in, the co-ordinating woman would send everyone someone elses name and address and the idea was that you go out and buy an ornament and sent it to the person whose name you were sent..... it would NOT be the same person that would be sending you an ornament......

Well, I DONT think I quite have the hang of it lmfao....... Im laffing now as I type..... well, I made a special trip the week before last to the huge crimbo display at our favourite garden centre cos I wanted to pick out a couple of what I thought would be nice ornaments from England...... I carefully wrapped them and sent them off to the person I had been given the address for...... she turned out to be such a super lovely lady...... and the idea is that when you receive your ornament you put up a blob post about it......

HERE

This is the stuff I sent, and theresa's post about it lmfao.....



This is what I sent to Theresa, see how lovely she displayed it LOL a little british phone box a gingerbread man, a glass heart and some chocolate mice LOL - look at her lovely photo and see how grateful and appreciative she is.....

All well and good, but you see, my ornaments came from a lovely lady a few days ago, and today I thought I had better take a photo, just like teresa had of what I had sent her..... well...... YOU KNOW what a scatter brain I am, well first off I couldnt find the crimbo card that came with the ornaments, which has her blob details on (so I cant even send a fank you note lol) cos its amongst the 50 or so cards I have in a pile on the side...and as many times as I go through them, I cant find THE ONE lol.. and second, I heard the cat munching something and upon closer inspection I found she was munching on a father christmas ornament from my swap that I had left on the side, I shouted at her and she ran with the father christmas out the cat flap and into the garden, we have never found the stolen father christmas....RIP father christmas...... also my Sam was sitting on the computer yesterday and he has a habit of chewing things, like pens left next to the keyboard, only yesterday I found him chewing the antlers off a bloody moose ornament that was also from my swapper box LMFAO..... so, that left me only able to take a photo of what was left.....



A lovely tin engraved (with date ornament)...... a lovely pretend horny wreath thing... and a plastic *gulp* see through ball thingie with a father christmas inside LOL.... there should of also been a card (lost) and a father christmas (the cat stole) and a moose (sam chewed) in the photo....

So you can see me predicament LOL........ what do I do, someone suggest something - THERESA help ME lol - do I consider THIS twaddle post as me ornament swap post or what LOL...... I cant for the life of me bloody remember who sent me the bits and bobs LOL..... so if you read this ornament swapping lady, please receive my fanks for all the bits LOL even though I didnt look after them enough to stop me cat and sam destroying 2 of them LOL

Im a failure at this ornament swap thing :( they will think, dam bloody Brit, we wont let her join in next year, she lets her cat and kid eat and steal the things that are sent her LMFAO......

It was fun whilst it lasted LOL

LAST BIT lol I doubt anyone has read down this far LOL

On Friday, just as I was dashing out the door with a car load of nippers a white van man pulled up outside and delivered a HUGE box with my name on it......

Here is the said box....



I didnt have a chance to see what it was or whom it was from or even if it was for me, before I had to dash out with the nippers....

Well imagine my surprise a few hours latter when I got in and inspected the box ......

Jacob and Sam both said, just open the dam thing for gawds sake LOL....



This is what was inside, when I opened the lid of the HUGE box a snowman balloon flew out :) and as I peered inside there was the most gorgeous HUGE bunch of sunflowers that I have ever ever seen, and I truely mean that......

They were sent to me by my friend IntenseGuy as a crimbo pressie.... oh my, I am so not deserving of such a beautiful gift.... but I feel honoured that Iggy thought to send me, me of all people, such a gift of frienship....(((((Iggy))))) thank you dear friend....

Sighhhhhhhhh this dam blob world is always full of surprises......

Ok, now you have all fallen asleep, I'll love ya and leave ya....... and if I dont catch ya this side of crimbo, have the most wonderful of holidays with your family and friends or just family or just friends..... it will just be me and me lads, I tend of late to keep meself to meself over the holidays.... I get many invites to different parties and nights out.... but I tend to just disappear from the world for a few weeks, and just sometimes I dont feel worthy enough without me soul (which is still lost btw lol) to go to the many invites that I have pinned upon me fridge.... not anymore.... not since..... since..... oh it dont matter LOL....

HAPPY CRIMBO TO YOU ALL..... be safe.... laff until you sides ache... enjoy what you have..... enjoy who you are with...... and remember, I will be thinking of you all with love and smiles.....

