INSIDE STORY
BY CRYSTAL MURRAY
PHOTOS BY STEVE SMITH, VISIONFIRE STUDIOS
O’ Christm T
here is really not much that I don’t love about Christmas. I love the whole hustle and bustle of the season. I love the ritual of gift gifting and creating pretty packages. I love sending and receiving Christmas cards. I love the mixing and mingling of friends and family, good food and even better champagne. I love being able to extend some help and happiness where it’s needed. I love the nostalgia that it stirs and the memories that bubble up in me as soon as we drag the Christmas tree through the front door, the house filling with the fragrance of the forest. Our family Christmas tree or should I say Christmas Trees are more than just the historical icons where we place our gifts. Every thing that I love about the holiday
winks back at me. The trip to the attic to retrieve the boxes of ornaments that have been silenced since the last season are greeted with the anticipation that comes with opening a time capsule. The ornaments for the “memory” tree are the most treasured. Baby’s First Christmas, an ornament from our honeymoon, Crayola scribbled angels and pipe cleaner reindeer. There are MacKinnon and Murray tartan Scottie dogs and stockings and dozens of carefully crocheted snowflakes that have yellowed over the years. There are miniature picture frame ornaments. One from when each of our four children were babies, one of my husband and me dancing at our wedding, another of my daughters first communion and of Dad and his boys
LEFT: A mischievous elf (inset) watches over the collection of Nova Scotian Crystal ornaments in the library. RIGHT: Fresh flowers and white polka dot ribbons keep things cheerful and bright. Sprigs of fresh cedar and pine get tucked into an artificial garland and can be refreshed throughout the holiday. TOP RIGHT: Georgia adds a ribbon to a gift she will pop under the tree for one of her siblings.
The North Shore
ah! Winter 2018 - 38
