Friday, December 14, 2012

Of Nativities & Perfect Trees

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What a joy to have a Christmas journal—I find myself sitting with it while watching old movies with my family—reminiscing & doodling away about Christmases past & not-so-far-away past…

DSC01819_edited-1 {I love nativity sets & have quite a few.  For years I’ve left one out all year long—just to remind me of the reason for it all…}

About things & traditions near & dear to my heart…

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…ways in which the season has influenced our family’s life in very real ways…

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…memories of all the years I can remember of finding that “perfect” Christmas tree…

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…sometimes just illustrating a favorite Christmas carol or thought…

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I’m finding it’s helping me keep the spirit of Christmas very close to my heart this year…

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Wishing you the warmest & happiest of Christmas reminiscing…

Julie

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Glimpse of Christmas Past

A Victorian Christmas party must have been a wonder to behold…what would we give for more candid photographs from times like that!

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The best glimpses we can get, if we’re lucky enough, are those drawn up by a talented hand or written by a thoughtful, observant one…

I’m lucky enough to have a written glimpse of  one certain homey Christmas of 1876.

hpqscan0002_edited-1 {Ida at age 16.  I’m realizing that I resemble Ida quite a bit}

My great-great grandmother, Ida was just sixteen years old at the time.  Auburn-haired and vivacious, she was well-loved by all…

Work was hard, pleasures were few and far between—but more joy was taken in simple things.  Friends & family gathered, good food prepared, lively music played, good conversation had  by all—these were the best of times.

 

While living in southern Utah—very rough and just forming it’s settlements at the time—a Christmas gathering was recorded.  Just one paragraph, but it gives us a glimpse, just the same…

“At Christmas, so many of our associates traveled to be with us….and such an amount of fun and merriment we had!  Uncle Joe’s folks took the bed from their largest room and we danced, played games, recited, sang, had step dancing, etc. every evening, and Christmas Eve, we spent nearly the whole night in Jollity.  Our parents took part with us, and did all they could to make the time pass pleasantly for our visitors.  Uncle Joe and Hy were good singers and step dancers, and added much to our entertainment.  Our friends went home feeling well paid for their trouble in coming to see us.”

Victorian Christmas

Had Ida not been such a modest girl, I’m sure mention might have been made of her playing for the gathering as well.  Others have written of her playing her guitar {which a cousin in our family still has!} on many occasions, and singing, as she so loved to do…

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Wishing you a wonderful season full of everything good—family, friends, and plenty of the simple things that have always brought such joy…

Julie