It's so long ago, it's probably an amalgamation of all my California memories. Anyway... I was 6 and it was going to be my sister's 2nd birthday. At that time, we lived in Montery, CA. We were going back to Tennessee to visit mom's family. Before we left, we'd gone north to cut our own tree at the foothills of the Sierra Nevada range. As we drove up the rocky coast, we passed fields and fields of crops, orchards, vineyards. Stopping for lunch, likely Phil's fishmarket (as I remember the Mosslanding Power Plant stacks), in Mosslanding that had three inch thick crab sandwiches served, oddly enough, on white bread. Which, at that point, I only liked white bread (too bad, since I lived in the best sourdough country there is), which made it perfectly delicious! We got french fried artichoke hearts for the road and nibbled on them on all the way to the tree place. I don't remember picking it out or how it traveled back home, but I do remember watching in awe as they shot it down the that puts a net around it (now, I know it is a tree baler). That was totally righteous dude! Mom always liked to use those big tree lights, all different colors and we'd sit on the couch with all the lights off, Christmas music (Ray Coniff singers, Johnny Mathis) playing, the fire crackling, every night. I was sad to leave it all behind, but we were getting on a plane and it was only the second time I could remember doing it. The blue lights of the landing runway in Nashville were like a Christmas tree on the ground, and I felt like there was a red carpet being laid out for us. Gran and Stan had a funny Christmas tree. Mom called it the . It was white with only red ornaments. I liked it too. Susie got a doll as tall as she was! And we lost a shoe before we went back home. GranMrs made us all our bell ornaments. There were knitted and jingle bell in the middle. I don't remember too much about the presents, but I do remember that it was my first time to ever see real snow. Before, I'd only live in Maryland when I was a baby, but then Hawaii and California. I hated that Mark threw snowballs at my head, but other than that it was enjoyable. I remember the dark night and the lights on the Bay water as we drove home after touching down. When we arrived, daddy, who was overseas, had sent us a huge box wrapped in brown paper and the packages inside were so neatly wrapped in newspaper. I couldn't tell you for a million dollars what was in those packages, but that it was there waiting on us, Christmas was longer than I'd expected it, and it felt like a comfy hug over the miles.

DD, I like the idea of these 'ornaments' displayed on a table myself instead of on a tree. Especially since the little bottles they used were only 4" high! I'd need my glasses to see the snowmen, LOL. Wonder where they found those cute itty bitty snowmen tho? I'm thinking I'll try something like you are doing myself. I still want to find a big cloche to decorate with. I've only seen small ones. I want BIG, like Jim and Judith have!! hugs, Karen

Wow! It's amazing! I'll give the link to my sister, she will make a good use of it, for sure! (Hope she will make some items for me, lol).

Here's another idea for the base of the ornament, Adella... how about using a Frisbee? Your son may even have an old one he'd like to use. I'm pretty sure one would fit the size requiremnts, it is definitely waterproof and very sturdy. And it would be a colorful background. Your son could put his drawing inside the bottom so the curled edge would make a frame. As for the wire... I think they are trying to tell you that the wire needs to be shaped like a hook... like the typical ornament holder wire. [Loops are difficult to slip onto tne ends of branches.] Hooks can be placed anywhere, then twisted to hold in place. You'll just have to drill a hole or two in the top lip of the Frisbee to attach the wire.