The Tree of Life Extends to Heaven

Posted on 04/12/2010 by Grumpa Joe

In my last two posts about the Tree of Life, I expressed feelings of  depression. Grief is a funny thing. You think you are over it, but it revisits at strange times. It has been seven years since I last assembled the Tree of Life, and I thought I was ready to move forward with it. Life moves on, and so must I. That is the rationale I used for breaking out the components to begin anew. It is time, and I am actually having fun recalling the “good times” that surrounded the Tree.

My new insight on the Tree is that “Life” extends into the afterlife of heaven. As I march forward on earth, Busia Barb moves forward in eternity. She lives within our hearts and visits during those moments when we bring the Tree to life again.

Another ornament produced in the Ornament Factory is called  God’s Eyes (Ojo de Dios). It is a Mexican Indian craft that my daughter brought into our lives from her Spanish studies. To make one, just wrap yarn around a cross of two popsicle sticks. It sounds simple, until you try teaching a four year old to do it.

Filed under: Birds, family, Garden, grief, Memories, religion, Tree of Life, Warm and Fuzzy | Tagged: , , , | Leave a comment »

Grand Elf Ornament Factory

Posted on 02/12/2010 by Grumpa Joe

Every year for many years Grumpa Joe, and Busia Barb conducted an ornament making day with the grand-elves. Most of the big work was done by the big elf himself, but the ornamentation and coloring was finished by the grand-elves. The workshop was stocked with fast drying water based paints, brushes, Elmer’s glue , and glitter of many colors. There were enough raw forms to allow each grand-elf to make a dozen ornaments. The caveat was that each grand-elf had to leave one ornament for the grandparents.

When the elves completed the ornaments, the workshop glistened in many colors. There was glitter everywhere. The grand-elves glittered too. Many of them got glitter in the hair and shined for weeks after. The tradition lasted for six years, and finally ended in 2003 when Busia Barb left us for heaven.

One year, I set them up with thread spools and toothpicks. Those were tough materials to handle, and the ornaments turned out looking pretty sad. In most of the  years, the forms were pre-cut shapes from thin plywood. I cheated one year, and bought forms from Michael’s. Another time, the elves used dowel rods and yarn to make Ojo de Dios or Eye of God. That year, the elves had help from a visiting cousin elf who turned out to be a fabulous teacher with the patience of a saint. Elf Ana became my favorite great-niece.

Not all the families could make it every year, but usually, two out of three joined in the fun. The  more there were the more we glistened. The factory work  lasted an hour. The whistle blew and it was time to break for a treat of pizza,  milk and cookies.

My Tree of Life features many of the ornaments produced by the grand-elves in the ornament factory in Frankfort, Illinois. I stare at the example below and remember those times with joy. I am glad I have those happy memories to offset the  sadness that overwhelms me at Christmas.

Related Articles

Filed under: Biography, Birds, Garden, grief, Memories, Tree of Life, Warm and Fuzzy | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Tree Topper

Posted on 01/12/2010 by Grumpa Joe

My tree of life turned out better this year than it ever was in the past. It’s been seven years since it adorned our home, and it took several years to build the ornaments, collect the birds,  butterflies, and flowers. I even found some stuff that I bought eight years ago, but never used before.. The tree is new too. I used a green tree once, and decided that the flowers and birds need a bright background to shown them off. Otherwise, they blend into the background like they do in nature. I chose white.

The first Navaho rug that caught my eye was in Sedona, Arizona. It was a five by seven Tree of Life pattern with a fifteen thousand dollar price tag. Looking back on it, that was a very good price. Much smaller rugs of that pattern go for the same price today. That is hindsight and Monday morning quarter backing. I couldn’t afford it then, and I still can’t afford it now. The alternative was to make my own.  Frankly, I like  mine better. I can change its appearance every year, yet hold the same theme and philosophical concept.

Barbara and I loved this design, and worked together to assemble the various components. We shopped everywhere we went. Often bringing home a new bird from vacation trips. The tree has great sentimental value, but unleashes melancholy from deep within that requires conversations with God to brighten up the darkness of my grief.

Filed under: Birds, family, Garden, grief, Memories, Tree of Life, Warm and Fuzzy | Tagged: , , , | 2 Comments »

Tree of Life

Posted on 30/11/2010 by Grumpa Joe

Ask me why I haven’t added entries into my web log this week. It’s simple. Christmas is coming. Yes, Christmas spelled with CHRIST. No sooner had the family left from Thanksgiving, then Grandma Peggy and I sprung into action. Let’s be honest though, sprung is not the correct word. It was more like a slow and easy if we don’t get it done today, there is tomorrow approach.

I’ll show examples of our accomplishments throughout December. Amongst my proudest accomplishments was re-assembling my Christmas Tree of Life. The idea is not original, it is based on a very old Navaho Indian rug.

The concept is simple, decorate the tree with ornaments that represent life forms. My tree has flowers, birds, butterflies, and some panda bears. Many of the ornaments were made with tender loving care by my Grand-elves in 1999-2000.

The solitude of decoration brought back memories of another life. This was a typical November day, with low dark clouds and off and on again drizzle that sometime turned to snow. The lights on the tree gave me the lift I needed to offset the dreariness of November 30, 2010.

Here it is partially completed.

Related Articles

Filed under: Birds, family, Garden, grief, Memories, Tree of Life, Warm and Fuzzy | 2 Comments »

« Previous Page