Thursday, December 10, 2015

It's Friday - Christmas Past*

It's Friday and time again to join in with Willy Nilly Friday and Amy at Five on Friday.   All is well here at Lilly My Cat.  The Christmas holiday will soon be here and I do think that I'm ready.  Next week I hope to bake my Christmas cookies.  There's so many things I would like to share with you but it's the holiday season and I feel my post should reflect this special time of year. 

The other night I called my dear friend in Washington (state).  We were neighbors for over 20 years and we've known each other for 39 years!  I sat in the living room and turned on the Christmas tree.  No one sits in this room except when we have company or celebrate an event; like Christmas eve and Christmas day.  It was fun to reminisce about the old days when we used to bake Christmas cookies together.  The years have been good to us but I feel I'm still the same person I used to be.  It makes me sad when people forget where they came from.  I always tell me children to never forget who they are and to have compassion on others. I'm happy to be who I am...

We went to the annual Christmas tree lighting in our little community for the first time this year.  It was really a lovely evening sitting on a bench and listening to a music group sing Christmas carols.  Santa and Mrs. Claus arrived by boat and turned on the tree.  Hot chocolate and donuts were given out to all and it was such a festive evening ...

Here's my husband and I enjoying the evening.  We were with our grandchildren and my little grandson so enjoyed this special time . It reminds me of years ago when my parents used to take my children to the tree lighting.  The roles are reversed now.  It's an odd feeling really but I'm so thankful that we're here to see our grandchildren grow up...

Lilly is really liking this time of year.  She usually likes to sit under the tree.  I placed some metal bell decorations on the bottom limbs and she likes to make then sing.  This is my little tree which we bought at Home Depot for $24.99.  I don't think you can find cheaper that this now days. I remember one year we bought from the  local Boy Scouts for  under $10.00 and they DELIVERED the tree, too!  Am I showing my age? 

This is my daughter's beautiful tree.  The day we bought our trees, she got hers' home and decided that it didn't look right.  So, her dear husband loaded it again on the car and they came back with this one.  Remembering back many years ago, I recall going Christmas tree shopping with my dear dad.  We (I) found the perfect tree at a little community market and it was a $1.70!  Yup, really expensive..haha.  That would have been like 1969 to 1972.  We brought it home and Dad and I "flocked" it with white snow.  We had a special contraption that attached to my Mom's vacuum cleaner and it sprayed the white snow on the tree.  I remember it being cold since we lived in an area that had real, cold winters but it didn't bother me.   But, the tree was so pretty.  My dad was such a kind, patient man.

I love the Christmas season.  Growing up we used to go to my Uncle's home and celebrate with the whole family.  Sadly, those family members are long gone.  It's just me and my brother now and my dear brother will be joining my family this year for the holidays.  My Mom used to buy (or make) me a Christmas outfit each year along with a new pair of Christmas shoes.  Oh, how I longed to wear those new shoes but they were always put away until Christmas eve.  My Grandma would share with us all her buttery, homemade Danish cookies along with her red cabbage and Danish meatballs which we always had on Christmas Eve.  I've tried to keep these traditions for my family.    I don't have lot of Christmas memories with my Grandfather since he died tragically when I was 12 years old.  But my dear Grandmother lived to 97 years of age; and she was very active up until age 95!

Wherever you are, I wish you peace and joy at this time of year. Although there is sadness in our world, there is always hope.  I've love to hear from you if you have the time.

My best to you,

Pat


*I like the phrase "Christmas Past".  I've been reading Charles Dicken's A Christmas Carol with Ebenezer Scrooge to my little grandson and it reminds me of the "ghost of Christmas past"...




















26 comments:

  1. Such very lovely Christmas memories! Your family was obviously a lovely one and you are carrying that loveliness on with your own family! That is so wonderful and really what Christmas is about isn't it, love and caring. The trees are all beautiful aren't they, I adore Christmas trees! Thank you for joining Five On Friday. I hope that you have a great weekend! Hope that Lilly enjoys being under the tree too! xx

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  2. Such a lovely post! Lilly looks really cute sitting in front of the tree. Enjoy your Christmas preparations and have a great weekend!

