Saturday, December 11, 2010

The Tschotske Tree

At night, we've got a pretty tree.

During the day, it looks a little outrageous.

Like some crazy display in a second hand shop. Cluttered with a ridiculous number of ornaments that have no rhyme or reason to the outsider looking in.

I suppose that's what happens when you've been collecting holiday ornaments for what seems like forever. The tree keeps getting bigger and bigger. Chapters of your life become more apparent.

I've had a few tasteful years, when I purchased super duper expensive collectibles. I've enjoyed many more years, when cheapskate tschotskes (like this s'more, a favorite of mine) took center stage.

And, I'll bet it's like that with everybody. When you haul out the boxes of ornaments, each and every year, it's a guaranteed jaunt down memory lane.

Because ornaments hold all sorts of special memories. Of the places we've been, people we knew and the people we used to be, way back when we decided to buy them.

Around here, it's a new ornament for every year...
commemorating life's adventures, big and small.

When we learned how to fish:


And, skate...


And, ski:


When we saved up our pennies. 
For a much needed city fix:


When I moonlighted.


As a bartender!


To afford the cottage:


Where we could garden.


And, ride horses.

Forever and a day. 

PS: Invest in some bubble lights. You'll be glad you did. :D

23 comments:

joey said...

Stunning tree and view, dear Kate. I love both! Who trims the top :) Happy Holidays!

Tessa @ Blunders with Shoots, Blossoms 'n Roots said...

I love it! And what a collection of ornaments you have. My family (well a few of us, anyway) make a few different ornaments- Over the years, I've tried to cut down by having only hand made ornaments- we're just about there...

Have a blessed Christmas!

Lona said...

Hi Kate. Your tree is so pretty. It is like going down memory land every time you decorate a tree. I love the bubble lights. I remember them as a child so it is nice to see them coming back in style again.

Marguerite said...

oh my favourite kind of tree - one with stories. No colour coordinating, evenly spaced, all of the same stripe ornaments. I can see those in department stores thanks. This is a tree made for a night of conversation with a bottle of wine.

sweetbay said...

Great ornaments and tree! Magnificent view. I love the s'more.

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Oh, thx, Joey!
Like I said... best viewed in night time. The day time version is kinda blinding. :))

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Hey, Tessa!
I've got some handmade ornaments from when daughter L was a little girl. We took her toy Sesame Street characters... tied nooses around their plastic necks... and hung them on the tree. At the time it seemed like a practical idea. Oh, boy. Poor Bert and Ernie swing on the boughs to this very day.

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Hi, Lona, fellow bubble light lover.

My Mom had some original bubble lights. These newbies aren't nearly as delightful.

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Oh, the stories those ornaments could tell, Marguerite... perhaps bring a magnum of vino! ;>)

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Thx, Sweetbay;
I love that marshmallow s'more, too. A fun tribute to all of our fun camping trips!

Laurrie said...

Love the tschotskes, but the real stunner is that tree at night with the mountains glowing outside. Breathtaking.

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Kate girl .. I can't tell you how much I love your ornaments and that gorgeous huge tree : )
The view you have is outstanding .. do you really really know how lucky you are ?? .. it is all so beautiful and YES ! ornaments can tell such a story about us .. yours is a wonderful one !
Joy .. I smell a wonderfully loved tree with cinnamon and greenery !

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Thx, Laurrie;
I feel very fortunate to have that view. I never grow tired of peering out the windows at those mountains.


Hi, Joy!
I finally got in gear and added your new Canada address to the blogroll this morning. Glad we're once again connected as I've been missing you. ;>)

Rose said...

I love the story of your ornaments, Kate! Your tree is beautiful, especially with the gorgeous vista beyond it. I now have a second tree that I fill with more of the handmade and memento ornaments. My son's angel that he made in kindergarten gets a little more tattered every year, but it still takes a place of honor high on the tree. Every child, grandchild, and pet (late and present) has his or her own special ornament!

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Thx, Rose;
I think that's the sign of a grand, good life - when the number of keepsakes must spill onto a second tree. ;>)

Snowcatcher said...

Oh, you dressed up your blog and your critters for Christmas, and you even have snow blanketing that gorgeous view!!! Send some our way, would ya?!?

Lovely tree, and I kind of like that it has linked and unlinked memories. Makes it unique and you!

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Hey, Snowcatcher;
My big search for you on the blogosphere this a.m. [to forward you that thingy] exposed an entirely new site! Yay! I'll be bookmarking that goodie, too.

Carolyn ♥ said...

Oh the bubble lights! They were always my favorite as a child, I stared at them forever.

Jennifer@threedogsinagarden said...

Your tree looks great. (I have that same green horse you have). My decorations are sentimental too with many memories attached.
P.S. Love your post on winter whites.

Melanie J Watts said...

That's wonderful Kate and your tree looks awesome!

Unknown said...

Beautiful tree in the evening and even more so during the day. How wonderful to have so many treasures to remember each year when decorating for Christmas.

jan said...

I love ornaments with 'meaning'! I have a spoon that hangs on mine. A souvenir of a trip to Switzerland with my dsis. And lots of ornaments made from macaroni!

Kate (daisygil_io) said...

What a great looking tree! Ours is filled with sentimental ornaments too - places we've visited, important people in our lives, etc. I love when they have meaning and if that means you have a millions ornaments, so be it! Have a wonderful Christmas!