I was listening to Christmas music today and I started reminiscing about my childhood Christmases. These were always spent at Ba's house. Let me start at the beginning of the season:
Shortly after Halloween she and my grandpa Papa would begin the decorating process. It was amazing. They owned a 100 year old victorian style home with a big front porch and an open floor plan. The porch was wrapped in garland, wreaths, lights, and bows. There were bright colorful lights in the bushes, trees, and outlining the roof. On the roof top was a huge sleigh with a big Santa driving it! In the back of the sleigh was a gigantic bag of toys. There were big toys also in the sleigh such as a large doll made by Ba, a toy train, a larger than life inflatable snoopy, and wrapped packages. It was so magical. I loved it.
When you walked in the front door you were greeted by a large evergreen Christmas tree with bright colorful lights. The tree was covered in array of ornaments ranging from cut-out hearts made by grandchildren to antique spinning ornaments, and even fancy ornaments from the white house. It was incredibly eclectic, but each ornament was a great conversation starter. There were always a million presents under the tree on the homemade tree skirt. Behind the tree was an antique record player which was built into a large wooden stereo. Bing Crosby and Elvis Christmas records were family favorites. On top of the wooden stereo was a Christmas Village collection all lit up.
As you continued into the house the smells of cinnamon potpouri, turkey and dressing, homemade pies, and Jesus' birthday cake filled the air. In the living room there was a large white brick fireplace with 10+ homemade embroidered stockings hanging from the mantle. Under the mantle on the tile area in front of the fireplace lived a collection of antique Christmas toys that Papa collected. They were so cool! There was a little monkey that played a drum, magnetic whales that jumped and did flips, penguins that slid down a snow slide, a helicopter that flew in circles, and a battery operated red car. There was also a long strand of fishing wire tightly wound across the room with a little clown that rode back and forth on it. My mom has this toy in her house now. These toys were a favorite memory for the grandchildren. We used to take turns playing with them.
In the dining room there would be a magnificient spread of homemade goodness! A big turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, sweet potato casserole with toasted marshmallows on top, corn, peas, cranberry sauce, a relish tray, green beans, ham, chocolate pie, pecan pie, lemon ice box pie, and of course sweet tea. I think it goes without saying that the selections were all homemade and took several days to make! We would all pile around the huge table and pray together then enjoy my grandmother's feast. There was nothing better than this, family, Christmas, and good southern cookin'! Sidenote: this was not just a Christmas occurrence, my grandmother would make a spread like this nearly every Sunday afternoon.
Over the french-door frame in the dining room hung many little stockings. These were where Santa left Christmas money when he dropped grandchildren presents off at Ba and Papa's house. There was an old fashioned organ in the living room that I loved to play Christmas music on. This was one of my favorite "toys".
The local newspaper even wrote an article about Ba's house at Christmas, complete with color pictures. My mom has it framed in her office.
These memories are why I love Christmas as much as I do. My grandmother made this season so incredibly magical for me. She lives in a nursing home now, so her house is no longer the central point for Christmas, but it will always be where my mind goes to on Christmas.
I love Ba so very much. She is 89 years old and gets more beautiful each year. She has the kindest and most gentle heart. She is a grace-filled woman with a great sense of humor. She taught me so much about Jesus and family. Every time I talk to her she tells me to treasure each and every moment because live is so wonderful and it fades by so quickly. She and my grandfather had a glamourous 1940s romance. I want to be just like her when I am a grandma. I cannot wait for my home to be the Christmas gathering place.
This is the most recent picture of us. She was not able to come to my wedding so I tried on my dress for her when I visited her in July.
