Erieversible

Many years ago, before Christmas became the commercial extravagance that it is today, people made do with what they had instead of running up credit card bills.  Money was tighter and the money that was around went for things like food rather than massive Christmas displays that light up whole neighbourhoods.  (I, personally, love the massive Christmas displays and love going around with the kids pointing them out everywhere, but that is another post.)

In that not so distant past, my great grandfather made some of his own Christmas decorations by emptying a walnut shell and then spray painting it silver.  A bit of glue to hold the shell together and a hook inside and an ornament was born.  I don’t know how many he made, but I do know that only a few are still around.

When I moved to England my mother kindly gave me one for our family Christmas tree and every year it has taken pride of place on that family tree.  At the moment our poor walnut is somewhere in storage with all of our other Christmas decorations.  I was trying not to think about it…I’m trying not to think about any of the stuff in storage as it is too frustrating.  But my mom came by over the weekend with a pile of Christmas decorations for us to borrow for this year.  And a walnut.

She still has one for the tree at the house she shares with my sister, so they aren’t going without.  It is amazing how much one little thing can make a holiday feel special.  Merry Christmas everyone.