Monday, December 22, 2008

Ruby Tuesday: O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

I put up the Christmas tree Saturday. I love pulling out the old ornaments.

So for this RUBY TUESDAY before Christmas I'd like to share some of the day and the tree and its ornaments with you.

Siren is very helpful.
From RTX

The snow people were the first to jump out of the Rubbermaid tubs.
From RTX

Mia was livin' large hangin' with the snow people.
From RTX

This plaque is brand new. It was a birthday present.
From RTX

Here we see Mrs. Santa and the lover she took since her husband is never around on Christmas Eve.
From RTX

Mia and Siren have Christmas stockings. The little blue ball (hehehehe) is an ornament my son made 30 years ago.
From RTX

Siren is still helping. Here he is reading the instructions for the new-fangled card hanger thingie.
From RTX

One of my favorite places to shop was B. Altman's Department store. It was on 34th Street and Park Avenue. They would put ornaments on your packages.
I believe the building has recently been converted into 112 Korean run nail salons.

From RTX

Santa resting up with two of his reindeer.

From RTX

I love these kindly faces.
From RTX

This ornament plays 3 Elvis Christmas songs while yellow lights flash. Classy!
From RTX

I made this ornament. Yes me - it's 47 years old and just a bit balding.
From RTX

This little tree is hand made. I got it at a Christmas craft fair from a guy who offered to share his joint with me.
From RTX

This Rudy toy plays 'Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer' and his red nose flashes. It was a gift for donating to UNICEF.

From RTX

Santa and the Nutcracker belonged to my Mom. They're both older than me!
From RTX

The angel belonged to Nana. Although she was Jewish she always put up a tree because it made my Grandfather (who was Christian) happy.
From RTX

And here's the tree - in all its glory.

From RTX


Regardless of what you believe or how you celebrate it is lovely to have something pretty and full of light in your home. I have my tree and Nana's Menorah.

My Chanukah post is over at the THE OTHER BLOG

Happy Merry Everything

46 comments:

Ralph said...

The tree looks great! And Siren and Mia were purrfectly happy to help you. Okay, not much help to you, but the family that puts the tree up together...stays together. I think that's how the saying goes! We're slow this year in decorating, but at least the tree is up and decorated some. Merry Christmas, Dianne!

Dora said...

Wow! Siren is so hardworking. :)
The plaque is so beautiful.

Merry X'mas and a Happy New Year! Have Fun!

It Meows #14

Cherie said...

I feel like I've had a tour of your home and your life. I guess that's one of my favorite things about the holidays. You bring out all of this these things. Some of them are expensive. Some of them are cheesy, but they're all precious. You look at them and all the memories associated with them flood back. :)

magiceye said...

that must have been exhausting but lot of fun!!

Unknown said...

All wonderful Christmas ornaments. Here's wishing you a Merry and Blessed Christmas :)

Linda said...

Looks like you had just as much fun taking it all out of the box as you did putting it on the tree. The nice things about Christmas ornaments is that each one you unwrap also unwraps a special memory.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing this cheerful series.

EG CameraGirl said...

Dianne,
It was fun to help you and the kitties put up your tree. Thanks!

Maithri said...

Beautiful pictures my friend,

I feel all Christamsy looking at them...

Love and joy, M

dot said...

Merry Christmas to you! You have some lovely decorations.
I'm shocked that Mrs Claus would cheat!

Unknown said...

Okay, Di. The caption for the photo of the wooden tree begs the question: did you inhale? Sorry, I couldn't resist! :D

Some of the ornaments look pretty old. WP has some from his childhood that look very similar to the little reindeer and Santa.

The three Santa faces are really lovely. I love, love, love Christmas ornaments. I go in for the whole shabang, too: angels, mangers, snowmen.

I don't know what happened but I never ended up with any of the ornaments from our first Christmas in the US. :-(

This was really fun. And taking the ornaments out of the boxes is the greatest fun. It's putting them back that's a pain!

Merry all day and all night!

Love,
Gina

DrillerAA said...

There are some great photos here. I love looking at ornaments. Have a very Merry Christmas and the Happiest of New Years!

Olga said...

super cute snowmen and reindeer!

Vinny "Bond" Marini said...

No wonder Mrs. Claus took a lover...Santa looks way to cozy with those reindeer!

Raven said...

What a wonderful collection of treasures. I don't know about anybody else, but the handmade tree from the joint guy didn't show up for me.

Melli said...

Ohhhhhh my gosh! You have NO idea the memories you have brought flooding back to ME! My nephew had one of those Santa dolls -- and he LOVED that thing! Called it "Baby" and it was out year round! I can still see him toddlin' around with it now... Tony would be 43 now if he had chosen a different life style...

LOL on what happened to B. Altman's! hehehe... I bet they are ALL profitable!

Anonymous said...

Go Mrs Santa. Well, Santa and his Nutcracker (!) look very happy.

You have yourself a happy Festive whachamacallit.

