December Daily Day 15

On December 18, 2018December 18, 2018 By 2ndhandspiritedIn December DailyLeave a comment

Ornament

I cannot say that I have a favorite ornament. Though I very much enjoy looking at the ornaments that my sisters and I created when we were kids. I think it is heartwarming that my mother continues to save and place those ornaments on the tree. I have my own daughters ornaments on the tree and I see how her eyes light up when she pulls it out of the box. The ornament sparks a memory within her, “I remember when I made this.” She smiles and proudly places the ornaments on the tree. Ornaments1

This prompt really made me look at my ornaments. I realize they tell our family story. There are ornaments marking many milestones in our lives such as our first year of marriage, babies first Christmas, dog and cat ornaments. The also chronicle our likes; baseball and Philadelphia Phillies ornaments for my husband,

Halloween or Ornament 2 naments and birds for me, Elsa and Disney characters for my daughter. As I take the ornaments out and place them on the tree I am reminded of our life and family. It is a visual representation of us.

December Daily 14

On December 18, 2018December 18, 2018 By 2ndhandspiritedIn December DailyLeave a comment

Memories

Christmas Doll — Victorian Girl with Doll Courtesy of the Graphics Fairy

My earliest Christmas memory is coming down the stairs to find a cabbage patch doll! I loved these dolls and was so happy to get it! My sister got a brass vanity that year and I believe this may have sparked my love for desks! My Christmas memories are happy. Christmas was spent with family. We would have breakfast at home, lunch at my grandmother’s house, she lived just across the street. We would stop at a relatives house to visit on the way to dinner at my other Grandparent’s house. And the last stop of the evening would be time to have fun and play at our cousins house. There were many stops and always lots of laughs. At dinner, my father would talk about his childhood memories with his brother, sister, and parents. Those stories were never dull. Particularly the time he crashed the car! I hope these memories never fade. I also hope that I can fill my own daughter’s mind with fond memories like these.

December Daily Day 11

On December 18, 2018 By 2ndhandspiritedIn December Daily2 Comments

Cookies

My favorite Christmas cookies are my mothers. She makes two that I love. Peanut butter kiss cookies and butter horns. Butter horns are her specialty. She makes them for the holidays but also for special occasions at her craft shop. Butter horns are sweet and crunchy. They are a classic holiday treat. I have included her recipe here.

Butterhorn recipe

December Daily 13

On December 18, 2018December 18, 2018 By 2ndhandspiritedIn December DailyLeave a comment

Magic DAy_Page_1

December Daily Day 12

On December 13, 2018December 13, 2018 By 2ndhandspiritedIn December DailyLeave a comment

Tree

I love the smell of a real Christmas tree. There is nothing like it in the world. Though I

IMG_5766 (1) — Display from Berwick Christmas Boulevard

will admit that I use an artificial tree! This is not due to preference but necessity as my husband is allergic to pine! I do miss the fresh scent of an authentic tree as well as it’s imperfect shape and structure. I love the look of lopsided trees and sparse trees and fat little trees. Artificial trees may look real but they are too perfect. The great thing about artificial trees is their lifespan and lack of needle shedding. My husband puts our tree out the day after thanksgiving and there it sits giving off it’s warm glow until the new year. If you find you miss the scent of the real deal, they make candles for that.

December Daily Day 10

On December 13, 2018 By 2ndhandspiritedIn December Daily1 Comment

Santa

I still believe in Santa. Though I am sure that he is not a person, he might have been at one time. I believe that Santa is an idea. This time of year I feel that the word Santa is synonymous with Santa? the magic of generosity. Though it is unlikely for you to find a magical gift left by this legendary elf, the real gift is much more subtle. The gift is the feeling you get from giving to others and helping those in need. This does not have to be reserved for Christmas time. You can promote this feeling within your heart any time of year.