Old Sweetwater

Old Sweetwater

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Baby Bird Christmas

" Dear Santa...."  Admittedly, I enjoyed making Christmas lists for my parents Santa to find.   However, one year, though my dad worked every day, my parents were so poor, they couldn't even afford a pair of dime-store socks for me.   We lived in a poor community in the boot heel of Missouri.   That year Santa a dear pet store owner surprised my parents and me with a baby parakeet, a cage and even a little bell.   She told them its mother died, but we could feed it milk and bread through a stopper -- something experts say NOT to do now.   She supplied the stopper and prayed it would live for us.   Her prayers were answered.   It lived for nearly 10 YEARS!   I just realized this year that's why I've always put a bird on my Christmas tree.   This poor bird pictured below has an eye missing, but my heart is touched by him, like my heart was touched all those years ago by a little bird!    What do you put on your tree that tells a story?

17 comments:

Danielle and Clint said...

What a sweet story. I am always a fan of birds on my tree also :-)

Becky Garrison said...

My/our history in ornaments. We've been married 25 years next year, and have collected ornaments almost everywhere we've traveled. When we put up the Christmas tree I play "Do you remember . . . " and sometimes he does, and sometimes he doesn't. Well, it pretty much depends on if there's football on the tv, so I guess I need to pic my time for our little game better! Anyway, I have several ornaments from my very first tree in my first apartment as a single working girl, and dozens that we've collected over the years. One of my favorites is a rocking horse ornament I bought for our first tree together in 1984. It's a wonderful way to stroll down memory lane together!

nspired Comblogulations said...

How sweet is that!!! I like the looks of what I can see of your tree. Natural woody elements.

My dad is an accomplished wood sculptor. He mainly carves birds. I will be posting on him soon. I asked him before Thanksgiving if he would carve a partridge for me, something whimsical and fast... knowing him he will put every detail in it, I have only asked him for one wood sculpture and he was sweet and out did himself on my request. It took him ten months for my "Raven". It won every ribbon at the shows. If he does the Partridge it will be my one and only sentimental decoration at Christmas, and probably year round. My dad is 84. I loved this post because I am anticipating my Partridge in a Pear tree.
Lee

kleine-creative-Welt said...

Hi,
thanks for visiting my blog and for your nice comment -
I also had two birds (Budgerigar??) - one was green und the other blue - I loved them - so I like your story very much -
I wish you the best - Ruth

Andrea said...

Beautiful tree and awesome story.
Blessings, andrea

Simple Home said...

I loved this little story Janean. I've heard that we get and give so much nowadays, that we often can't remember from one year to the next what our favorite gift even was. This story shows that it's not the big things, but the heart felt gifts that stay in our memory and in our hearts.
Blessings,
Marcia

FILIGREE MOON said...

Such an endearing story, thanks for sharing! ~ Angela

Pondside said...

What a sweet story - no wonder you'll always have a bird on your tree.
In 1980 we were living in Oklamhoma City, where the Great Dane was posted with other foreign officers. Our son was an infant, and I was a very lonely first time mother. I spent all my extra time sewing, and for Christmas I sewed lovely fat little angels, trimming them with bits of vintage lace. The largest angel went right to the top of the tree, and that's where she's been every year since!

Anonymous said...

This is a very nice story ! and your tree is gorgeous ! I love birds too ! I only have one ornament in my tree, that tells a story. It's a star, which goes on the top of the tree. I have bought it, in a shop in Paris, the year of birth of my little girl...
and...
Every year, Santa Claus, leave (or forget ? We don't know) behind him, an ornament for her :)

Have a good day :)

kimsound studios said...

I decided to give Ragged-Ann a break this year… Last year Chaci (my one year old cat) pulled the yarn spun hair from her head. There is hair on one side ~ I haven’t figured out how to repair her since I’m not very good with needles. Get some rest Raggedy ~ Next year you will make an appearence :) Keep both those little eyes OPENED!

Sharon said...

I still put up one ornament that my sons made when they were little.
It brings back memories of them being so anxious for the holidays, and the look on their sweet little faces that said how proud of themselves for what they made for mom and dad.
thanks for sharing.

Luiza said...

Oh,Janean!
Thank you for sharing your wonderful story, it really touched my heart, deeply...

Since last year, we put a white angel on the tree, for my father - in-law, who died a unnatural death.
Before, when I was still a child , living with my parents, we put baubles with disney decor on. That meant a lot.

Thank you for always translating for me , in your comments, that means a lot, and 99% it´s correct.

Have a nice weekend.
Hugs/
Luiza

Rita said...

What a wonderful story. I love things that have meaning!

Lynn said...

Beautiful story Janean and you are so right, it is the meaning behind the ornaments and the treasures in our lives that really touch our souls. My mom made needlepoint ornaments. A needlepoint gingerbreak house and a hanging NOEL banner in red and white needlepoint over the years, along with her beautiful framed pictures and my lovely quilt she made for me. Some of my treasures. Your tree is so pretty. Love that little bird.
Lynn

Beverly @ My Sew Sweet Studio said...

That is such a sweet story. I love your little bird with one eye. I have a few things that look like they have seen better days too, but they have much more meaning than the new ones.

Sarah said...

Another sweet story. Many of our ornaments have stories. Each year as I pull them out of their boxes and hang them on the tree, a flood of special memories fill my being. This is indeed a magical time of year! ~ Sarah

Debby@Just Breathe said...

That is such a sweet story. I raised a lovebird several years ago that I had for about that long.