FYI

My NEW blog address is
bj-sweetnothings.blogspot.com

and I have a link to where you can receive
SWEET NOTHINGS posts in your EMAIL ACCOUNT.

Please go to the NEW BLOG.
thanks, bj

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

I LUV CHRISTMAS....(repost to add link)

THIS mosaic is photos from COUNTRY LIVING MAGAZINE...
*heavy sigh.....
* drooling everywhere....
*
Those little tiny trees are SO impressive...
I see these beautiful photos every single year and SWEAR that I am going to
have some of these pretties to hang on my tree....
*
BUT.................. I am like YOU....I have so many, many memories on my Christmas tree every year
that I CAN NOT DO WITHOUT....
**
The above....a picture of my little mama, the last year of her sweet life.
I hang it on the tree every year....and will til the end of my time !!
A little crayon-colored Christmas banner that my grandson, BRYAN, made for me when he was in 2nd grade...
He's just turned 21 ...
The pink stocking that was a party favor for my Beautiful Daughter, STACY, when she was in 1st grade....
She's 40 now and the mother of 4.....*gasp..
**
That cute little SANTA...hanging from a STAR FISH....bought him on our cruise, last year...
The cruise that our entire family, minus 2, went on together and I will never have that deep, wonderful feeling again on a cruise...unless we get lucky and get to go on ANOTHER one, TOGETHER....*smiling
**.

The sign hanging above the tree...

"LIVE A GOOD LIFE...and in the end, it's not the years in a life but the life in the years"..

ALL RED and WHITE....
That cute stocking with DAVID on it....my little boy's when he was in 2nd grade..
He's 45 and a granddad now....*gulp

The wonderful memories we unpack every year at this blessed time
is so priceless.....but..YOU know that.
Every single one of us have these memories to treasure...
*i'm so choaked up now from emotion, i can't even breath....
**
That little clown in the upper right.....hung on my mother's tree for as long as I can remember...
boy....it IS olden !
*
And...that's my MARK ROBERTS, SUGARPLUM FAIRY in the bottom, right...
He always has that wide-eyed, surprised look...I just love him!!
**
**
We finished trimming the tree.....things cleaned up a bit....
It's time to eat a late night supper..
We love breakfast for supper...I think I may have mentioned that before..:O)
**
PECAN WAFFLE.....
CRISP BACON.........
FRESH ORANGE SLICES
HOT DUNKIN DONUT COFFEE....with a scoop of COFFEE ICE CREAM....
O HONEY !
***
CHRISTMAS LOVE TO ALL OF YOU!!

Sweet SUSAN at A SOUTHERN DAYDREAMER has offered to let us post our CHRISTMAS photos, inside or outside....for OUTDOOR WEDNESDAY..Thanks, SUSAN...

ALSO linking to HOOTIN ANNI for her HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

45 comments:

Theresa said...

I luv it too BJ! Tradition around my parts is that the tree goes up and the lights etc. but those precious ornaments don't go on until tiny hands are here to place them:) Love all of yours and gulped and sighed right along with your! Blessings to you and yours from Georgia!

Amy said...

Coffee with a scoop of coffee ice cream?! Decadent!

Connie said...

I looooove Christmas also, sweetpea! It's my favorite time of year even though we don't do the "commercial" part anymore. Yours looks darling, chickee...

xoxo,
Connie

Sue said...

Your decorations are memories that should always go up on the tree. How wonderful to have them and the stories that accompany them...
hugs, Sue

Unknown said...

What a wonderful post. I just went through the same thing last week when I put up my large family tree, now I have tears going down my face again. Beautiful tree and dinner looks really good tooo. Thanks for sharing.
Sandy

Lucy said...

There's nothing like breakfast for dinner and we do it a lot! After a hard day having fun... who wants to cook or eat a big dinner?

lillie mae acres said...

I love keepsakes and ornament collection. I'm very sentimental myself. Beautiful tree. Yummy supper! I'm craving ice cream now.

Sue said...

