Saturday, December 12, 2015

Great Christmas Tree Tour: Tanya Hanson



Thanks and big holiday hugs and smooches to Cher for letting me spend the day here!

I think I’m like most of you...my Christmas tree is such a huge part of life I think about it all year long. And, uh, I admit to moving decorations around to more optimal positions even after Christmas.

This year, I got nailed with a super-bad cold right after Thanksgiving. (It was not flu, it was not. I got the shot!). Prime decorating time once I’d cleaned up after a weekend-sleepover of kids and grandangels. But this year, being a little off my feet,  the feat took more than two days. In between fits of sneezing, coughing, nose-blowing,  shopping online, and sleeping. I like to take my time. I treasure the tree, because I get to relive the story of my life.

As newlyweds a zillion years ago (actually 1974), Hubs and I selected red gingham as our Christmas theme. This pretty little bird is one decoration that never flew the coop.





A few years later, our son’s first birthday featured  a firefighter theme in honor of his daddy. This little house remains of the little tableau upon the birthday cake that, then, had a real toy fire truck and frosting firemen fighting frosting flames.



That little guy when he was three made this bread-dough candy cane in preschool. Anybody else have still-extant dough ornaments?



These eons later, we now have two darling grandsons, thanks one each to our son and daughter. Each year, Hubs gets a photo ornament of him with the little guys.



Yep, we’re homebodies a lot of the time, but we do like to get around. London happens to be one of my favorite places on earth. In fact, I promised the nine-year old a trip there when he’s eleven. Hmmmm.



And Hawaii happens to be my favorite place on earth!  Of course, having our besties (Hubs’ sis and her husband ) move there for work two years ago gets us there a few times each year.



Truth is, it was on a visit to their home that I got the idea for The Christmas Room, my last year’s contribution to The Twelve Brides of Christmas series  ((I was Four Calling Birds) which is now part of a three-novella book, available both print and e-book.

You just might like my tale of Rooney Lind, an American cowboy from Lake Tahoe sailing the seas to 1891 Oahu to fulfill his cousin’s deathbed request to find a missing woman. And Martita Akala, who just may be what Ronney’s been looking for his whole life long...

Wishing you and yours  Mele Kalikimaka.
~Tanya
www.tanyahanson.com







Order from amazon:

The Christmas Room

The Brides of Christmas Volume 2


24 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Hi Robin, it's always so much fun to relive the memories. I had to finally stop sending Cher pix.. But .my daughter has a bunch on there too. Thanks so much for posting today. Merry Christmas hugs to you💕

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  2. Love your precious tree, Tanya, and all the treasured memories. Merry Christmas, sweet friend! <3

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    1. Hi dear Dora, thanks so much for stopping by today. Oh, I could have taken a jillion more pix. It's so fun to be part of Cher's tour! Hugs and Christmas blessings!

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  3. Great post...Beautiful pics!
    Good luck and God's blessings.
    PamT

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    1. Pam, thanks so much for the comment... Means the world, and as always, thanks for your good thoughts and prayers. Xo

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  4. Wow! Now that's what I call a TREE. What I truly love about it is how you added your personal items into it. I always like things kids made or special decorations handed down or bought on vacations or to remember loved ones. That just speaks to the real feeling of Christmas.
    My tree is a dwarf compared to yours--only 3 feet. LOL
    Have a wonderful Christmas.

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    1. Sarah, thanks soooo much for stopping by. I just love our tree...can watch it for hours lol. I confess we broke down last year and got an "everlasting" tree. Costco has good ones...I like to leave it up so soon and so long Hubs would worry about fires. It's super realistic! Merry Christmas to you, my friend!! ❌⭕️

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  5. I loved the nostalgia that goes with this tree. Sure, I did this for many years, even down to the dough ornaments that somehow began to turn brown. We married in 1958, and our first years were in Houston in a second story apartment. I have a photo somewhere that Jim took of me sitting on the floor beside our three foot tall tree on the end of the coffee table. I wore shorts, sandals, and a sleeveless top. After all, this was Christmas in Houston, Texas. But I also recall walking around downtown, which was decorated to the nth degree. The big department store--can't recall the name now--had those glassed in showcases on the outside of the building so you could walk by the on the sidewalk. The next year, we went into the store, and I went to the stationary department to find a few cards. There, in the aisle, I fainted. Didn't know I did until I woke up and people were standing around me looking down. Jim pushed through and got on his knees. Someone had gone through my purse to find my name, and a clerk announced over the intercom: A young lady has fainted in the stationery department. Is anyone with her? Name--Celia Ann Yeary. Yep, that's me...and I was pregnant and didn't even know it.

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    1. What a wonderful batch of your own nostalgia, Celia! I so appreciate you stopping by today. I hear ya about sleeveless Christmasses... We did get snow last year at our niece's though. Hugs and Merry Christmas.

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  6. What a wonderful way to remember the special, and they all are, moments in a life. Here's to more special memories. Doris

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  7. Doris, thanks for your kind words and for being here today! I do love memory-making. At a trampoline park right now for grandson's birthday! Ih no, gramma's not jumping. 😜. Merry Christmas!

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  8. Hi Tanya. Great tree! And I love the way the decorations have a personal meaning for you. I have a number of ornaments like that as well - those we bought the first year we were married, the ones I got for each of my kids the year they were born, those that were gifts from friends. It makes decorating the tree become like a walk down memory lane...

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    1. Hi Winnie, I know... I'm mortified that I forgot to send Cher one to post of my daughter. Sheesh. So much good stuff and happy memories! Thanks so much for stopping by today, my friend! ❌⭕️

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  9. I love all the traditions and memories your tree holds. Thanks for sharing it with us. I'm an England lover, too. I have several ornaments from there, and I cherish them. Cheers

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    1. Hi Marilyn, I so appreciate you commenting today! Oh, I do have some more pretty London ones...St. Paul's and a Tudor rose....thanks again, and rich Christmas blessings to you and yours!

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  10. Always fun to read all the stories behind ornaments. I have many that have special meaning for me. Merry Christmas!

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    1. Hi Kristy, I truly did enjoy my hobble down memory lane. Thanks so much for commenting and stopping by. Hugs...

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  11. Love the stories behind your ornaments and I think we all have a few ornaments like this. I love your tree, its beautiful. Since my kitten has knocked my tree off the table twice this year, it doesn't look so good. Now my vacuum sets under the tree to keep the kitten away and it works pretty good.

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  12. Hi Quilt Lady, thanks so much for stopping by today! Your kitty sounds like s hoot! Hugs...

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  13. I love trees full of memories and yours is a beautiful treasure. Great post!

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    1. Thanks so much for stopped by, Terri. I so appreciate your kind words especially during these very busy days. Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones!

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  14. Tanya, I so much enjoyed all your memories that hang with love on your tree. And what a lovely tree it is. Thanks so much for sharing as I'm one who adores a big Christmas tree and I too hang special momentoes galore. Great post and of course I wish you much success on your Christmas release. Your stories I always love.

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