Mr. Crow looks rather dashing, perched atop our Christmas tree, as he governs the woodland creatures below. He wears a red bowtie that he found on his long-ago travels. It ribbons its way through branches where nature inspired ornaments congregate until Epiphany. A raccoon, near wind fallen birds’ nests, sits gnawing upon a branch. The nests were discovered after heavy winds rumbled through our little acreage as time has gone by. A dove flutters nearby, keeping the peace in this little December kingdom, and a bluebird rests in his favorite spot.
Our nature-inspired Christmas tree faces the front gardens, the road and beyond. It is in the room where we sit to hopefully spot the roaming herd of deer or to watch wintering birds find seeds or squirrels who scamper about looking for walnuts still scattered from Fall. This is where we sometimes see horses trotting past before disappearing into the woods . It is where we read, reflect, chat and dream. This room was christened “the Christmas room” by our granddaughter, Kezzie, when she was very young. It has been forevermore called just that.
Our woodland tree “just happened” our first Christmas here on the Cutoff. A real tree stood twelve feet tall in the family room. It held many family ornaments, lent fragrance and nostalgia to our home. We also had room for a second, artificial tree, which came about that first winter here as I took out my mother’s collection of birds. The birds fondly reminded me of Ma, who was the person who first brought the tradition of Christmas trees into the big Greek family she married into. I have some of the ornaments that adorned that tree of the 1940’s and I treasure them, but, I digress.
As Ma’s birds took to their places on the woodland tree, so did other ornaments that reflected on nature. As time went on, other birds appeared, as did other animals. I have several penguins, sheep, deer and along with a few woodland creatures that had belonged to Tom’s sister, Maura. One-by one, year-by-year, other creatures of nature were hung on our woodland tree – and then I found the crow!
I no longer remember where he appeared, but, I do remember feeling compelled to bring him home. He reminded me of storybook about a crow, a ribbon, and a Christmas surprise.
(cover of Merry Christmas, Merry Crow by Kathi Appelt, illustrated by Jon Goodell)
Mr. Crow also reminded me of the illustrations, craftwork and lifestyle of Tasha Tudor.
(From Tasha Tudor’s Heirloom Crafts)
I have adored Tasha Tudor’s work for so many years, own many of her books, books she illustrated, prints, etc. and have written about her on the pages of Life on the Cutoff. Her book, “Edgar Allan Crow”, immediately came to mind when Mr. Crow found me, as did photos of her ravens and crows in some of her Christmas illustrations and photos of her craftsmanship in a series of lifestyle books about her some years ago.
There are legends of crows, including the one who overhead animals proclaim the birth of baby Jesus. The crow, it is said, flew across the land spreading the news to other birds. There are other fanciful tales of birds adorning holiday trees, along with poetry, song and on and on. Perhaps you know few.
There are also my own memories of birds and Christmas, starting with the Christmas Yia Yia, my paternal grandmother, was given a parakeet on Christmas. Christos was quite the talker, learned all sorts of phrases, many in Greek, along with some bawdy songs. These are stories for other days and part of family lore. There was also Frannie, my lovebird, a birthday gift. She loved to be out of her cage and was really everyone’s bird. She joined us for supper, perched on Tom’s shoulder and watched the 10 o’clock news, and followed our daughters around the house. Frannie was out other cage on her first Christmas with us, chirping and fluttering and being a bird. Suddenly, she disappeared! We called to her, checked the other rooms, and kept an eye out for her as we opened presents, wondering where she was. As wonderings often reveal, I saw something move, ever-so-slightly, out of the corner of my eye. Aha! There she was, perched like an ornament, watching us all, on a branch of the Christmas tree!
So, it is, that a crow crowns our Christmas tree – and will forever more.
What a beautiful accumulation of treasured objects, and treasured memories from you rich family line, Penny. Here it is Christmas eve and I am sitting quietly at the bach, watching the evening sky slowly lose its colour.
We celebrated summer solstice 2 days ago, my son and granddaughters and me, and tomorrow I drive to town early to join the family for Christmas.
Love to you across the world as you enjoy your Christmas room, your tree, and your happy birds.
