Monday and Tuesday of this week, I’m home alone with the kids while Brandon works the last couple days before the holiday shutdown. They’re running me ragged (no surprise there!) but we’re fitting in a lot of fun. Today we played with our Lego advent calendars, built custom creations with Duplos, made sticker pictures and various decorations, and Brian drew a very nice picture of a gingerbread man and his house. (Brian corrected me, the orange on his man’s face is not a frown, it’s a mustache! The dots make his big smile.)
My two treasures that Grandmother Privette gave me when I got married, I made sure to take them out and put them on the tree this year: a double wedding-ring style crocheted ornament from Grandmother, and one walnut basket that Granddaddy carved. No one is entirely sure how he made those, beyond what we saw. Some have tried to imitate them, but haven’t come anywhere close–it’s just too difficult. I remember sitting on the porch so many times with him, as he painstakingly carved out the walnut shells with his pocket knife. He made it look easy, when really, it must have taken an incredible mix of strength and finesse. When we were first married, we didn’t have a Christmas tree or anyplace to put one, and I’ve been horrified that something would happen to these one-of-a-kind items in recent years with small kids around, so I’ve kept them carefully stowed with some of my most special things.. After Grandmother passed away, I came to own a few more very special items, and as I was deciding where to display or store them, I spent a lot of time looking at these ornaments, and remembering both of my grandparents. I decided that I would put these on the tree this year, because gifts made with love are meant to be used and appreciated. I hung them right at the top, and made sure to tell the kids why these are important to me. I inherited Grandmother’s huge stash of milk rings and sequins.. It’s an absurd amount of milk rings, really, and quite the sequin collection as well. I’ll have to develop my own bead stash, and I have more yarn than I’ll ever use already. I hope to make some ornaments like the ones she made one day, whenever I have some time to make crafty things again! It’s going to take some practice to even approach the neighborhood of her level of craftsmanship. I mean, I’m a fairly proficient crocheter and I do remember how she taught me to make these, but getting the stitches so perfect and even is a real art!
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What beautiful keepsake ornaments made by your grandparents.