This was so sweet. It makes me feel guilty that my family/special ornaments are all in boxes in the basement...and my tree is the "department store" variety. When my kids were here for Christmas, we had a tree of sentimental ornaments and a "pretty" tree. Now, none of us are here for Christmas...so, I put up the "pretty" tree and sit in the basement and go through the boxes looking at the kid's ornaments.

Sue

Beverly said...

Your kind of Christmas is the very best of all.

May I come over for some dinner?

Love you, too.

Inspired Comblogulations said...

I just finished dinner and that made me hungry bj...I luv your stuff...it is all sweet and gives me the warm fuzzies.
Lee

Amelia said...

Love the tree and enjoyed reading the stories behind many of the ornaments.

Stacey said...

BJ, everything looks so pretty at your house. You know I'd eat that breakfast with you too. Sunday night we had scrambled eggs, biscuits, and gravy!

I can't do away with all the little ornaments my kids made. I heard a friend talking the other day about starting over with her tree and having a theme. I couldn't do it! I'd miss the ornaments made from paint stir sticks and all those goodies from elementary years.

Tardevil said...

Sweet post, BJ! Love all of your treasures!

Rhondi said...

Hi BJ
I love coming to visit you because you're always so cheerful. I agree that it's those ornaments collected over the years are what makes the tree so special. It looks beautiful
Hugs, Rhondi

Anonymous said...

There's so much in your tree that's wonderful. Wouldn't trade that off for nothin'! And your dinner looks great. I just can't make waffles any more. I did as a kid but I do something wrong all the time ever since and just make a mess. I know I can I know I can I know I can .... Jenn

Courtney @ One Fine Wire said...

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog the other day! Seems like you've got a great place here!

Come back and visit :)
www.finewire.blogspot.com

If you are ever intereted in a new blog makeover, I'd love to work with you!
www.onefineblogdesign.blogspot.com

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

Your decorations are wonderful and filled with memories....I wouldn't trade that for any other tree!
Hugs,
Penny

Claudia said...

well, like normal I am never shocked at how lovely your post is because it is ALWAYS... but really this is one of my favs.

if you get a moment, stop by and say hi!

TTFN~~Claudia ♥ ♥

Claudia said...

And *sigh*... yet another one i had failed to FoLLOW-- now if i can only find out where my FOLLOW list is ;)

Claudia

Thoughtfully Blended Hearts said...

I think you've captured the real family tree here...treasures only to us...This has much more meaning than any fancy tree ever thought about!!! APPLAUSE!!!

The Quintessential Magpie said...

I love all the layers in these shots, BJ. I just had a long discussion about layers and antiques on a blog today. Hence, I love these pictures! I also like the quintessentially American look of these country rooms. I'm a big fan of American country interiors!

Happy OW to you, my sweet friend...

XO,

Sheila :-)

Bearly Sane said...

Thanks for sharing your memories with us BJ...it's a beautiful tree!
Warmest hugs,
Sandi @ Bearly Sane

Simple Home said...

You must have started having kids when you were 5! What wonderful photos. I love all of your ornaments and the stories behind them. We had the same supper you did tonight, except we had tangerines instead of oranges. Of course, anytime I offer bacon as part of supper, my kids say "yes"! It's always so good to "visit" with you.
Blessings,
Marcia

Pat@Back Porch Musings said...

It's all so beautiful, BJ!

I had a hissy fit when my December Country Living didn't arrive when I thought it was supposed to. We stopped the mail, when we were gone. When we picked it up, there was a Midwest Living magazine for someone up the road, we returned it to the PO for proper delivery. No Country Living in the mail. While I was shopping I picked up a copy because I was sure my CL had been lost. A couple days later I received two Dec Country Livings in the mail. Now I have three!!!LOL

Branson Landing is a beautiful place. When they started building it, we weren't real sure we would like it, because it was replacing old camps and boat slips and it looked like Branson did when I was a kid, before it got "famous". But we do enjoy the Landing afterall. Just up the hill is old Branson. There is a Dime Store and other little shops, that look like small town. The Farmhouse Restaurant is up there. We've only had breakfast there a few times. It was very good. Just like home cooking. In nice weather, it is not much of a walk up there from the Landing.

Hootin Anni said...

Absolutely fantastic!!!


