Stocking Up

I'm a big believer in creating traditions!  My family members can attest to that.  When my kids leave home, I want them to remember all the fun they had growing up here participating in Valentine treasure hunts to Halloween songs.

One tradition (perhaps my first) was started sort of by accident and long before any of them was even a twinkle in somebody's eye -- a yearly Christmas stocking for my husband.  Here's how it started.  In order to ensnare my candy-loving boyfriend, I made him a stocking way-back-when in (oh my gosh this seems so long ago) 1976.  Gasp.  My diabolical plan worked!  I delivered the handmade sugar packed treasure on Christmas eve and sure enough he planted that first kiss on me the next day - Christmas!

Made from a McCall's pattern, it was a felt track shoe with one of his high school nicknames on one side and track team number on the other.  Little did I know that stocking would be the first in a long line of candy-filled creations that have inadvertently summarized our life.  I didn't plan to do it... but the next year I made another and another after that.

 Then he served a mission in Tokyo and I had to make one to send to him there.

Well, then we got married.

These stockings are simple: felt, puffy paint, glitter glue -- 

never taking much more than an hour to create.

Always celebrating milestones in my husband's life.

Like graduating from college

or the birth of a baby daughter.

Or a year jam-packed with buying a house, having a baby,

getting a master's degree and holding an extra part-time job.  Yikes.

 And we can't forget the Packers!

 Or the big Y2K scare...

 In 2000, Larry researched his deceased father's prisoner of

war experience and wrote a book about it for family members.

And then 911 happened.

 In 2006, my husband wrote a book about all the president's inaugural addresses

and their faith related comments.  Check it out here on Amazon.

 Here's the year Larry had very serious neck surgery in January

and visited Mt. Rushmore in August.  Notice George's cervical collar.

You may remember two summers ago when all my kids

came home to roost for a couple of months between semesters.

This is a take off on the old woman who lived in a shoe...

And this is the latest stocking edition... from 2011.  There was a lot of political turmoil in our state last year and teachers... well, I don't want to get into it.  But this stocking illustrates how it was stated that some teachers live high on the hog... so I made light of it by planting a picture of Larry in his '99 Ford Escort waving a fist full of money.  Perhaps a bit sarcastic... 'nuff said.

What will be the subject of this year's stocking?

I'm starting to think about it.

Several things happened this year...

a cross-country trip to drop Chelsea at college,

s son who performed at Summerfest,

the death of a beloved brother, 

knee surgery,

Keaton's Band Revue...

Well, whatever it is, it will be the 37th edition of the annual stocking!

Merry Christmas!

May all your traditions be meaningful and fun.

Ho Ho Ho - Christmas Elves

Oh yes, it's that time of year again.  Christmas is sneaking in all around us.  The commercials on TV start off with a subtle bell and then maybe somebody's wearing a red hat and before you know it, there's Santa riding the Norelco shaver down the hill!  Sorry to everyone too young to remember that.

An article in the December issue of Martha Stewart Living caught my eye on pp. 114, "Small Wonders." It's an article about vintage Christmas elves - those papery, weightless, chenille, cotton figures that look like they were homemade half a century ago.  Well, now that Martha has spotlighted them, I'll bet I won't still be able to snap one up at the local antique mall for $2 or $3 a pop.  I've always liked these goofy little guys and every year, I decorate a white feather tree with them.

This is the tree from last year when I left half my decorations in the box.  We were just minimalists last year.  I mean, should anyone have 32 plastic tubs of Christmas decorations?  No, I think not.  Sorry, I digress.  So, I'll share a few of my favorite fellows - of those who made it out of the box last year, anyway.

 I love the guys made out of pine cones playing musical instruments.

  

 Do you think that pipe cleaner ascot keeps Frosty warm?

 

 Christmas tree toting elf.

This elf dude is kind of flat - I'll call him Flat Stanley.

Last elf for today is this wizard-like fellow with his red glittery robe and pointed hat.  Reminds me of the vintage cone angels (future post).  But he's definitely a he... or else she needs to wax that chin.