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  3. Lovely post Pat. I had never heard of an attachment for a hoover that could let you add snow to the tree, what fun. Today I am going to our local town to look at the tree festival, am really looking forward to it. And you are so right, we must not forget who we are and where we come from. Which cookies will you be baking this year? enjoy x

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  4. What a lovely five! So many sparkling trees, you couldn't get any more lights on the community tree looking beautiful in the water. Your cat is very pleased to have her photo taken. It's great to look back on all the memories admidst the rush. :-)

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  5. A beautiful post. Such a lovely time of year for reminiscing and remembering friends and family. Beautiful tree. Have a great weekend.

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  6. Memories are so lovely. I remember when the Scouts sold trees, in fact my husband was one of the Scouts. Have a lovely weekend.

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  7. Christmas is all about reminiscing ...your post is lovely and I feel you have a very strong bond with your family. Enjoy all those memories...I get loads just putting up decorations on the tree and remembering the years they came from. Have a great weekend. Barbara

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  8. A wonderful post & I really enjoyed sharing in your family's festive traditions! All those trees you featured are just beautiful! & of course Lilly looks proud in front of the tree!
    God bless this special season!

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  9. They are all lovely trees. I can't believe how many lights are on that community Christmas tree. It looks incredible!

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  10. Beautiful trees! Thanks for stopping by :)

    Colletta

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  11. Really enjoyed reading your Five on Friday with such wonderful memories. The trees look great. Joan at www.aviewtothefells.com

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  12. Your and your daughter's trees are gorgeous, such a lovely post xx

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  13. the circle of life is crazy isn't it? sometimes it still surprises me that my husband and i are the head of our family...one day, not too far, there will be little grandkids here...how did i end up in my grandparents roles? i enjoyed your post! thank you for linking and have a wonderful weekend!

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  14. Thanks so much for sharing your good memories, Pat, and your lovely photos filled with light :) May you and yours be granted many more happy years. xx

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  15. I have really enjoyed you sharing your memories in this beautiful post. I bet your grandchildren love you sharing your memories and traditions. Yours and your daughter's trees are gorgeous and the community tree looks lovely too. Have a great weekend xx

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  16. Your tree is really beautiful, I remember cheaper trees too, but boy those days are long gone. What a beauty Lily is, is she a Maine Coon Cat?

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  17. You have some beautiful holiday memories! Enjoyed seeing your trees.

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  18. Thank you for sharing your beautiful memories. The trees are so lovely! I'm looking forward to helping my kids continue to make memories while they are young. I remember the grand times I had, and am very grateful for the sacrifices my parents made for the holidays to be special.

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  19. GREAT header photo!!!! Love your tree and your daughter's tree! What a lovely visit with your friend.

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  20. What a beautiful Christmas tree and lovely memories. And I like the shining tree by the water.
    Enjoy your time

    I think with horror back to last Christmas: in the morning my cat went out and half hour later she came home and was slashed (I've learned later, someone has done it on purpose with a few cats) - hope, in this year we have a quiet time again

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  21. I loved reading about your Christmas traditions, Pat. I think more than any other time of year we remember our childhood moments at Christmas and they never fade, no matter what age we are! xx

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  22. It sounds like you are having a wonderful Holiday. Love your tree.
    Meredith

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  23. What a lovely post. I too appreciate the traditions, which is why we are one of only a very few English couples out here in Spain, who still have a big, fully decorated tree. We are mostly retired couples and I guess many find it it too much hard work just for the two of them. But ofr me, each decoration I unwrap holds a special memory, and I have to get them out each year. This year my grandson (21 this week) is coming out to spend a week with us, and he is so excited to see our decorations that he remembers from when he was a little fellow. Your cat Lilly is so beautiful, and looks just perfect posing under the tree. I was singing with a small choir at our church's Carols by candle-light last night. that's another tradition that I wouldn't miss for anything. Have a blessed Christmas. Kate x

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  24. So many gorgeous trees and traditions - it's the time of year for it isn't it, and you can't beat family traditions x

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  25. Family, memories and traditions are the best especially at Christmas..have a wonderful one Pat...Maria xxx loving your blog, now following

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