As I was “decking the halls” last weekend, placing each ornament on the tree, I thought of the family, friends and events that the ornaments represented.  Here is a few of the stories about our ornaments.

The mouse, two elves and red/green bells on the left are the first ornaments Tim and I purchased for our very first Christmas together in 1980.  We had a  small, scraggly Anchorage spruce that defies any semblance of a Christmas tree but…it worked for us.  The bells are woven, the mouse and elves are paper mache.

My mother made the felt ducks and bear.  Behind the bear is a lobster trap my friend Debi brought me as a gift from Maine.

The ceramic woman with fruit came with a plate of cookies from a friend in Cordova.  I can still taste those cookies.

A blown glass bird is stunning, also a gift from Debi.  Thank you for giving me these ornaments to member you by.

From my years in Alaska, my home state, I have Alaskan Native art.  The mukluk has real fur.

And finally, our tree topper, Mr Bear and his stocking.  I fell in love with this guy about 20 years ago and he has graced the top of our tree ever since.  Tim says it is his favorite, also.

Merry Christmas!