X

ADDITION... This is the cat that stole father christmas.... this is a photo of her also trying to steal the sting of musical instruments lol..... I LOVES me my cat, she has not tail and is now about 13.... and she follows me everywhere and loves Janet our chicken and can often be found in the garden sitting next to her LOL

59 comments:

LadyStyx said...

Ya know, tha handmade ornaments are actually the best. Your tree reminds me of the ones we had growing up. One year mom said.."enough of the commercialism!" and got rid of every glass ornament we had. That year we made all our ornaments. We made pinecone and glitter ones, pipe cleaner canes, soldiers out of toilet paper tubes, all sorts of styrofoam and sequins, popcorn and cranberry garland strings..etc. That year was the prettiest tree we had. What wonderful memories each ornament brings.

Lisa said...

Love your tree, love your painted egg ornaments, your Father Christmasessss. Love, love, love it all!

And you, sweetie!

Lulda Casadaga said...

Well, I think you have a fine tree and lovely ornaments. I did not put up my tree this year due to puppy (BIG) in the house.
My hubby and I took my pups for a walk on Sat and I picked up some greenery whilst on the walk. He just called me cheap and laughed at the few branches I had picked.
He doesn't know about the pinecones I'm goin rip off from my neighbors lawn tomorrow! :D

Every year I get at least one special ornament to represent the xmas holiday. This year I bought 4 little wooden reindeer. This represents the deer we hit on Thanksgiving weekend! (you can see my blog for damaged car pic) :(

I wish you and the boys the bestest crimbo and get yer arse out to at least one event before the year is over ...damn it! Peace out...

laughingwolf said...

season's blessings to you and yours, m'dear :D

Anonymous said...

I love this post...I love your ornaments!!

I'm not sure what to tell you about the Cat...Love cat's and they need toys too. Poor Father Christmas. LOL

Send Julie and email telling her you got your ornaments and let her know you missed placed who sent them. She will respond.

I laughed hard at your response to the plastic ornaments.

My angel is 7 inches but not big. My mom bought her for me when I was 12 and she has always topped my tree.

Me being a "Bible Thumper" (it is what my mom calls me) love all your angels!!!

You crack me up...LMAO

Christy Woolum said...

I think tree ornaments like this are so much more meaningful... and I just love the glass ornament with the stickman thingy on it. I am so glad you rescued it from the garbage since they did belong to your Nanny. Lovely pictures... lovely ornaments.

Charles Gramlich said...

Sunflowers for Christmas. Excellent!!

Jen said...

Every year since we've been married we have bought one new ornament to add to the few we started with. And now we buy a family ornament and each of the kids get to choose one, too. This year Josh chose a Santa fisherman holding a stringer of fish. Adam chose a Bumble (the abominable snowman from the Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer movies). And for Jules we chose a pink Care Bear wearing ice skates.

I also have an egg ornament that I have had since I was 8 years old. The front is cut out and there is an angel inside.

Merry Christmas, Mel. All the best to you and your wonderful boys.

JBelle said...

The chicken made it! It was made here in The 'Kan, Mel. You know you never mentioned it so I figured it was your tactful way to telling me it had arrived in the UK lips up. You have a fabulous tree. Know what? I don't even put ornaments on. Except for this year; whole 'nother story. But usually, I step out in the garden and cut spent blossoms, pyracantha, Oregon grape, whatever is pretty, gather pine cones and bring it in. This year we got ornaments, we got lights, the whole Mary Ann. but your tree is so pretty. :) xoxo

Pamela said...

I made salt dough ornaments one year with my kids.

Yours appear to have a better quality of paint than ours had.

I haven't opened them for a few years -- I hope they are in one piece.

(Any one of us could claim to have sent you those ornaments

Lee Harris said...

Thanks for sharing. I treasure the ornaments that my mother gave us all one Christmas. We each got glass grapes, old tin Santa, and a couple other glass ornaments that were always on the eclectic family tree. Unfortunately, they are in storage back in the U.S. --- I'll retrieve them someday.

Fleas On Your Dog!

Catch said...

your tree is beautiful with all your precious ornaments...but do you think your cat or your son will eat the sunflowers???? LMAO. Oh Marmie I enjoyed your post so much... I wish you could see my face as I read it. I wish you and your fine young men a very merry Christmas, have lots of laughs and just enjoy each other!! God bless you Sweety!!!!

