Finally in the holiday spirit...

[smeddley]

...I do like the ornaments. Just not the lights. And I took a few pictures, though I was getting frustrated and only a few turned out.



(and my new holiday icon!)



(what, doesn't everyone have chili peppers on their tree?)



(you can read about the legend of the Christmas Spider here)

Comments

[gelsey.livejournal.com]

That Christmas spider thing is so cool! I have got to get one for our tree now! Thanks for sharing that.

Lovely ornaments, all of them!

[smeddley.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I realized I don't have a Christmas Pickle, though, and I need to remedy that. :D

[gelsey.livejournal.com]

... dare I ask, Christmas Pickle?

[smeddley.livejournal.com]

You hide a pickle ornament on the tree, and whoever finds it gets an extra present! It's one of those weird, no-one-knows-really-where-it-came-from 'traditions', but, hey, it's a pickle, so it's cool!

[gelsey.livejournal.com]

Huh, never heard of that one! So one must have an extra present anyone will like :D

[smeddley.livejournal.com]

Well, technically it's supposed to be for kids, so I'm guessing candy or toys would pretty much cover it. But as a made-up 'tradition', I suppose you could have it mean anything you wanted to! Like, the person who finds the pickle doesn't have to help make (or clean up) Christmas dinner!

[gelsey.livejournal.com]

Grins. That would be a great gift with most celebrations! <3

Cute icon you made.

[smeddley.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm rather fond of it myself, despite whipping it up rather quickly. Sometimes things just work. Too bad it doesn't happen more often! *stares at the 'icons too ugly to see the light of day' folder* ;)

[gelsey.livejournal.com]

I love it when things just work like that. <3

Oh, I know. I'm so sad the laptop doesn't have photo software on it. Of course, I still have the disk you gave me, but to be honest I'm afraid to put too much on a laptop...

[http://users.livejournal.com/anam_cara_/]

We have a Christmas Pickle!! I love it, though didn't get it out this year.

[alankria.livejournal.com]

The Christmas chilli will protect you.

[smeddley.livejournal.com]

I have to say, it's at odds with the weather right now!

[alankria.livejournal.com]

Nah, not weather. Bad influences/spirits.

(It's a Malay belief: put out a plate of chilli peppers, be protected. I have a glass chilli ornament that I bought in Singapore, where my local friend explained travelling into mainland Malaysia and seeing chillis and finding out about that belief.)

[smeddley.livejournal.com]

Well, I do wish it would recognize this weather as an evil spirit! An evil, blustery, north-wind spirit. I'm tired of being cold... I know, I know, winter just started...

Huh, cool, now I have another ornament with a meaning! Although this one was purchased in Arizona, so I think they were just going for a southwest theme, I can say that's what it means! And an auspicious ornament to have to herald in the new year, then. :D

[gelsey.livejournal.com]

That's a nifty one to know. *files it away for future knowledge*

[ded-grotty.livejournal.com]

Wow, what super clear photos!! And I love the little spider story.:)

[smeddley.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I had to break out the good camera and the tripod for these. I love my little point-and-shoot, but it doesn't do so well in low light conditions!

Everyone should have a Christmas Spider! That one was made for me by my mom, I've not been able to duplicate it - the supplies are hard to come by, and I'm rubbish working with wire. :/