Wednesday, December 2, 2009

IT’S TIME WE HUNG SOME TINSEL ON THE EVERGREEN BOUGH

While the rest of the world was beating a path to the mall and doing their part to boost the economy this weekend, we here in SMBland stayed home to deck the halls. Friday morning found MHS in the attic handing down boxes to the assembly line that was Daughter #2 and me. (D1 had to work) By Sunday evening, the explosion that I affectionately refer to as the Christmas bomb was nowhere in sight as long as you don’t notice the boxes in the hall that are still waiting to return to the attic and every ornament, Santa Claus and string of garland were all in their place.

I just love our Christmas decorations. I love pulling into the drive after my long commute from work to see the lights on the tree shining brightly through the window. I love every single reindeer, snowman and nutcracker. Many of my decorations were given to me by my mother and now that she is gone, they give me even more pleasure as I remember her with a smile.

Several years ago My Harley Stud began a new tradition. I am an American history geek and he found the perfect gift for me. My birthday is in December and every year he gives me an ornament from the White House Historical Association. And when I’ve been a really good girl, I get two. Each year the association commemorates an American President and a Christmas story during their presidency. The ornaments are packaged in a beautifully decorated box, come with a wonderful history lesson and are some of the most beautiful ornaments I’ve seen. I look forward each year to sitting down and reading all about my new ornament. Truth be known, I usually reread each ornament’s story every year. Yes, I am that kind of history geek. You know the one that has to read all the plaques in the museum because I’m afraid I’ll miss a detail. This special interest of mine has served me well in all trivia games and when playing couchside Jeopardy.

Because I’m the kind of geek enthusiast that is just certain you will be bored to tears just as excited about my ornaments as I am, I thought I would share them with you. Because that’s the kinda girl I am. *wink* So pull up a chair, grab yourself some cookies and a cup of hot cocoa (Kahlua optional) and let’s take a look at the first ornament I received from MHS several years ago.

DSC04418

This is the special commemorative ornament that celebrates the White House.

DSC04419

There’s four pages of fascinating White House history inside this little booklet. Notice that the sandstone to make the ornament comes from the very same Virginia quarry that produced the sandstone exterior walls of the White House.

DSC04417

The North Facade of the White House

DSC04420 And the South facade is on the reverse side. Isn’t it lovely?

DSC04423

And this is what it looks like on the tree.

Want some more cocoa?




Hugs,
Smart Mouth Broad

19 comments:

Beth said...

Holy cow! I just realized that YOU could be my youngest son's mother. He always takes forever in a museum because he reads everything!

I do love the pictures. Is that a Florida State ornament?

Mike said...

Do you know how extremely glad that I am that you did not quit blogging???

Linda said...

Hi SMB! I LOVE the White House ornaments. My BIL was in the Army and worked at the White House during the Bush/Clinton time frame. He & my sister give us an official ornament every year too! They are VERY cool!

Anonymous said...

Yes. more cocoa please.. it's a cold, wet, wintry kinda night here. Ornaments?? Heck, first I need a tree.

Di
The Blue Ridge Gal
(love the ornament)

Anonymous said...

i'm impressed ! some cocoa and kahlua would be great.. it's a balmy 8 degrees here
gp

midlife slices said...

Whew....I thought you were going to have a big 'ol Obama hanging from your tree and then you'd get invited to join the KKK but the NCAA would be burning a cross in your front yard. Oh wait....no, they'd be playing basketball in your driveway but the NAACP would be really p.o'd.

I'm in deep poo now, right? LOL

Pseudo said...

I could not imagine Christmas blog reading without you out here. You put the cheer in my holiday you history geek you.

Reader Wil said...

That's a very great gift you will get every year. How many presidents were there? Still a lot of White House Historical Association gifts to go. I am looking forward to seeing the others too, for this was a very nice post. So your birthday is also in December. Mine is tomorrow. That's one day before St. Nicholas.

cheatymoon said...

How lovely! Thank you for sharing your geekery. I love your ornaments.

I have to put my tree up still. The Jello Mess prevented it last weekend.

Also, I like Bailey's in my cocoa.
xo

Michael Horvath said...

I love seeing a decked out tree but I hate the effort of putting it up. And no, I'm not a lazy person. Lucky for me, my mom has one of the very best I have ever seen.

Jan said...

THANK YOU!!! Beloved is also an American History buff; he's been to DC many, many times and always returns with some sort of Christmas ornament, although nothing as impressive as that.

But now? You've just solved the "What do you give the man who has everything for Christmas?" for me. Bless you, bless you, bless you.

life in the mom lane said...

I love the comment from midlife slices *LMAO*
I think it's nice you felt comfortable enough to share your geekiness with us..... what I am wondering is how heavy those ornaments are if they are made out of stone and which year your tree will collapse as a result! *L*

The Peach Tart said...

That's lovely. I never even knew about these ornaments.

Unknown said...

God, that's just beautiful and I love that it was made from the same stone, from the same quarry!

I have a collection of 3-D gold plated ornaments that are reproductions of historic Savannah buildings and I love every one of them. I'd love to see this tree with all your special ornaments up close... can I? can I? If I bring my own cocoa?

Twenty Four At Heart said...

We seem to be on the same wave length today w/our love of history. It sounds like the giveaway I'm doing today might be perfect for you? Historical gifts must be "in" this year! : )
http://tinyurl.com/y9z4rwy

Maureen@IslandRoar said...

Great gift idea for my history, DC, ornament loving daughter!
Yes, we decorate a lot too. I try to hold back, but the kids love it and I guess I do too. Like you, some of these things have been around since I was young.
Altho that week after Christmas, I look around and feel a bit of dread.

Arkansas Patti said...

What a cool gift for a history buff. Love that it is made from the same stone.
Only problem with decorating, is living in that same house when the decorations come down. Sure makes ordinary living look blaah.

Brian Miller said...

how very cool...i love history as well...articularly lewis and clark and the jeffersonian era...the ornament is really cool. we had the christmas bomb go off...the only part i really dont like is the lights...i think they were created to tangle...not good for me...please pass the cocoa!

Liz Mays said...

That is absolutely beautiful! I can only imagine how much joy they give you each and every year as you pull them out to hang on the tree again.

Your husband knows you so well. He's a good guy, that one.