Dumdad said...

Joyeux Noël and a Happy New Year!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

OK So now that I have seen the cat...and you have said that she likes to spend time with Janet. I am in love...It makes me want to send you a whole box of Father Christmas ornamemts just for her. LMAO If your Secret Ornament Swapper can't understand then there must be a missing corn cob somewhere that is shoved up ------

OK I am turning bad. I got to go now. LOL Merry Christmas to you!!!

Intense Guy said...

Those ornaments are indeed precious treasures, loaded with memories. I hope they hang proudly on an evergreen tree for many, many years to come.

My mom has some of the ones my brothers and I made way back when - and hangs them on her tree each year. One of them is big, about 14 inches tall, snowman my older brother made over 40 years ago - its just cardboard with white felt glued to it and the coal buttons, smile, nose, and eyes; carrot nose, and a black top hat - its as ugly as can be - but somehow on Christmas it transforms itself into something special.

((((Toasty)))) I hope you truly enjoy your Christmas with your sons - its been a long, mean year for knees and shoulders but a new, warm friendship come out of it. May the new year be a good one!

buffalodick said...

Our tree is filled with oraments from days gone by... There isn't one I couldn't tell you the story behind it! Traditions are wonderful, and so is your tree!

Akelamalu said...

All your ornaments are lovely Marmie, and it must be an absolute Joy every year to see them hanging from your tree!

What a great idea the ornament swap is, shame you 'lost' some of them! ;)

Your Christmas card arrived today m'dear, thankyou, I hope you got mine.

Have a wonderful Christmas with your boys and I truly hope the new year will bring you health and happiness, you deserve it. xxxx

ChrisB said...

I laughed my way through reading this. I love all your tree decorations. A lot of mine are really old-some my daughters made when they were younger than my grandchildren are now. My lanterns are so old they have a holder for candles(oh elf and safety!)
I'm sad to say a lot of my glass baubles broke over the years; now I have a few things my grandchildren have made. It's unlocking memories each year.
Have a wonderful Christmas.

Toriz said...

LMAO! You're too funny!

I don't mind plastic things, but I'm with you 100% on the sentimental value of the decorations. I have a couple of things that were put up in my parents' place when I was a kid. One of them is about as old as I am and is my favourite decoration (it's a picture of Father Christmas being climbed on by puppies). And I think my Mam still has some of the things we made when we were little.

Iggy's great, isn't he? I wasn't a bit surprised to discover that the parcel was from him. He's a wonderful friend!

By the way, how are you doing?

Hope you and your lads have a great Crimbo! ;)

B.R.M said...

Merry Christmas Mel! Thank you for the card - what an awesome treat.

I am so thankful to call you friend.

Love,

Tennessee Becky

ChicagoLady said...

I too much prefer the older, family ornaments, instead of the plastic cheap sh*t. I have many ornaments that were on my tree as a child, but unfortunately, many have been broken over the years. I absolutely love all your ornaments and Father Christmases!

We also had stars with our names engraved on them, and those were the last ornaments to put on the tree before the star.

What wonderful Crimbo decorations you have! Thank you for showing some of them to us.

Unknown said...

Merry Christmas! I was your ornament swapping partner. I hope you liked everything.

Elaine Denning said...

What beautiful ornaments. And lovely photos of them, too.

Have a wonderful, fun-filled Christmas. x

Butch Boo said...

Fantastic!!

Made me feel very nostalgic. I remember some decs we had as kids which were plastic mice with different coloured tufts of hair. Every year they'd come out and every year look a bit more moth eaten and mawled by the cats!

Would so love to still have them!

Happy Christmas dear..

BB

X

Deanna said...

I love your tree ornaments. I have a box labeled "special ornaments" and that is all that is on our tree this year. Every ornament is different - no two alike. When the kids got married I gave them each an ornament that was on our first Christmas tree. Yea, I'm sentimental - sue me! lol.
And the flower and balloon from Iggy! How special is that! Merry Christmas Marmie!

Carol Woolum Roberts said...

My tree is filled with ornaments that each tell a story as well. I have one or two made by my Children's Church Choir director from when I was 9 or 10. And each of my girls have their own collection as well.

Have a very Merry Christmas, MT, and a blessed New Year ahead. Thanks for bringing much joy, laughter and love into my life this past year. You are a very bright light in this world.

