Finally, my human finished decorating the Christmas tree! It only took all week for her to get it done.
It’s 7-1/2 feet tall, not counting the topper. We used to have one that was a foot shorter, but my human has so many ornaments that it was hard to find space for them all. So she gave the old tree to Goodwill and got this one. How would you like to know the stories behind some of the ornaments? My human has kind of quirky taste when it comes to Christmas decorations.
This is one of the oldest ornaments my human has. She doesn’t have anything from her childhood. Her ornaments start after she was a grown-up and had her own tree.
This ornament, and a bunch of others came from Sav-On, which later became CVS. They used to have some really cool vintage style ornaments, and my human collected them over the years. They are fragile, but only two of them have broken (one was this year, actually).
This is actually from the first box of the Sav-On ornaments. It’s so old that the ribbon and the feathers inside the ornament have faded and lost color. My human doesn’t even remember what color the feathers were now.
This ornament is a special one, because my human got it for her first Christmas in the first home she bought. If you look closely, ’96, the year she got it, is carved in the snow. That was when she had her soul cat, Harlot.
Some ornaments she got because they were beautiful.
Others because they were hideous! Like this cheap, badly painted angel ornament. This photo does not do justice to the bad paint job and cheap plastic. And there are actually two of them!
This ornament was so odd that my human had to get it. I mean, who makes an ornament full of miniature gambling things? I think it was the slot machine that really sold my human on it.
There are actually a lot of ornaments on the lower branches. That is where my human puts all the non-breakables. You know, metal ornaments, plastic ornaments, wood ornaments, those hideous angel ornaments., etc.
My human is also a fan of anything from the 1890s through the 1920s, so if she ever comes across ornaments of items from that era, she gets them. Like this old-fashioned wooden car.
She’s especially fond of this organ grinder and monkey.
This is another very special ornament. My human got it from Bat Conservation International, a big group that helps and advocates for bats.
You were probably wondering where the cat ornaments were! Well, my human has lots of those too.
This kitty, and the one above, are part of a trio my human found… yes, at CVS! It was many years ago.
This is one of the oldest cat ornaments. It’s a jack in the box, only it’s a cat.
Too bad whoever painted this cat ornament messed up the eyes! But maybe that’s why my human got it.
This pair of trouble-making kitties are part of a series of ornaments from about 20 years ago.
Here’s another one. You know my human looked for these every year!
This ornament summed up my human’s life at the time: it had something musical in it (since she was a rock journalist), and a cat, and the cat was getting into trouble.
Every time my human sees any ornaments on display somewhere, she looks for ones with cats. Often she finds them.
My human went online and got a few more cat ornaments this year. This one, of a cat knocking over a poinsettia plant to chase a bee, is her favorite.
And, of course, you’ve seen this angel and kitty ornament. Have you entered the giveaway yet, that includes the extra?
I hope you enjoyed seeing some of our ornaments, and you did not get too bored!
2022 Somali Cat Calendar Starring Summer Samba
See all of Summer’s merch at her her Zazzle Designercat Shop
Beautiful tree and ornaments Summer.
BAT ORNAMENT! Not bed.
MK, get it together!!!!
Selina
We love the bed ornament, and you are right. Your human has very eclectic taste in Christmas ornaments. But that’s what makes the tree interesting. And of course, seeing Binga always makes us smile.
Purrz!
Selina
PS It wasn’t boring at all!
Love all the cat ornaments! Love your tree too.
What a beautiful Christmas tree and I just loved looking at all the different ornaments. I thought The Cat In The Box was really amazing.x
What a beautiful tree! Ornaments with stories behind them are the best.
Beautiful tree and ornaments.
Such a beautiful tree! Thank you for the stories behind the ornaments. We love hearing what each one means and how special they are. You have a wonderful human with a big heart.
You sure have some pretty fun ornaments…um…but that angel, OMC!!! MOL! petcretary has a lot of baubles and other breakables in a trunk in the closet…who knows when we will evfur have a tree big enough to display them all? Sometimes she puts bowls of unbreakable baubles in bowl with a few pinecones to add to the ‘atmosphere’.
We love your tree, Summer! It made me laugh when you wrote about Sav-On and CVS, because I remember when the one on Eagle Rock Blvd. became “Osco Drugs.” And then the LAT wrote a piece saying that the name change didn’t go over well in neighborhoods with lots of Spanish speakers. Something about “osco” being close to the word for “disgusting.” I think it was later debunked, but I remember!
Those are lovely ornaments and it is nice to hear the story behind them. I like to play poker, so the gambling ornament is the sort of thing I would put on my tree.
Those are all very special ornaments, and we love the story behind each of them. Purrs
We really enjoyed seeing some of your ornaments. We used to have two trees when the kids were little. Now it’s just one.
Well at least SHE got it done. OURS hasn’t even started yet, and we just got it put up.
Your mom has some very nice ornaments and the tree looks great.
what a huge tree. We don’t have any decorations up. I will remind my human to find something.
Your tree is beautiful, Summer, and we love seeing all the ornaments. Most of the ornaments on our tree are cats or cat related. You mentioned Sav-On and that it’s now CVS. Do you know that we still have a Sav-On on the island? It’s a really nice drug store, very personal and friendly. Except we just found out it got bought by none other than CVS and will now become a CVS. Too bad.
