For those in the know, or for those who aren’t, I’m currently running an advent book list on my socials. My Instagram, Mouse’s Reading Nook, is hosting a picture of a book based on a theme each day from December 1st to Christmas Day. This week’s themes have been Green, Red, Angels, Ornaments and Stockings. Thursday’s book was titled The Broken Ornament by Tony DiTerluzzi which led to the question, do you have a Christmas tradition? Or a favorite Christmas ornament.
When I was growing up, my Grandmother was the creative one in the family. This is a gene that skipped her grandchildren and fell directly onto her Great-Grandchildren. Out of the eight grand kids of hers, four of them are artistically creative.
Back to my Grandma. One year she made ornaments for the grand kids. Wooden ornaments that she painted, each one. There were carolers, reindeer, Santa, Mrs. Clause, elves, light posts, Christmas trees…you get the idea. They were designated “our ornaments” and we got to put them up after our father set up the tree and hung the lights. (This was before prelit Christmas Trees).
After all the ornaments went up, the kids got to put on the tinsel. It always ended up in clumps and our mother used to go around and spread out the clumps so it was evenly distributed around the tree.
It’s a thing I continued with my kids. They had their own ornaments and they got to put the tinsel on the tree. While they no longer go on the tree and some got eaten by animals, I still have those ornaments. They’re keepsakes of a more innocent and special time in my life and a link to my past.
So let me hear from you? What’s a favorite childhood Christmas tradition that you’ve kept up with the family? Or a family ornament that still goes on the tree? The comment section is always open as are my socials.
There’s eight more days till Christmas. Keep an eye on what books make the list. If you don’t have Instagram, you can always check them out on my Twitter or Facebook pages as well.
Are the cookies all made, my friends? Presents wrapped, stockings hung? Take a break and I’ll see you on Christmas Eve with my review of the Sherlock Holmes: The Twelve Days of Christmas. Until then my friend, stay warm, get a warm drink and curl up with a good book.
Mouse's Reading Nook 
Reblogged this on New Ink. Used Ideas. and commented:
Depending on which home you visited during the holidays in my crazy, messed up family, you would get everything from the hidden pickle or the grim reaper ornaments tucked in the branches. I did not carry those traditions on into my home. I did learn how to make salt ornaments and that became our family’s tradition. I love spending time with my growing family creating their future Christmas tree ornaments.
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