And I pray for a year brimming with much health for you as well!!

Unknown said...

...love all the crimbo decos, Mel...the old glass ones conjure memories of childhood holidays...wishing i'd have had the prescence of mind to retain my folk's ornaments, but alas i was two thousand miles away when decisions were made as to what to save and what to put in the estate sale...
...oh well...wandering minstrels seldom put up crimbo trees anyway...

MarmiteToasty said...

TIZ A QUARTER PAST 8 CRIMBO EVE HERE... Ive just dropped our Sam off at his maties house where a bunch of them are then off to the pub... Ben is out as is Tom, that leaves me and Jacob to wrap the few little pressies that need wrapping...

The both Sam and Jacob both stitched me up this afternoon LMFAO - I said, come on lets bugger off out for a couple of hours, and Sam said, mum I really need a new winter coat... can we just stop and look in Matlan before we go any further... so like a twit I stopped and he found the most lovely coat AND a hoody AND a pair of skateboarding shoes AND a jumper.... gawds sake, Jacob only found a hoody he couldnt live without and a couple of pairs of trousers... DONT THEY KNOW ITS BLOODY CRIMBO TOMORROW.... we also nipped in the supermarket just to top up on a few bottles of diet coke... so now we dont have to budge from the house for a week if we dont want to LOL... but the funny think was that my tosser X was in there with his 'other' family.... oh my god it was well funny, he started stalking us LMFAO... it was beginning to get a bit creepy and my Sam said, if he dont stop Im gonna just out from behind the loo rolls and deck the bastard lmfao... god the 3 of us were giggling like school kids.... he hid behind the shortbread biscuits which Sam had piled to about 6 foot high LOL... it was just so funny.... we then went for a hobble along Hayling where I treated Sam to a beer in our favourite pub on the foreshore and me and Jacob had a coke... it was just a lovely afternoon....

anyways....

~((((LadyStyx))))~ I love the little glass ones and I love with a passion the little wooden primative angels with tin wings...sounds like you had some good times growing up.... hope my boys remember these times and smile....happy crimbo....xxxxxx

~(((((Lisa))))~ love ya back girl... I'll make you some of the painted eggs for next crimbo... HAPPY CHRISTMAS...xxxxxxx

~(((((Lulda)))))~ tiz mighty fine indeed LOL.... sometimes with dogs and babies ya have to do something different :)... the wooden CHRISTMAS letters was our new dec this year.... have a super CRIMBO...xxxxxx

~((((((Wolfie))))))~ peace and wonderful blessings to you dear man...happy christmas...xxxxxx

~((((theresa)))))~ Im SO glad we have connected through the ornament swap,even though I suck at it lmfao... have the most super crimbo with you mob :)...xxxxxxxx

~(((InlandEmpireGirl))))~ each and everyone brings out a smile and a memory, ya know what Im like with me memories on the shelves of me mind lol.... crimbo hugs and wishes to you dear sweet lady....xxxxxx

~((((Charles))))~ yep, excellent indeed :) - have the most wonderous crimbo with you family....xxxxxxxx

~((((Jen))))~ I was spoilt this year cos JBelle sent me the most beautiful glass chicken... LOL@a care bear wearing ice skates.... hope you and ya nippers enjoy the little gifts... have the most wonderful of days....happy christmas....xxxxxx

~(((((JBelle))))~ oh yes it made it and it made me have a lump in me throat... I LOVE it, just love it... glad you got fairy lights this year, I love fairy lights with a passion, especially just red ones.... wish I was there with you all this crimbo... have a peaceful and wonderful christmas dear JBelle, my special friend.... know you are loved.....HAPPY CRIMBO to you and your beautiful family.....xxxxxx

~((((Pamela))))~ match pots and then spray varnish :)....even the little one that my Tom made when he was at preschool, 17 years ago is still alive and kicking :).... happy christmas to you....xxxxxx

~((((Lee)))))~ lovely to see you back.... one day you will have to retrieve those ornaments so you to can smile as you open them year after year....HAPPY CRIMBO to you in your beautiful part of the world...xxxxx

~((((((((((((Catch))))))))))~ yeah dam cat and dam Sam LOL... Ive told you before this is one mad house lol... or should I say its more like an asylum at times lol.... I to wish I could see you face lol....have the most special of crimbos, I know you will with all your mob and YOUR GORGEOUS MAN... peace and much love to you all....xxxxx

