Southern Ornaments

An ornament party with Centsational Girl!
An ornament party with Centsational Girl! Click to go to the Party

Time for Deck the Halls with Thoughts From Over The Rainbow! – Every Tuesday

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It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Time for decorating and baking and caroling and celebrating the birth of Christ!

Today, I want to share with you some of my favorite ornaments and my favorite Christmas cookie recipe.

The ornament below is a favorite because it was made by my grandmother on my mother’s side. Whenever I remember her, it is always as she was crocheting, sewing or crafting. She always had something to do with her hands, even though they were quite swollen with arthritis. See how she put the glitter around the edges. I hang this ornament on my fireplace garland.

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The ornament below is a favorite because it was given to me by a friend. This friend ran for a local office and I supported her. What a nice gift she gave me. A White House ornament from 2006. I also have a White House ornament (that I have misplaced apparently) from 1998 that my nephew gave me. At the time, he was in the Marine Corp presidential guard, stationed at Camp David (Don’t worry, Bryan, I’ll find it!) This ornament will hang from my kitchen wreath.

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The ornament below was given to me by my Grandpa’s (on my fathers side) wife, Betty. Since my grandmothers death in 1997, Betty has become the grandmother of my heart and I just love her dearly.

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Yesterday, I showed you my kitchen wreath.

Kitchen Wreath
Kitchen Wreath

I love placing some of my special ornaments on this wreath in the kitchen.

Some closeups of ornaments on the kitchen wreath that you saw yesterday.

The ornament below was purchased shortly after my husband and I married. It has our names and the year inscribed.

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The ornament below was purchased in New Orleans when my husband and I were on our honeymoon. As I mentioned previously, we went to New Orleans, Negril, Jamaica and then back to New Orleans before returning home.

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My husband was born in New Orleans before he was adopted by Dr. and Mrs. Joe B. Wharton, Jr. from El Dorado, Arkansas. His family often visited New Orleans and he later returned to New Orleans for college at Tulane University. Both of his parents are gone now. He never looked for his birth mother. He has always said how grateful he is to her for giving him a good life with the family who adopted him.

The first trip my husband and I took together was to New Orleans. Obviously, the city that care forgot is close to our hearts for many reasons.

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Balancing Beauty and Bedlam’s Tasty Tuesday

Blessed with Grace’s Tempt My Tummy Tuesday

The Gypsy’s Corner’s Three or More Tuesday

Christi’s Note: If you’re on Facebook, come check out my A Southern Life page. Would love to add you to the fans to get to know you better! The fan box is in the left sidebar. Thanks!

Today’s Lagniappe:  Ethel’s Sugar Cookies
This is my favorite recipe for sugar cookies. I remember many years, making these cookies and cutting them out with different holiday shapes for Christmas. This recipe is from my mother’s 1956 Betty Crocker Cookbook.

3/4 cup shortening (part butter)
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon lemon flavoring or 1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/3 cups GOLD MEDAL Flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
Mix well shortening, sugar, eggs and flavoring.  Blend flour, baking powder and salt; stir in.  Chill at least 1 hour.  Heat oven to 400*F (mod. hot).  Roll 1/8″ thick on floured board.  Cut with a 3″ cookie cutter.  Place on ungreased baking sheet.  Bake 6 to 8 minutes.  Makes about 4 dozen.


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Comments

17 responses to “Southern Ornaments”

  1. Geri@heartnsoulcooking Avatar

    GREAT!!! post, I love all your ornaments.
    Geri

  2. Carol Avatar

    I enjoyed seeing your special ornaments! Have a happy week!

  3. Kim @ Cheap Chic Home Avatar

    The Camp David ornament is very cool.

  4. Kate at Centsational Girl Avatar

    Oh what a marvelous tour of your special memories ! I am so happy to meet you today and so very pleased you linked up to the party! Happy happy merry merry Christmas !

    Hugs
    Kate

  5. Laura Ingalls Gunn Avatar

    I love your felt dove~ its so pretty.

    I hope that you will come by and see the ornaments I made: pearl encrusted star, crystal and button ball and an anthro inspired tree topper.

  6. janice Avatar
    janice

    thanks for sharing the cookie recipe and the cute ornament idea.

    janice

  7. janice Avatar
    janice

    thanks for sharing the cute idea and the cookie recipe.

    janice

  8. Stephanie @ A Fine House Avatar

    Ornaments that we treasure over time are the best, aren’t they? I love your wreath.
    Bring one of your cookie recipes to my Christmas Cookie Exchange next Tuesday, 12/15. These sugar cookies sound yummy!

  9. susan Avatar

    Christi-This is a post filled with heartfelt love and memories! I think the wreath filled with meaningful ornaments in the kitchen is a great idea– that is where I spend most of my time! Thanks for coming to the “party”!

  10. Jeanette Avatar

    I just love the dove also. They are all beautiful.

  11. Lisa@blessedwithgrace Avatar

    Pretty ornaments and love the cookies. Thanks.

  12. Sue Avatar

    What special ornaments you own! That is a precious little dove your grandmother made for you.
    🙂 Sue

  13. Sandy Avatar
    Sandy

    Love your ornaments, the kitchen wreath is just too cute. Thanks for sharing.
    Sandy

  14. Sue Avatar

    It is so much fun hearing the stories behind the decorations that people use this time of year. Yours are lovely.

    Sue

  15. Kammy Avatar

    Yummy and I love your ornaments !
    Kammy

  16. Tammy518 Avatar

    I love all your pretty, special ornaments. The kitchen wreath is so nice, and such a great way to display your ornaments so that you see them throughout the day.

  17. Glenda/MidSouth Avatar

    So many beautiful ornaments with so many wonderful memories. Thanks so much for sharing these with us.

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