{"id":192,"date":"2010-12-16T00:51:17","date_gmt":"2010-12-16T00:51:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bucksurdu.com\/blog\/?p=192"},"modified":"2010-12-16T00:51:17","modified_gmt":"2010-12-16T00:51:17","slug":"christmas-decorations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bucksurdu.com\/blog\/?p=192","title":{"rendered":"Christmas Decorations"},"content":{"rendered":"

Below are some pictures of our Christmas decorations. \u00a0Yes, we celebrate Christmas, not the generic, winter, non-denominational, gift-giving holiday.<\/p>\n

\"Our<\/a>
Our 2010 Christmas tree<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Our tree is decorated with a combination of real and reproduction ornaments from the 40’s and 50’s. \u00a0There are also many decorated eggs from Slovakia and Eastern Europe. \u00a0There are also several ornaments that have been in our family since the 60’s. \u00a0The lights are LEDs. \u00a0Under the tree are paper buildings. \u00a0Before there was Department 56 and the like, people used to put paper houses under their trees. \u00a0These houses have cellophane windows. \u00a0People would put the old, hot C-9 bulbs inside these paper houses. \u00a0Between these kindling houses and real trees, it’s a wonder any of us lived to adulthood!<\/p>\n

\"Paper<\/a>
Paper houses<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From this close-up view of the houses, you can see that some are original, but others are reproductions. \u00a0The reproductions are ca. 2005 Christopher Radko Shiny Bright.<\/p>\n

\"Aluminum<\/a>
Aluminum Christmas tree<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This is my silver, aluminum Christmas tree. \u00a0You can just see a snapshot of this tree near its base. \u00a0The snapshot shows this tree on a console TV in someone’s house and is dated 1963. \u00a0The color wheel is original, as is the rotating base that plays jingle bells. \u00a0My wife never liked this tree until the year she volunteered our quarters at West Point for the tour of homes. \u00a0There were so many positive comments about this tree that she changed her mind. \u00a0My grandmother had one when I was a kid, but it was full size and lit by two color wheels. \u00a0My uncle and I would put our green Army men in the branches and when they came back around, we’d pretend we were shooting them out of the branches. \u00a0Invariably we’d find several Army men under packages on Christmas day. \u00a0My friend Chris found this one for me.<\/p>\n

\"Charlie<\/a>
Charlie Brown tree<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This is the Charlie Brown tree that my sister got me a couple of years ago for Christmas. \u00a0Now they sell them with a small blue blanket. \u00a0When I got this one, they didn’t come with a blanket. \u00a0My kids found a small baby blanket that we used.<\/p>\n

\"Assorted<\/a>
Assorted Barclay figures<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Chris Palmer made the Christmas tree lot. \u00a0You can see the LEDs on it. \u00a0I added the pond, skaters, etc. \u00a0Many of the figures are original Barclay, some are new Barclay, and a few were sculpted by Chris.<\/p>\n

\"Bubble<\/a>
Bubble light tree<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Finally this is a bubble light tree. \u00a0Apparently these were popular in the 60’s. \u00a0I saw one a Chris’ house and have been wanting one. \u00a0I guess I’m a sucker for vintage Christmas stuff. \u00a0It’s nostalgia for a simpler time that probably never really was. \u00a0In any event, the originals I had seen were in poor shape, so I ordered two strings of bubble lights on line. \u00a0The kids found the tree for me at Home Depot. \u00a0An hour of struggle with the wires produced this result. \u00a0I’m pretty happy with the way it turned out.<\/p>\n

Happy Christmas!<\/p>\n