~(((((((Dumdad)))))~ dear you and your precious family in froggie land... HAPPY CRIMBO TO YOU fanks for being a part of my blob world....xxxxxx

~(((theresa)))~ yep, me cat is loveable beyond measure... she is my little tiny scabby tail-less darling :) - Ive been a bad influence on you ya bible basher LOL...HAPPY CRIMBO .....xxxxxx

~((((((Intense))))))~ my sunflower man :) - see us mums keep all the bits and bobs over the years, I have boxes of stuff from me lads lol cards and writings from school and, well, everything, its what us mums do :)..

Fanks Iggy for the beautiful surprise with the flowers, they made my week, my holidays... have the most wonderful of crimbos with your family.... I'll raise a glass and toast you with a smile with our dinner.... fanks for being such a special part of my blob world.... HAPPY CRIMBO YOU...xxxxxxx

~((((Buffalo))))~ sometimes I think we are cut from the same cheese bloke LOL.... have the most wonderous crimbo.... HAPPY CHRISTMAS..xxxxxxxxx

~(((((Ake)))))~ yep its a joy remembering special memories of days gone past... and yep it arrived safed and sound... peace love and happiness to you in the coming year dear dear friend....HAPPY CHRISTMAS.....xxxxxxx

~((((((Crispy)))))))~ I know i aint right at times LOL and ungrateful LMFAO.. see, you are one of those special mums that keep everything lol...HAPPY CHRISTMAS to you, be safe and laff often...xxxxxxx

~((((((((Toriz))))))))~ your mum kept stuff too :) GOOD ON YA WELSH MAMA lol... and yep, Iggy was the dogs bollocks :) lol..HAPPY CRIMBO YOU and fanks so much for the pressies.... they are pride of place under our little tree :)...xxxxxxxx

~(((((((Becky))))))~ happy first crimbo with your new man/husband, your story I followed like a romantic novel, I've just loved how its all panned out, and I love you.... HAPPY CHRISTMAS to you mob...xxxxxxxx

~(((Chicago))))~ I do hate the plastic baubles that you see by the box load in the shops lol... I love the glass and the wooden and i love the egg ones I made.... you sound so much like me lol... HAPPY CHRISTMAS dear you....xxxxxx

~(((((((Stephanie))))~ welcome :) - judging by your comment you didnt actually read all me post *gulp* that might be a good thing LOL *fingers crossed behind me back* yep all the ornaments are on me tree... I love them, you sent way to much, fanks very much... I will do better next year lol...HAPPY CRIMBO to you and your family....xxxxxx

~(((((Elaine)))))~ my camera is on its last lets now so the photos aint that good.... HAPPY CRIMBO YOU, may your coming year be so much more then you ever imagined....xxxxxxxx

~((((Butch))))~ welcome to you :)... LOL@tufted coloured plastic mice lmfao.... Im just so happy that I have at least one very old ornament that hung on my mothers and nannys tree...HAPPY CHRISTMAS please come again :) this lot are crazy over here lol....xxxxxx

~((((Punk)))))~glad you to have some special ornaments.... Im sure as time goes by and me lads leave and start homes of their own, I will start dishing out the ornaments from their childhoods, and so the circle goes on... yep flowers AND balloon from Iggy, aint he just the sweetest thang... HAPPY CHRISTMAS to you dear Punkn....xxxxxxx

~(((SilverValleyGirl))))~ the fanks are backatcha for you and your family for enriching my life by your very special presence.. fanks for being part of my blob world... peace love and happiness to you... HAPPY CHRISTMAS....xxxxxxx

~((((((soul soul soul))))~ are you my lost soul lol - :( wish you could of had at least one of those old ornaments from you past.. dam people not thinking of you when they dispensed of things, if I had not rummaged though me mothers bin I would not of found that precious nanny ornament along a little bundle of old photos of me... my mother sorted out all the photos and gave both my brothers a bundle with them in and me siste a bundle with her in, and mine, well, i found that bundle along with the ornament in her rubbish bin... something must of called me to that bin that day or I would have NO photos of me as a child...

One day wondering minstrel you wonder this side of the ocean and i will show you my world...HAPPY CHRISTMAS dear Soul.... fanks for enriching my life with you and your special maties that I have found via you.... peace and love....xxxxxxxx

Slip said...