You tree is truly beautiful Summer! And our human enjoyed seeing all the eclectic and interesting decorations your human chose/bought over the years. Our human has bought our (live) tree but has yet to decorate it! What is wrong with her ?!!
the critters in the cottage xo
Very purrty. Mum has some really old ones from her grands, but they are furry fragile so not put on a tree. But I think the two best are the furry sentinels in the last pic.
Your tree is so beautifully eclectic! I love the jack in the box cat. And did you know the Miss and Chiff cats are still being produced by Carlton Cards? I got the one they did a couple years ago where the cats were playing in a cream pie. Because Mudpie!
I used to have that same cat in the box but it didn’t make the cut into the trailer. I like that we both have bats
Wow. Binga must be on her best behavior for Santa … taking a back seat to you, Summer?!?! I love all your ornaments. I grew up with a glut of them because the small town my father grew up in has what’s billed as the world’s biggest Christmas store – and it’s open all year. Every visit, we’d stop by and look at all the displays and buy an ornament or two. If you’re interested … here’s the link … https://www.bronners.com
Mee-WOW Summer!!! Thee ornymentss are deevine!! Wee LUV thee Blue Bat an kat ornymentss thee best all tho all are beeuteefull….
Yurss iss thee most beeuteeus tree efurr!
**nose rubsss** Siddhartha Henry xXXx
Those are gorgeous ornaments. Our mom really got a kick out of that gambling one too.
I love when people I know share their ornaments and what makes them special. It’s like a tiny window into the heart and soul. I didn’t put up my tree this year since I have to go to Delaware instead of my mom coming here. I kind of miss seeing them. Seeing other folks helps me miss them less. Thanks Summer
Summer, your tree is epically epic and we loved seeing all the beautiful decorations up close, they’re so purretty and shiny and we’d like to come and play, if that’s ok?! MOL MOL
Best festive purrs
Basil & Co xox
We really liked this post. Especially since we did NOT put a tree up this year! Hmmmpppffff. Mommy says next year. Every time she goes away she brings home an ornament from that place. lexy and I are dying to see the ornaments from Nashville, Phoenix, and Myrtle Beach that she got when she went to BlogPaws. Your ornaments are pawesome!
we don’t get a tree here, so we will just sit back and enjoy seeing yours
That’s a pretty tree with really lovely ornaments! We don’t have a tree this year but if we did, ours would have lots of 1988 ornaments. 🙂
I have a lot of cat ornaments too. Who did the cat ones that you mentioned was a series 20 years ago? I would love to try and find those.
They are called “Merry Mischief Makers” – and they still make them (do a Google search)! 2017 is #22 in the series.
Hallmark?
I’m not sure, I’ve seen them under Carlton (may be an offshoot of Hallmark) and American Greetings. Here is an Amazon Search for you:
merry mischief makers christmas ornament
Summer you tree is gorgeous and OMCs purrfectly decorated. Your human has wonderful taste in ornaments too.
We love the vintage and all the ones with special meaning.
Bravo for you and Binga posing too
Hugs madi your bfff
We LOVE looking at ornaments and hearing stories about them. My Human has some ornaments from when she was a child, and some that were her mother’s when she was a child, but alas, they are in a box in the basement in Midway so I will not get a chance to break them!
Thank you for sharing them and their stories with us!
Purrs
Marv
What a gorgeous Christmas Tree, it’s so massive! We would love it in our house. The taller the better. Our favorite ornament is the Cat in the Box too. It’s super cute and one of a kind. And what’s a story photo shoot without Binga….Love all the pictures. So touching and sweet. Purrs
Now that’s a Christmas tree! What beautiful ornaments. Especially love the kitty ones. When we put up a tree, 99% of the ornaments were of cats. Our human sure does miss seeing them. She still has them, just not the tree.
We totally love your Christmas Tree, it is absolutely gorgeous!
Would you believe Fraser is still nekkid? I don’t. Your new tree is a nice one. It’s better to get a new one cos the older ones are made with all kinds of PVCs and plastics that were made illegal. TW and Pop have boxes and boxes of ornaments. Some are very old from Gramma and some are newer. We have a few cats but not as many as you. Aunt Pauline has some many ornaments, she has themed trees. One is a cat tree and one is a critter tree. TW gave her a meerkat ornament this year because she said it was the only critter she didn’t have.
Thank you for sharing these ornaments. I loved seeing them all, I have the kitty one with the red ball of yarn. Your human has a nice collection wit many unique ornaments, I am glad you kitties are so well behaved.
Summer your hooman has awesome taste in ornaments. Love your Christmas outfit.
What a fun mix of ornaments; love the music and cat one. With as many cat ornaments as I have, I’m rather shocked that I only recognize the mixing bowl and poinsettia one as matches to mine.
I was enchanted and so was Mommy. Any time you want us to see your things, Summer…I know mom and I are always going to enjoy seeing them.
Those ornaments are absolutely beautiful…
Your tree is absolutely magnificent. We loved reading about all the decorations, and all the fabulous kitty ornaments!
Purrs,
The Chans
You are just ADORABLE in that hat! Thanks for sharing your tree. I’m not putting my tree up this year because I’m hopefully moving soon, but it is almost entirely kitty ornaments.
Beautiful tree.
That is a lovely tree and the ornaments are pawsome !
The angel is not nearly as sweet as the kitty ornaments.
Purrs Georgia,Julie and JJ
There are some really some beautiful ornaments……. we agree….. ditch that angel.
Those are SPECTACULAR ornaments! We loved that gambling one, as SO UNIQUE! And then there was YOU of course…