Dianne said...

ralph - even with Siren's invaluable assistance I almost didn't make it this year. Getting the tubs full of stuff out and up the stairs was daunting. But I'm happy it's up.
Merry Christmas to you and Patti and the kids.

dora - he is! lol
have a wonderful holiday

cherie - it's my favorite part too :)

magiceye - it was!! the closet just wasn't cooperating lol
it was hiding everything from me

m.kate - a Merry Christmas to you too! thanks for always stopping by :)

linda - once I let go of my compulsive neatness I have a great time :)

ilanadavita - thank you for always coming by and checking out my REDs. happy holiday and new year :)

your EG - thanks!! most of the fun is in the sharing :)

maithri - thanks sweet doc :)

dot - I'm hoping it's just a nasty rumor - you know how vicious those elves can be ;)

pagan - inhale!? but what if I want to be President one day hehehehe
most of them are old, I only buy when I travel or for some special occasion - if it doesn't have a story I don't want it

drillerAA - your place is mighty decorative as well
Merry Christmas to you and your family :)

olga - thanks, I love snowmen

bond - I know! and did you see the look on his face with the Nutcracker!! Oy!

raven - sometimes a photo just doesn't pop up - and then it does again
the many mysterys of the Internet tubes ;)

Dianne said...

melli - I'm glad the memories came back even if they're bittersweet. that Santa doll was very popular in the 50s and 60s
Merry Christmas Melli - to you and your wonderful family

rob - great twisted minds think alike!! I was just mentioning Santa and the Nutcracker to Bond while you were commenting
It's like a Festivus miracle! ;)

Mojo said...

I never decorate for holidays -- any of 'em. Come to think of it, I don't decorate period... holidays or otherdays. But I like looking at other people's decorations well enough...

Dianne said...

mojo - so now I'm picturing you in a stark cave !!!
I bet you put your photographs up - and they are amazing decorations!
Happy Festivus Mojo :)

maryt/theteach said...

Dianne, Thank you, thank you for all the ornaments, new and homemade and I would have smoked a joint with you in front of B. Altman's in the city! I would have been my pleasure! Happy Happy! for all the holidays! :) I'm going over to see your Chanukah post now! :)

Pia K said...

Oh, kitties are the best helpers, always and ever, especially at Christmas when there are so many interesting things around! The snow family and this new plaque are my favourite ornaments even if that classy Elvis thing isn't half bad either;) And I just knew Mrs Santa was a self helping lady, of course she should have a lover.

Happy Christmas from Stockholm, Sweden!

kenju said...

Merry Happy Everything to you too!!

Chubby Chieque said...

He he... your cutie doggies really wants to join the fun!

Have a Happy Holiday, dear friend, see you on our SSS !

Dianne said...

mary - that would be so cool!! and I know all the cops from Midtown South so we're good lol
Hugs Mary!

Pia - Happy Christmas from good old New Jersey
thanks for always visitng and always leaving coments that make me smile
See ya Sunday :)

richie's - Mia and Siren are into everything! there is so much going on and they don't know what to do first
this morning Mia was running around with tissue paper on her head and caught in her paws ;)
Have a wonderful holiday - see you Sunday :)

kenju - thanks!! hope you get a break from decorating and get to have some fun

Jan said...

Dianne, what a great Ruby Tuesday post. I feel as if I've been to your home. Merry Christmas.

Anonymous said...

It was loving looking at all your lovely ornaments :)
Wishing you lots of peace and love this Christmas :)

Sparkling Red said...

What a beautiful tree! I love that each ornament has a story behind it.

Norm said...

she's so cute and very helpful.I wish you all the best this holiday season together with your family and friends. May the blessings of God shine on you with love, good health, more success and happiness. Merry Christmas and a prosperous new year.

Anonymous said...

Oh beautiful decorations..my husband's family is Jewish and they always had a tree because my FIL like them....

gabrielle said...

i was lingering at your Chanukah post waiting for something to happen...story of my life,lol. meanwhile you were busy in the closet. Who knew?

Thank goodness you have helpers.

It's good to celebrate. Everything.

Dianne said...

jan - Merry Christmas to you! I wish I could have one giant blogger party here :)

napaboaniya - thanks, peace and love to you as well
your photographs are a joy all year round

sparkling - thanks, that's my favorite part

norm - thanks for visiting both blogs!! so kind of you

rambling - they really do lift your mood :)

gabrielle - I'm nothing if not diverse - lolololol

CG said...

Loved reading about all your ornaments. Laughed my head off at mrs Claus + lover!!

Dianne said...

CG - it's cold and lonely at the North Pole! lol

Linda Reeder said...

Meaningful treasures all, which is exactly what we should decorate our homes with.
Happy Merry Everything to you, too.

Catherine said...

What well-decorated tree, Dianne. Thanks to share the work of all the family members, thanks Siren and Mia for their participation!

Joyeux Noël, Dianne, and Happy Hannukah to you!

Bobkat said...

I agree wholeheartedly and you have some lovely ornaments :) Glad to see your kitties being so helpful, LoL! Thanks for sharing your pics. I've put some of my tree up on my blog :)

Ramblings of a Villas Girl said...

Merry Christmas Dianne! Thank you for sharing your ornaments with us. Isn't great decorating a tree and taking a trip down memory lane? Lisa

storyteller said...

I'm doing my best to catch up this morning after doing almost no blog visiting in the past few days. I enjoyed all your Christmas photos and wish you a Merry Christmas today!
Hugs and blessings,

Anonymous said...

I especially love your angel.

Merry Christmas!

Paz

tt said...

Thanks for sharing with us doll!
Such memories that come out this time of year....
hugs and loves :)

Gattina said...

What lovely ornaments and cute elfs to help you, lol !

Anonymous said...

I think trees with random ornaments, each with its own memory and story, are so much nicer than the perfectly crafted ones with matching things that are beautiful but have no soul.

I was going to say I liked the snowpeople the best, but then I got to the Elvis ornament. *covets* :D

Hope you and yours had a great day.

Anonymous said...

Lovely festive post..Merry Christmas to you...Michelle

Daryl said...

That was wonderful. What an adventure to visit all the ornaments, I especially liked the guy at the craft fair offering to share his joint.. and Nana's angel.