Talk about a bad blogger! I have been horrible, but shit happens and after all I am a man so it should be expected! Merry Christmas to your brood. I caught a bit of spirit myself this year.

Lady in red said...

I love all your ornaments o your tree. It is the memories that are special. I still have ornaments that I remember from my childhood.

This year we didn't put up a tree or any ornaments. My boys didn't want them.

We have had a good christmas without all the fancy trimming. Just being together the 5 of us plus my mum was enough.

But they had better watch out next year as I shall be making up for not having any decorations this year.

Jackie said...

Priceless, Mel!! Your ornaments are simply priceless!! I have many of the same kinds of ornaments; hand crafted by children, grandchildren, children I taught in public school; quite a collection. Thank you for sharing.
Also, thanks for the lovely comment you made on my blog. I sent you an e-mail but I don't even know that I have the correct address!! Anyway...Dear Girl, you've brightened my year with what you call TWADDLE!! Love you...

Kati said...

Toasty, I LOVE your tree!!!! I'm GLAD you don't put up loads & loads of plastic baubles and impersonal do-dads. The BEST trees are the ones that hold ornaments that have stories. It SOOOO ticked me off several years ago, after Mom & Michelle (my middle sis) moved out of Dad's house, and Dad and Kori (my baby sis) were putting up the tree. Dad told Kori that he didn't care what she did with it that year, so Kori took the boxes of old ornaments we'd had growing up (some from Germany, some made by us girls, some bought at crafty bazaars by Mom) and put them in the garage by the junk pile to go to the dump, then she bought plastic beads and baubles and red wired ribbon-bows to decorate the tree with. It looked so impersonal and UGLY! Like something from a grocery store or a furniture store to give some "feeling" to the season.

I took those boxes of old ornaments, before they got taken to the dump, and grabbed what I could that was still in decent shape. I'm down to 2 remaining old wooden German ornaments, the rest have broken. Most of my tree is hand-made gifts from others, or by my daughter. And it has character and I love it!

I'm glad you (nicely?) told your "well intentioned" friend to shove her boxes of plastic baubles. That's not what christmas is about! The clay reindeer ornaments are charming, as are your little stick-men ornaments. What beauties!

Hope you had a VERY Merry Christmas, Toasty!

... said...

Mel, you'd love our tree also. Your maties don't understand what Christmas is all about if all they want to do is to make their trees look like the ones in their magazines.

Also, your gifts to us this year were brilliant! We'll treasure them. Thank you SOOOOO much.

Casdok said...

I love all your wooden bits and bobs and the memories they hold.

Hope your christmas was wonderful and hope you have the best year ahead! x

BlondeBlogger said...

I love all of your ornaments! And I'm the same way with mine. I prefer the sentimental over the ornate any day. I also have ornaments from my grandma on my tree that she made, and some that I made with her when I was a little girl. I'm with you on the tears when they're put on the tree!

JBelle said...

Happy Third Day of Christmas Mel! Your gifts are at the office, unwrapped of course, because I was snowed in and never got back down. But today's the today. I am going down there. Hope you're well. Sassy. All the rest. xoxoxoxxo

xo

buffalodick said...

We all got our styles... I do think you and I share a bit of the same madness! I just write shorter posts than a woman! LMAO! Happy Holidays, to you and yours- and the chickens too..

Annie Wan said...

i'm wondering if your tree gets bigger and bigger each year for all the extra ornaments! like you i have a few boxes of treasured decorations. but not as many as you! there's one that my 20 year old made for me when she was 3 out of dough which she baked and painted - it's so heavy you can imagine wha happens to the branch it hangs on, lol.

you know those plastic baubles, cut a hole in each, fill it with water and stick a flower in it and put a few together for a ready made floral display, or not ...

have a happy time and i hope your soul finds you again xx

The Fool said...

Beautiful post, Marmite Toasty...thanks for sharing. Best to you this holiday season, and may '09 be full of blessings.

Cindy said...

We too have a lifetime collection of ornaments- stuff the kids made in school, little gold ornaments -one for each of our kids with their names and birth dates engraved on them. Each one was bought the year of their births and hung on the tree every year thereafter. Until this year, that is. This year Libby thought we should do it up nice and new. Never again. I missed seeing the kids (grown up now) searching out their ornaments and reminiscing...And who cares if the wooden soldier with the puffy cotton ball hair is now somewhat bald, or the cotton snow is almost gone from the ornament made from half a Leggs egg...

