This time of the year I get very nostalgic. Remembering times of the past and remembering people who aren't on this earth any longer. I come across things that bring back memories and I try to use most of them.
Yes, I still have a lot of stuff to declutter in this house - but there are just some things that I will always hold on to! Others may not hold that fascination in the future - but to me the little pieces of the past are precious.
Life gets busy and hectic, and we all get stressed - now and then it nice to sit with the Christmas lights on and just reminisce a bit. I know not everyone has good memories of the past and for that I am so truly sorry. If I had a wish for everyone - it would be that they all have awesome childhoods and great families. Wouldn't that be something?
These items are all still used.
This is a 45 LP of Christmas songs! I listened to it over and over as a child. My little mug I used for hot chocolate. It always made me feel like a grown-up when using a mug!!!! Also, my little toy cooking utensils - the mixer and a potato masher!!! LOL. I know I had other cooking utensils, not sure what happened to them over the years. These items are kept in my china hutch.
See the little mugs and kitchen tools & the cookie cutter? Next to that is a cup and saucers that came to this country with my ancestors in the late 1700's. That china faced doll belonged to my Aunt Mary - there is a small picture of her holding it on the dolls' lap. She looked to be maybe 3 or 4. Mom was born in 1911 and Aunt Mary was older than her - so early 1900's. All my special keepsakes are kept in the hutch.
I still use my Mom's wooden rolling pin any time I bake. I use her old, old cookbook for those old family favorites on the holidays. It is falling apart, stained, and written in - FULL of love and goodness.
Yep, that is me and the Big Guy!!!!! Oh, the wonderment of childhood. We didn't have a lot of money, but we had a lot of love. We had traditions that seem silly now - but I am glad we had them. They made for good memories. I remember helping Mom bake cookies, and the smell of the house when she did. I even remember how she "hid" so many cookies and candy - because she made bunches and started early. There were times that we found 'some' of the Christmas goodies around Easter!!!!! LOL
I have a full set of decorator plates depicting the main scenes from It's A Wonderful Life! That was Glen's favorite holiday movie, and he ordered those plates. I was amazed when they came - as they weren't cheap. But he was the type of person that IF he wanted something - he got it! So, I keep them and think of him each time I see them.
Oh the little things that can take us back in time. It is amazing how a little keepsake can have so much power on our memory.
Do you have special items that you keep close? That bring back those special memories? That just feel like love?
I hope you have good memories. If you didn't, I am sorry. Maybe you can relive childhood a little with my sharing.
HUGS and HOLIDAY CHEER!!!!!
I went down memory lane this morning as I was making my oatmeal in a tiny pot that part of may parents first set of pots and pans. It is 62 years old and still in great shape. I always loved that little pot so Mom gave it to me several years ago. Those small reminders are happy things in my life. Thanks for sharing today!
ReplyDeleteThat is neat. Just little things can stir our memories and our hearts.
DeleteI am glad we have those things. We all need all the joy that we can get.
What a wonderful post, Cheryl. Every year when I bake at the holidays I'm transported back to the first year I was old enough to help my mom with her big batch baking. Standing on a stool. Wearing a little apron. The wonder... I thought magic... of unlikely ingredients becoming delicious treats.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your special memories with us, Cheryl. It has warmed my heart and soul today. --Elise
Aaahhh thank you so much. That means a lot.
DeleteWhat a wonderful time it was. What a sweet memory for you. I think the holidays bring back those special moments in time - if only in our minds. What a gift God gave us to have sweet memories. (I know there are some that aren't sweet as well). We have to take the good and the bad together.
Thank you for sharing. I could just picture it!!!!
What a great post, Cheryl. I loved reading about your Christmas memories and seeing your vintage things. When we moved here I went thru all my Christmas stuff and get only those ornaments that were sentimental to me. Now when We decorate the tree I tell Bailey the stories of each one. We even have two that were handmade by her grandmother that we never got to meet and a Hospice angel for her after she passed. I love this time of year for things just like you mention in your blog post.
