Tuesday, December 7, 2010

The Great Christmas Caper

How does a family lose a giant box full of Christmas decorations?
Well, I'm not really sure, but we did.

I don't imagine it's an easy thing to do. I mean, a giant blue rectangular storage bin doesn't just get swept under the rug. All I do know is that it's gone. Our little treasure trove of every Christmas tree decoration we owned, every light, garland, you get the picture...

This leaves us with a tree that looks like this:


And it means have some serious making to do (as if we are not already doing some serious making?)


So we started with some of the classics—popcorn string and paper garland—and the tree is already starting to take shape. I bought some lights, and a kind friend is dropping off some unwanted ornaments tomorrow.


Although I am disappointed by the loss of some very special ornaments—some that the kids made when they were tiny, and others that were brought back from far away places— I am really enjoying the ornament-making frenzy we have begun. Each day when the girls get home from school, we start a new project. Before long, it will look a lot like Christmas again in our home. 

And the mystery of the disappearing bin? I think I figured out. I suspect it was mistakenly carted off by the charity that picks up our donations. That's what I get for being lazy and putting the Christmas bin in the front porch instead of back in the basement where it belongs. humph. 

16 comments:

  1. Dearest sweet amy, im so sorry to hear that your box of christmas decorations...is there some way you could get them back? I am loving that paper garland and the ornament-making frenzy going there at your lovely home sounds like fun! Hopefully more treasured ornaments will be made to replace the lost ones. Have a lovely merry happy week and love to you!

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  2. Oh I am so sorry to hear about your dear ornaments! Can you call them? However, you guys are on a great spurt of making right now so hopefully that helps. Have you seen the edible ornaments on Rhythm of the Home?

    Peace, Ang

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  3. Oh Amy - well done you for turning what could be a disaster into a triumph of creativity...I must admit the thought of losing all those years of decs sends a shiver down my spine but I love that you are immediately having fun making some new memories for the future! Take care and keep having fun, I'll send you some Welsh replacements from here to add to your new stash! Em xx

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  4. Sorry to hear you lost things that were close to your heart. I moved on alot of things from our tree last year, only keeping the really sentimental ornaments. Its so much fun having a blank canvas to decorate. We will be threading popcorn for the tree tonight too. It looks so Edwardian!

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  5. Oh my, I'm so sorry you lost all your christmas time treasures. Accidentally donating it sounds so exactly like something I would do.
    Have fun making new treasures with you little ones.

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  6. Jacqueline and Angela, There's no way to get it back. It must have gotten taken LAST winter, after I had packed up our holiday decor for the year. hmn.

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  7. that could make you so sad you would hide under a rock for a week - but NO, not you :) You have embraced the suitation (with some saddness in your heart) and started a whole new exciting journey with your children and they will remember this and the joy of creativity and pride with mum.
    I look forward to the christmas tree all dressed it's finery :)

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  8. One year there was a fire in the attic where we keep our Christmas things. It was really sad to lose those things, they hold so many memories. I think I was most sad to lose the Christmas star that was from my Mum's childhood... We too, started over that year. While that actually turned out to be fun, it was with mixed feelings... xo

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  9. Oh that's sad! We lost our decorations too but it was because of a flood in the basement. I bet the popcorn looks cute though :)

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  10. Ha! I'm just guessing what the charity people's faces looked like when they opened up that box?! A bit of a confused look I'm supposing. I think you tree probablly looks absolutely wonderful and full of love with all of your families home made goodness adorning it's branches.

    :)Lisa

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  11. Oh no, that's awful. That's great that you are able to make a beautiful new tree this year, and all the memories that will go with it.

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  12. popcorn stringing! you are BRAVE.

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  13. You're taking it so graciously! Well, it's a whole new ornaments adventure now!

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  14. i´m sorry your lost your decorations, but i think it sounds like it´s working out just fine:)
    hugs!

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  15. Oh no! In our house, that would be a whole bucket of history. :(
    Nicola

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  16. There's how you make lemonade! We would love to contribute to your tree. Please email me your address. We've just finished making a gadillion swedish straw ornaments and some other goodies. Making ornaments for the tree will be incredible memories for the girls. Big hugs to you Amy !

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