Akelamalu said...

There's a little something over at mine for you m'deario. x

Anonymous said...

hey you daft cow... my tree look just like yours except that Dani fell in it and I had to duct tape branches back up. Thank God she did not break any of my valuable home made ornaments... Bens gf was here and adored all the prnaments he made over the years and the ones that had his pic on them. Hope all is well and that you have a grand 2009. :) Janice

Anonymous said...

Mel, I love all the cherished, homey-looking and handmade things in your home. Bet I'd love your home, and you'd like mine too. We have very similar taste. In fact, I have a few plates and dishes that match the blue & white pitcher behind your 'china/tin fairy thingy that hangs out year-round'. Our tree is hung with ornaments collected over 30 years, plus one special ornament from my childhood. Lots of handmade things from the kids, plus we try & pick up an ornament when we're on holiday; I mark the place & date on the back of each. You answered an email of mine once and urged me to post to the blob so here I am! My first blob post ever. What a great crew of regulars you have here, from all over.
Susan

Femin Susan said...

Hi......
Your blog is really interesting... Keep posting.... Wishing you " A Happy New Year''

His Girl Friday said...

Hi Marmie,

love the pics...esp. the cute 'ornament' smiling beside the tree! :)

(hey, have you 'talked' with Scots lately? Still waiting to hear about the tattoo)

Ron said...

HI Marmie!

Just wanted to stop by and say thank you for dropping by my blog earlier today!

It was great meeting you!

WOW!!!...the ornamemts are to DIE for!!

FABULOUS!

Looks like you had a very MERRY and FESTIVE Christmas!

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YA!

Unknown said...

Happy New Year, my dear friend!

May you and yours be blessed much happiness and many joys in 2009!

Akelamalu said...

Mel m'dear, I just wanted to say I'll be thinking of you and sending all good wishes to you and your family at midnight. May 2009 bring you good health (especially to those gammy knees) and happiness. If anyone deserves happiness it's you. Much love and Reiki blessings to you. xxxx

laughingwolf said...

happy new year to you and yours, mt :D

Jeanne Estridge said...

Visiting from Buf's place....

It's not about the ornaments, it's about the memories behind them. Maybe as your friends grow older they'll come to understand that....

Flowerpot said...

Home made are always the best. Take care Marmie and may 2009 be happy and healthy for you and yhour family. FPxxxx

Cindy said...

Just stopping by to wish you and your boys a Happy New Year!
And to thank you for the wonderful gift of friendship- it's people like you who make the blogging experience so rich and enjoyable.

MarmiteToasty said...

~((((Slip))))~ LOL@your an expected man ;) - Happy belated crimbo to you and your dear wifey.... xxxxxxx

~(((LIR)))~ there is no way I would of got away with no tree or decorated crimbo house, my lads would of hung drawn and quartered me LOL..... glad you had a lovely time, thats what its all about at the end of the day..... togetherness...xxxxxx

~((((Inspired))))~ I dont warrent such lovely words.... fanks you though.... and fanks for being a part of my blobbing world, no matter how fickle I am lol....xxxxx

~((((((((((Kati)))))))))~ yep every ornament has a story... bitch slappy Kori to save you the job lol.... I cherish the little glass stick bead people I have it is one of the only connections I have with me nanny.... me friend was only trying to help, but she just dont get it... oh well, I still loves her warts and all lol....xxxxxx

~(((((Toadie))))))~ I would love everything and I do about your special little family..... and the most wonderous gift arrived to day from you all..... and its adorning me fridge next to the one you sent last year....... the crimbo photo of your lads.... fank you so much for sending me one :) I LOVE IT.... and you will have to read the next Twaddle post about the gift you send me.... ;).....xxxxxx

~((((Casdok))))~ yep, no matter how rich or poor I become, the most precious think I will have is me memories.... love to you and C...xxxxxxx

~(((BlondeB))))~ welcome to the mad house... glad you to have some special memories with ya ornaments....xxxxx

~((((((((((((((JBelle)))))))))~ :) twas only a little something, but choosen with love....yep I am well and truely sassy today lol.....xxxxxxxxx

~(((((((((Buffalo))))))~ I think we share a common heart for all that is good :) of this I know... and hey, Im a woman, Im allowed to write long posts lol.... Ive tried to write short ones but me fingers just dont stop LOL....xxxxx

~((((((((((Mei Del)))))~ glad your safely back from France.... the plastic baubles went in the school raffle LOL.....

