Yuletide Yarns {grandmothers}

We interrupt this week's outfit posts to share some fun holiday memories and traditions provided by my friends and family.  Today's yarn is brought to you by yours truly.  

Thinking about this post and looking back, I feel like our family had a lot more holiday traditions than I originally thought.  Here I thought we were a bunch of free wheeling non-traditionalists of the late 70's but really, we were more traditional than not.  The smell of Spritz cookies reminds me of Oma (mom's mom), baking for days during the holidays.  And stockings hung by the chimney with care remind me of Grandma (dad's mom).

After we finished opening our presents Christmas morning, my mom would get us all dressed up and the family would take the 20 minute drive to Grandma and Papa's house in Chicago.  After walking in the house, my eyes always went straight to the stockings hanging along the fireplace.  My grandmother was an avid crocheter.  I think back then it was a prerequisite for grandmothers to crochet or knit.  Anyway, Grandma crocheted while Papa listened to the radio and drank his tea.  And every year, in addition to her afghans, she would make stockings for all her grand kids.  They hung along the mantle and we were not allowed to take them down until dinner was finished.  I vaguely remember them being stuffed with pencils, notepads, candy and a big ole' orange at the toe.  All those little goodies kept up occupied until it was time to say good night to everyone and head back home.

Grandma and Papa have been gone for years now.  And as we've gotten older, new stockings have replaced the handmade ones.  But when I came across a stockpile of them in a box in my mom's basement, I knew I had come up with a special way to incorporate them back into the holiday.

The first thing that came to mind was simply framing them.  Voila!

My sisters loved them.  The first thing everyone brought up was the oranges!  Seems like I'm not the only one with that fond memory.  And as for the spritz cookies, Oma's love of baking them and my love of eating them have resulted in their ongoing appearance during the month of December.  

Oma kept her cookies wrapped in tissue paper in a shirt box that was on her kitchen table all season long.  I swear, no matter when you opened it, it seemed like the supply never diminished.  If I kept them on my table, they'd be gone in a couple days, flat.  Therefore, I like to share the wealth and give them away.  A few  cookies for me, along with a cup of coffee is all I need.  It's the smells and memories that make me happiest.

This is my last "official" post of 2011.  I'm going to be taking next week off to spend time with family, relaxing and enjoy a bit of a break.  

I want to thank everyone for their readership and support over the past year.  It means so much to me.

Happy Holidays and see you in 2012!