Well, Santa made an appearance on our Christmas tree again this year. If I could be sure when he appeared the first time under my Christmas tree when I was a little girl, I could tell you how old he is. However, I don't remember exactly but I figure it is safe to say he is probably 65 years old or older. It is nice to have this small Santa figurine to remind me of Christmases past right here in the present.
We lived in the house on the southwest side of Cedar Rapids until December 18, 1961, and that is when we moved into our new home in Marion on Starry Drive. Patti was nearly three years old and Tony was about ten months old.
I remember thinking it was more work to move across town than it was to move from Kansas to Iowa. I suppose it is that way because one makes many trips back and forth instead of having a moving van pull up to the first house, load everything and then deliver to the new home. Then you only have to unload the boxes. Moving across town one gets to do it all!
We tried to set up the house the way we wanted it - furniture, etc. Then we needed to get a Christmas tree and prepare for the fast-approaching holidays. Back then, we went to the Christmas tree lot and bought a real tree. We got it whenever Chuck decided we'd go get it. That was usually not as soon as I would like to have the tree.
We did get the tree decorated that first Christmas in our new home. It wasn't up very long before the toddler boy, Tony, went to investigate. However it happened, the tree fell over, scared Tony, broke glass decorations and generally upset everyone. Of course, the tree was set up again, some replacement decorations were added and all was well.
When Patti and Tony were older, we decided we would get styrofoam balls about 2-3" in diameter and wrap them in swiss straw. Now swiss straw came on a roll like a ribbon. It was quite narrow but one had to put it in water and then spread it out to about 1/2" to 3/4" wide. I wrapped the balls while the swiss straw was still wet. Then it was necessary to let it dry before doing anything else.
When the balls were dry, the kids and I added sequins and made designs on the balls. We added hangers and decorated the Christmas tree with these new made-them-ourselves ornaments. It was fun to do this.
As the years went by, we decided to buy an artificial tree. So when I wanted to put the tree up and get it decorated, I could just go down to the basement, get the box, bring it upstairs, put it together. Then we could decorate the tree. I liked that better than having to wait to buy the real tree.
I don't know where those decorations are but we enjoyed making them and putting them on the tree.
Christmas present has us with an "pre-lit with white lights" artificial tree about seven feet tall. Don brings it in from the garage, sets it up with a little help from me. Then I add about 600 colored lights, glass ornaments plus some other special ornaments - and dear old Santa.
While I am busy with the tree, Don is busy setting up his "Clouston-Kincaide" Christmas village. He has a sledding hill, skating rink, Christmas tree lot, farm, and lots of people and dogs for the village.
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