As regards me soul, it will wander in all eternity.... of this I to know.... I will just have to get by the best I can without it.....xxxxxxx

~(((((((((((((((((Foolie)))))))))))))~ love and hugs and bestest wishes to you to..... xxxxxxx

~((((Cindy))))~ see, I aint the only one that holds these things as precious lol.....bitch slapping your libby for not letting you have ya puffy cotton balls on ya tree :).... xxxxxxxxx

~((((((Ake))))))~ Im honoured, fank you so much.....xxxxxx

~(((((((Janice))))))))~ OH MY GOD is that really you....... jebus christ I have so missed 'us'.... now I have visions of your Dannie in the tree lol I shouldnt laff.... but you sound more worried about the tree then the dam kid LMFAO...... as would I be ;) - love you girl..... you know our friendship lasts a lifetime...... I'll write in the new year.....xxxxxx

~(((((((EastEndMom))))))~ well lookie who it is :) lol - me maties call me house CLUTTERED lol but you already by reading the above post know now what they are like lol...... and did you know I collect JUGS :) so I think we would get on like a house on fire.... and yep a crazy mob hang out here lol...... welcome and fanks for showing ya face :)...... please call again, and that will be $20 please LOL....xxxxx

~(((Femin))))~ well fanks a bunch LOL....xxxxx

~((((((HisGirlFriday)))))~ hey hey hey you..... that cutie is my Sam :), my clown, my crazy man lol....

nope aint heard a dicky bird from Scottie for a while, Im gonna hunt the bugger down after crimbo if he dont show his dam face, I have connections in Scotland so he had better be bloody careful, him and McTavish.....xxxxxxxx

~((((((((Ron)))))))~ hey welcome :) - I had a lovely time scrolling back and reading your posts - fanks for popping over.... and a merry belated crimbo to you to......xxxxxxx

~(((((((Saintly)))))~ same to you dear sweet you....may the bird of happieness always sh*t on your head.....xxxxxxxx

~((((Ake)))~ love and health and happieness to you to this coming year, one day I'll drive and north and surprise ya, so bung the kettle on lol....xxxxxx

~((((((Wolfie)))))))~ hugs to you...xxxxxxx

~((((Jeanne))))~ welcome from that old dog Buff's place :).... and yoru right its about the memories that get stacked on the shelves of ones mind, that get dusted off each and every year with each ornament unwrapped.... :) me maties are old gits already LOL....xxxxx

~(((((((Flowerpot))))))))~ love, health and happieness to dear you..... I'll hunt you out when I go down to Cornwall this coming year....xxxxx

~(((((((Cindy)))))))~ much love to you to, and fanks for a year of wonderful friendship.... :) ya crazy old cow LMFAO.....xxxxxxx

Intense Guy said...

May you have a wonderful and happy new year Toasty!!!

Finding you was a very bright spot in a rather dismal 2008. I hope your knee mends fully and quickly and that your new year is filled with love, laughter, many dear friends, hope, peace, happiness, and one new Christmas ornament - for you, your sons and of course for Mabel, Marble, Cedric, and Janet!!

MarmiteToasty said...

(((((((((((((((Intense)))))))))))))~ the beautiful flowers you sent have made it through to the new year, its a sign LOL.....

Fanks for stumbling into my blob world, its been so enriched for having you near........ love, peace, hope, fun, health, friendship and most of all laughter is what I wish for you this coming year..........

X

Me said...

Have a Happy New Year! Lovely pictures, I am so jealous. We lost our collection two years back, due to a leaky roof in our greenhouse.

Anonymous said...

Happy New Year! It's already 2009 where you are. We still have a few hours to go here, so I'm killing time online reading blogs & haggis hunting. We have a houseful of boys here for a sleepover tonight, so no doubt we'll be starting the new year bleary eyed - but not for the usual reason! Susan

Arizona foreclosures said...

I also have an egg ornament that I have had since I was 8 years old. The front is cut out and there is an angel inside. Rubbish Bins

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