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A belated Christmas greeting and thank you, Juliet. I am still having technical problems posting responses on your blog, but, want you to know I still read them. Here you are on the opposite side of our solstice. Oddly enough, it is unseasonably warm here – 60+F !
Your summer solstice sounds warm and full of family and joy, and I hope your Christmas was as well.
Love back to you, Juliet – and the birds send their regards. 🙂
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what lovely tree and I love the crow – a very merry Christmas to you
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Thank you, Beth. It was very merry, indeed. Hope yours was as well.
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Your “nature tree” is just lovely. I lovery the theme and the idea of woodland creatures adorning your tree in the Christmas room. I wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas full of love, traditions, laughter, and some quiet times for remembering Christmas past and dreaming of Christmas future.
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Thank you, Janet. It is truly one of those things that just happened.
We had a lovely Christmas full of all you mention, and I hope you had the same. I found myself quite tired (exhausted?) come nighttime, and I slept like a baby. I hope your Christmas was merry.
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Oh, Penny! This might just be my very favorite of all of your posts! Thank you for sharing your family stories with us. I love that you have a Christmas Room!💕 Merry, Merry Christmas, my friend! May your holidays, gathered around your beautiful woodland tree, find you all healthy, happy, and wrapped in love! 💗
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What a sweet and generous thing to say, Dawn. Thank you so very much.
This year we were gifted we many family members around the woodland tree, for which I am very grateful. I see you’ve posted and will stop by soon (we’re about to take advantage of this balmy day-after-Christmas weather to take a long walk. Until then, I hope your Christmas was merry and that all is well with you and your family.
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Thank you Penny for sharing your Christmas memories and treasures with us.
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You are very welcome, Gerlinde. I hope your Christmas was merry and that you are healing each day.
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Your tree is beautiful, Penny! Love the ornaments and lights and Mr. Crow. 😀
I don’t know if I mentioned this before, but my paternal grandmother was also given a parakeet, which loved to perch on people.
Hope you have a wonderful Christmas! 🎄
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At your mention here, I seem to recall your grandmother had a parakeet. They are such sweet birds.
It was a wonderful Christmas, L. Marie. I hope yours was a well. Today (Thursday) is downright balmy. 🙂 We’re headed out for a walkabout.
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May you and your have a wonder filled, blessed and merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!!!!
I love your nature tree, what better things than the birds and beasts to adorn a Christmas tree.
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Thank you so much. I hope yours was as well – and I wish you the same in the New Year! Yikes! 2020. 🙂
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Truly you are a wordsmith! Enjoyed this very much!
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Your kind words are much appreciated, Susan. Thank you so much. I’m so glad we have been able to connect after such a long time.
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I love your woodland tree with its crow on top, as well as your story of Frannie! Also, I’ll have to check out ‘Merry Christmas, Merry Crow’!
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It’s a sweet little Christmas book and the illustrations really tell the story. Thank you, Janet. It was a full Christmas this year with family in town. I know yours is a bit different and hope you can extend it through the next months as you gather from so many places.
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What wonderful memories and traditions carried forward for your own grandchildren, Penny. The crow is a delightful and unexpected touch. I hope that this Christmas was a blessing to each member of the family and that the new year ushers in even more opportunities to be together, collecting stories and most important, creating lasting memories and impressions. It’s all about that, I think. Your Christmas room is a delight and I’d love to sit there watching for the wildlife encounters as you describe. 🙂
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Happy New Year, Debra. You have been on my mind. I hope all is well with you and yours and that your Christmas was good.
We had a houseful and were really rather busy this December – and we did, indeed, have opportunities for creating memories, impressions and love. I agree. It is what Christmas is all about.
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So often I read your posts describing your home life, and i think, “Now THAT is hygge.” Your Christmas room seems like such a beautiful and comforting place. I also appreciate the touch of humor with having a Christmas crow on top of the tree. Happy New Year to you and yours, Penny.
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Oh, Sue, most of the time our home life is organized chaos 🙂 but, oh-how-much I appreciate your kind words, which give me something to strive for this new year. Thank you so much. Here’s to a happy and healthy New Year to you and yours as well.
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