ReplyDeleteThank you - I am glad it doesn't bore people. My mind and heart are full this time of the year and I like to share.
DeleteHow neat on all the special tree ornaments and that you are passing those stories on. She will do the same someday hopefully. How special on the ones from her grandmother.
Keep those memories alive - tis the season!
What a fun post! Some items should be kept and not decluttered. Both of my girls love old things. I have some of my old "cooking" toys and my tea set. My mom kept treasured items and I'm glad she did. I needed to repair a sweater that my daughter wears for work and sure enough, I found an exact thread match in Mommy's old shell shaped thread box.
ReplyDeleteI have a China tea set and a set of dishes that my Aunt gave me years ago as well. How fun is that?
DeleteLove that you have those treasured items as well.
Now that is cool you found a thread match in your Mom's things! I have a lot of old buttons - I still have THE button jar!
I am glad you girls like the treasures as well!
I've moved far too many times so there is very little left of my childhood. I do have a china dog that was my mom's and an old book my dad was given in school as a child. I also have a couple of pieces of furniture, a china cabinet and old desk - the first was my mother's, the second belonged to my paternal aunt. Those I will pass on to my children one day.
ReplyDeleteChristmas was a dual celebration as it was my mother's birthday too. Not that she got any rest, at least until we were older and able to help out.
Your treasures are lovely! The memories are truly sweet.
Love that you have the furniture that will get passed on. Each and every item is a treasure - no matter how small or large.
DeleteI always figured that had to be a letdown to have your birthday and Christmas the same day! Especially as a child.
Thank you
I do have so many memories, and I have the same cookie cutter and mirro spritz gun as you. So many things passed down and they do hold powerful memories.
ReplyDeleteThey sure do and I firmly believe that whatever we make with them just tastes better!!!!! Lots of love going into it.
DeleteThose are all so lovely - especially your little hot cocoa mug. I'm a bit of a minimalist and don't hold on to much but I also have my mom's old wooden rolling pin and my Italian grandmothers sauce spoons, as well as my Dad's Air Force jacket that I had tailored to fit me. Funny how so many of our heirlooms have little monetary value but are so precious. (and revolve around the kitchen, lol)
ReplyDeleteOh yes, they aren't worth a dollar probably - but they mean the world to us!!! I agree - so much of what I have saved is kitchen things.
DeleteHow cool on the jacket - that is really neat.
Precious is in our heart - not the wallet!
I have a ceramic angel bell and about 10 striped Christmas balls from the ‘50’s that were my Mom’s and Grandma’s, but most of the other Christmas decorations from my childhood were lost in one of our moves. What brings back the warmest memories for me is Percy Faith’s Christmas album! I Love the old Christmas classics! I was fortunate to have happy Christmas memories and I cherish them! Thanks for sharing your treasures! What Fun!! ~ Laura
ReplyDeleteHold on to those and don't let them slip away. I love the old classic holiday music as well.
DeleteI an thrilled to hear you had happy memories. They do us good when we are low.
Thanks
I love your precious memory items. I have my family cardboard nativity scene that used to sit on the big wooden radio in the living room. I actually keep it up year round .. up high on my sewing cabinet. I passed the rolling pin my father made for my mother when they married on to my daughter.
ReplyDeleteThanks. Oh my, how neat is that. I would leave it up as well.
DeleteWhat a wonderful gift to pass on to your daughter. Maybe someday she can do the same!
I made one of those tree in ceramics class about 41 years ago and every year it has been used. Not this year though as I have no really safe place to put it. Kris will be here with our Grandcat, and she can be a bit of a devil. Likes to knock things over.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
That is a lot of use! Sure wouldn't want to get it broken. Those kitties can be stinkers!
DeleteHave fun!!!
I have been seeing that tree as well and think it's great that's it's in style again. Building traditions are a great way to rejoice in Christmas. Our families did it well. We are doing it again with the grandkids. So fun to enjoy those traditions again.
