Sunday's at Grandma's - Nora's Tree at Grandma Gerry's House

My BF Holly has been great in helping me grieve Nora’s loss.  She took me antiquing this past summer to Beloit with a mission to look for items for Nora’s garden.  I did find children’s blocks to spell out Nora’s name, but nothing else seemed to catch me eye.  We were in one of the last booths of the antique mall when Holly called my name to show me something.  I don’t remember what it was—probably something outlandish to make me laugh—but I do remember the moment I turned around to see what she was talking about.  Above her head on  top of a shelf in the booth we had just left, was a beautiful white Christmas tree.  The moment I saw the tree I knew I wanted it for Nora.  But I was hesitant to buy it.  We left without the tree, although I did snap a picture of it.

I went back to Beloit less than a week later and purchased it.  Even though it was August, I put it together and set it next to the fireplace to get a good look at it.  It was missing one branch and another one had some sticky, gooey stuff on it.  To me, it was perfect.  I left it up for a couple of days while I figured out how I wanted to decorate it.  Holly, who is an expert at home decorating, recommended that I use white lights and my antique ornaments.  I loved the idea.  I just happened to be grocery shopping a couple of days later  when I spotted a magazine that featured ‘vintage Christmas’.  I purchased it.  Within those pages I found the inspiration for the look I was after—an eclectic mix of old and new.

Kristi came home in October and we decided to go shopping for ornaments for Nora’s tree.  We were in the antique mall no more than 5 minutes when we came upon some perfect ornaments.  After purchasing about a baker’s dozen, we headed to Hobby Lobby to find some new ornaments that would complement the antique ones we had just purchased.  We chose pink in shiny and satin finishes to honor Nora, along with some chartreuse green ones. 

I knew I would need more ornaments and was not inclined to visit every antique mall in the county, so I did the next best thing, and went on ebay.  I found a variety of wonderful shiny brites and flocked ornaments to complement those that I already purchased.

I put up Nora’s tree in Lindsey’s room of our house.  The cords of the white lights stood out too much when I wound the lights around the tree; so instead, I wound the lights around the tree trunk.  I then put on all of the ornaments, 126 in all—at least that is what I think.  I had bought a new package of ornament hooks and it claimed to have 125 pieces and I used them all up. I had one ornament that came with a hook.  It is a beautiful tree, and all the more beautiful because it is in honor of Nora.

I went to Holly’s house to scrapbook recently.  She handed me a small paper bag and said it was her contribution to Nora’s tree.  It is perhaps, the most beautiful of all the ornaments.  I can see in my mind, our darling granddaughter Nora, looking at the tree in childlike wonder.  Happy Christmas Nora.