My O W is now posted. Today a slide show of us attending the famous Texas King Ranchhand Breakfast. Come see a bit of 'history' if you can.

It's Here

And, P S....you may want to go to the link I have for the holiday meme on my sidebar and add your post link!

Justine said...

Oh BJ, your tree is absolutely beautiful! I love that it's all red and white but also that everything has a memory attached to it!!!

Do you have another tree for non-memory kind of things? I'd love to see more of what you're doing there!

Justine :o )

Kammy said...

Thanks for sharing, BJ ! I love your little stories ! Very pretty tree !
Kammy
p.s. we eat breakfast for dinner when I forget to plan a dinner :o)

Lisa~A Cottage To Me said...

Oh BJ, your tree is beautiful! I too have a tree of memories. All the little ornaments are ones we have grown with in our little family. Each year a new one is purchased for each of our girls, so they have ornaments to decorate with when they have their own trees. Our oldest is the first to leave and has most of her ornaments this year on her tree. Memories make the most beautifully decorated Christmas trees! Thanks for sharing your memories!

MaR said...

Beautiful Christmas tree!!
I also love looking at the wonderful Xmas decorations pictured in magazines. But there is no story behind, no family ties, no great memories and that's what Christmas is all about.Enjoy reading your post very much! your pictures are lovely.

Sandi McBride said...

Your tree is beautiful BJ and I loved this post...all my ornaments tell me where I've been, the new ones tell me where I'm going...yes, loved this
Sandi

storyteller said...

How marvelously FESTIVE everything looks ... makes me feel like I need to get busy with some holiday decorations soon ;-)
Hugs and blessings,
My Outdoor Wednesday

Betty said...

I can never leave my sentimental items off my tree, I may or may not have prettier ones but they are the most special, like the pot pie tin with cotton balls, glitter and the picture of my son in the middle or the bell made out of a styrofoam cup covered in foil. Those are the best.
Have a great day!

Bonnie said...

What a beautiful post for the holidays.

My name is Riet said...

Berautiful tree and ornaments. I love the memories too

Mary Bergfeld said...

BJ, this was an absolutely charming post. Thanks for taking the time to put it together for us. I hope you are having a wonderful Outdoor Wednesday.

Robert Walker said...

Just found your blog! Great shots!

Anonymous said...

Afternoon, BJness! Oh, I love your red and white tree filled with memories! I have no memory ornaments anymore. When each of my children married, I boxed up their little sweet ornaments they had made in school and we had bought for them through the years, and gave all those little memories to them to use on their own trees. I kinda miss not having those little ornaments though!
Be a sweetie,
shelia :)

SmilingSally said...

That looks just like what a BJ's Christmas should look like with lots of red!

Kat said...

BJ, I love your tree! I too vow every year to do a "designer" tree and home decor, and every year I put up the same things that are full of memories and magic. And in the end, they are more beautiful to me than anything I could ever conjure from a magazine (well, except maybe the Pottery Barn catalogue tee hee) Have a wonderful week and enjoy seeing all those precious things surrounding you this Christmas! Kathy

eileeninmd said...

Your Christmas decorations and ornaments are so pretty. You have lovely memories of your Christmas past.

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

What a beautiful tree! I love one filled with memories. I can't wait till my grandson is old enough to make decorations for my tree ;-)

Lori E said...

I am always surprised when I open my Christmas bins up because there is always something in there that I have forgotten about.
It is like opening gifts.
How pretty everything in your mosaic is.

Anonymous said...

I love breakfast for dinner and your tree decorations are so pretty. I do need to get busy!
vickie

Anonymous said...

I loved this post! I teared up just thinking about all those memories on my tree! I have one ornament that my Dad remembers on his tree as a child, and he is now 90 years young. The handmade ones from children are the very best! I love all your decor.

Mary said...

BJ,

This is an absolutely beautiful post. I love all of your memory decorations. I have quite a few of my own. My favorites are the stars that the boys made for me out of tinfoil, cardboard and yarn, as well as the strawberry that Brandon made for me out of a walnut when he was in grade one. Some others include gifts from friends and family. They all have special meaning.

Enjoyed visiting with you.
Blessings,
Mary