ReplyDeleteThose kids will remember the fun times with Grandma someday and look back at them as we are looking back. That is so cool to think about. Hopefully they pass them on to their grandchildren as well.
DeleteI have a little glass dog that has a chain that goes to her two puppies. My grandma told me it was me and my boys. I cherish it especially now that one of my boys is gone but not gone from my heart and memories.
ReplyDeleteTake care.
What a sweet heirloom to have. New meaning for you now.
DeleteThey are never, never gone from heart and memories - thank God!
HUGS
I have a box of things from when I was a teenager and younger but it's buried in a closet and I haven't looked in that box since we moved to our current house which is 21 years. I have a few things from my grandmother but most things just got tossed over the years, never realizing how much they would mean to me when I was older. Sad. But I do have lots of good memories of past Christmases with cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents and those will always be with me. Glad you shared yours.
ReplyDeleteHmmm - maybe make that a mission this holiday!!! OPEN that box!
DeleteThings do get broken and lost over the years - but no one can take our memories. I love we can have them and either keep them private or share. They are ours!!!
Thanks
I did feel a little sad yesterday (14th) It was 100 years ago that my Mum was born. I have a print on my bedroom wall that my parents were given as a wedding present, it's looking out of a window onto a Breton Harbour, I had it re-framed a couple of years ago. I love it. I have various pieces of China including a two tier cake stand that used to come out when my great aunts and uncles came to visit. Both my parents were only children so no aunts, uncles or cousins sadly. My sister and I chatted on the phone last night and both raised a glass of ginger wine to Mum, her Christmas treat.
ReplyDeleteThose special days have a way of making us sad. Hugs. That sounds like a nice picture, and I am glad you have it and love it.
DeleteI had aunts and uncles, but they have all been gone for years. Now it is my brother, sister and all the sibling's children. Still a lot of people.
Enjoy your special moments with your sister and definitely toast those special moments in time.
I have that cookie cutter. I found it at a thrift store. ❤️
ReplyDeleteIt is an oldy! Good find.
DeleteI have one of those ceramic Christmas trees given to me by my mother-in-law. I am amazed they are back in style. I love to keep traditional items around for the holidays. It reminds me of a simpler time when I was much younger. I also have a recipe box filled with handwritten recipes from my mom and grandma. A lot of my holiday baking comes from those recipes.
ReplyDeleteTimes were simpler back in the day. Maybe that is what I like about it as well.
DeleteThe older recipes were definitely tried and true and well tested! You can't go wrong using them.
My husband and I always had a thing for the movie "It's a Wonderful Life" Target many years ago introduced a brand in honor of the movie. It included all the important buildings in Beford Falls. I had to hav e it all. I worked and worked that budget so I could have it. I went to Target everyday to see what was on sale or marked down. Needless to say, I got it all, the whole town. We would set up Bedford Falls every year. My husband has passed now and still love my little town but I have passed on to my son and his family. I hope they will display it ever year and some day pass it on to one of their children.
ReplyDeleteMy home is full of things that were given to me aa family passed. They are my most prized possesions. To be able to touch the things that they used in their kitchens, to be able to hold the pipes my father smoked. To be able to rock a baby to sleep in a 100 year old rocking chair. To have my mother inlaws china cabinet in my front room where the ashes of her son and my mother rest. To be able to wear jewelry from the generations before me. To have hand stiched linens made by those before me. The thing that wears heavy on my heart is that our current generation does not understand how special these things are. I am getting older everyday and find that the time is now to make an inventory of thes things so they know where and who they came from. That these things are part of their legacy to be saved and passed to the next generation. Have you done this? I am having a lot of anxiety to make sure these things are protected and cared for.
Oh what sweet memories. I hope Bedford Falls gets set up every year a well. How neat on how you got it.
DeleteI love your second paragraph. So important. Just to think that people used, touched and loved those items. My mom made sure we all knew the stories and who was supposed to get what. I need to do that as well. Many know the stories, but I need to decide how to pass them on. It would be a shame for them to end up in an estate sale, as so many precious things do.
Thank you for the reminder!!!!