Christmas Past and Present

 

*Many of you will remember my husband’s tradition of saving  the stump of our family’s Christmas tree every year, and carving it into the form of a creature.  Each creature represents  a sustaining memory of something significant to us in that year.  When he has completed the carving, he cleverly inserts a penny with the year’s date into the bottom of each little sculpture, to document its year.*    

The painting above is a still life of some of his creatures, that I painted as a gift for him.

 

This year’s carving honors the memory of Lillith, our beloved feline hellion .  She recently passed on at nearly twenty- one years of age. We miss her very much. 

Below is sampling of  carvings from years past.  So far he has created one piece for every Christmas  we’ve been married-thirty one in all.

                                                                       From our family to yours, we wish you  a wonderful Holiday Season and a creative New Year.  

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Christmas Tree Stump Carvings

It’s that season again!  Time to showcase my husband’s mini sculptures lovingly carved from our family’s discarded Christmas trees. He’s created over thirty of these sculptures. Each honors the tree, a memory and our family.

I’m picking up where I left off last year, at 1994.  This is Niles The Tile Fish.  I know the year is ’94, because I can easily find a penny of the same date expertly inlaid under the mount of the carving.

The story behind the fish:My family upholds the tradition of eating many varied fishes on Christmas Eve.  The tile fish is a once a year favorite.  The scales are beautifully iridescent.  This carving honors this fish and all of the many fishes that have nourished our family for countless years. It’s also a symbol of our gathering on Christmas Eve;for all of us who will celebrate this year and for all who will be missed at the table.

Posting the images of these carvings and sharing them with you, offers me the opportunity to honor my amazing husband. Happy Christmas T.

Napoleon

In 1990 my husband befriended a squirrel who greeted him every evening after work. This little squirrel is commemorated here in this Christmas Tree stump carving. His name is Napoleon.

Ringo

 This Christmas tree carving honors a little starfish that fascinated our eldest, summer of 1988.

Christmas Tree Carving

This is Geba Geba.  A memorial to a snail that lived in our fish tank in 1986. One day he just disappeared.  I think Diver Dan must have masterminded the plan and Miss Minerva went right along with it.  These two goldfish grew in size significantly, especially after we realized that Geba Geba was no longer residing in his little shell at the bottom of the tank.

A Hope Wish for the Holidays

Wishing every one of you kind, interesting and creative friends a holiday wish.. The one wish that is dearest to you.  The one that you scarcely allow yourself to acknowledge.  The truest most beautiful hope you can conjure.  I’m hoping it comes true for you.

Christmas Tree Stump Carving

This is Robin the seahorse from our 1985 Christmas tree.

Christmas Tree Carvings

Marina is our 1984 Christmas tree stump carving.