‘Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.’ Norman Vincent Peale
‘For unto you is born a Savior…a Baby wrapped in swaddling clothes…Glory to God in the Highest, and on Earth- Peace Goodwill toward Men…’ from Luke 2:11-14
Merry Christmas from Camellia’s Cottage!
Love y’all, Camellia
*The beautiful Alabama Winter photograph was taken by Jeremy Miniard- jeremy.miniard.fineartamerica.com
We have a family tradition dating back to when our daughters were teenagers. Every one of us would purchase five small gifts- of any type to be placed in the rest of the family’s Stockings. Some of the gifts are very nice, some are cheap and funny, even hilarious! Some are useful, Some are not. The mixture has delighted us for years now- in fact, even if we are going on a trip- we take our Christmas Stockings with us and have the exchange. When young folks outgrow Santa’s toys- it is fun to make a little Christmas joy! Stockings seem a good way to surprise and delight every one. As my gift to you on this wonderful Christmas Eve…a vintage photograph from our private collection! Entitled:
‘The Stockings were Hung by the Chimney with Care’
I hope Santa brings you everything you ever wished for and more!
Love y’all, Camellia
*Thank you dear friend for sharing this adorable photograph, we love you! Photograph should not be used without permission.
By far, one of my favorite Christmas stories was told to me by an elderly man- straight, slim and tall- he was a serious businessman, farmer and community leader. He liked the old ways; when I met him, decades ago, he told me this story…He confided he still wore a nightcap and nightshirt! Then he bragged a little on his wife, told me she could really squeeze a dollar, which was a high compliment coming from him! The old gentleman cleared his throat and said that one day his wife came home with an entire bolt of Red Flannel she had gotten on sale. He asked her what she planned to do with all of that Red Flannel, she said-
To this day I wonder if he was telling me the truth or a tall tale- I’ve been assured on good authority, that the old gentleman was always as good as his word! So, presuming everyone had a good Christmas story to tell…I conducted an informal Christmas poll. Most folks either don’t remember going to see Santa Claus or they recall almost nothing of importance about it-
Now after decade or more of marriage-they still have that keychain picture which apparently their two children think is funny- and I do too…
.
Some had photographs- A fire truck and a skinny Santa or Mall Santas with mixed reactions from the children- some liked Santa, some had to be cajoled or tricked into seeing Santa, some just wanted down! Take this photograph, there were supposed to be five children in the photograph…one refused. 
Some said they didn’t like Santa and still don’t. Adults and children do love holiday activities- decorating gingerbread houses, ice skating, decking out playhouses, reading or telling stories and more! And we adults, still love taking photographs of children by the family tree!
I love all the holiday photographs that family and friends have shared from now to way back when… With all of the hustle and bustle- A good reminder- based on the poll I took, children aren’t affected too much by one thing or another. Some folks are making a life time of memories. And some, who are no longer with us are greatly missed! Here’s wishing you lots of wonderful memories no matter where you are!
Love y’all, Camellia
Family photographs are from my private collection, please do not use without permission. The fantastic Nutcracker photographs are Jeremy Miniard’s- go to jeremy.miniard.fineartamerica.com to find more of his fantastic work!
Downtown Birmingham was in it’s heyday in the 1950’s. Department Store Window displays were veritable Winter Wonderlands, with electric trains running through magical routes, mechanical elves and snowmen- moved and twirled. Cotton Batting sprinkled with glitter mimicked the real snow of New York City- a favorite destination for wealthy Alabamians, who brought us, not only the wonder of Christmas Shopping but also Department Store Santas.
The Shriners were already bringing the Barnum/ Bailey Circus to town and started their own Clown Units for Parades. The Shriners also brought a Carnival to Birmingham with the big amusement park rides for adults and kids alike. You would see the Shriners in their red fezzes with black tassles and most sported big gold rings with the Shriners insignia. I know this because our daddy was a Shriner at Zamora Temple which is still active today.
Birmingham was beautifully decked out for Christmas, Joy Young’s Chinese restaurant was a magical place with the little paper umbrellas in our sweet tea glasses, Italian Restaurants, Greek Restaurants and even a sort of speakeasy style restaurant called Dale’s Hideaway was an event; the Russell Stover Candy Shop was a place to press your nose against the cool glass window, the Ritz, the Lyric and the Alabama Theaters were amazing- and the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ at the Alabama Theater was already legendary. And high atop Red Mountain watching over all of us, was the original Ironman- Vulcan.
Famous Hotels like the Tutwiler even had floral bars off the lobby where my grandmother worked from time to time, Woolworth’s Department Store had a lunch counter and bargain basement which were all the rage, Pizitz had a mezzanine with a real elevator operator who said, ‘Going up! or Going down!’ as he turned the big crank and Burger Phillips had glass cases of fur coats- I know these cases inside and out because I got locked in one of them, hiding among the sneezy furs. My mother searched high and low trying to find me until a sales clerk saw a tiny hand inside the glass case! My track record wasn’t too good with Department Stores. To be honest, the whole Santa Claus thing was sort of frightening- I mean, a man dressed in a red suit, with reindeer landing on the roof and entering our house through our pristine fireplace which was for show but real, and then a big man that shook like a bowl of jelly either left a lump of coal or shiny new toys- dependent on whether or not my sister and I had been good or bad was scary, not to mention those mice that may or may not be in the house! But to actually go see Santa Claus in person and have to ask him di-rectly for presents, well that put me over the edge. Enter my sister who was dressed in a matching sailor coat and tam, but who was infinitely wiser and fearless, stood behind me in line prodding me along. I whispered I was afraid. She told me to stop being afraid. We were almost up to the front of the line, when she got exasperated with my whining and said- ‘Look, he’s not the real Santa Claus! He’s got on spats instead of real boots and he has on a Shrine Ring!’ That settled it, I went through with it, but to be honest? I was still worried to death about the whole thing.
Every Christmas of my childhood, somehow the magic happened…we got Shirley Temple dolls, another year a baby doll named Tiny Tears who worried me to death with wet diapers and another year a Chatty Cathy arrived with a ring on her neck you could pull and she would talk. Talk, Talk, Talk- until my real sister Cathy pulled the string one time too fast and Chatty Cathy was mute from then on…There is not another picture of me with Santa Claus, I suspect the whole thing wore my poor Momma out- or it could be that it was too hard to schedule; not only was the Santa that day a Shriner, he was a famous Radio Personality named Dave Campbell and on alternate days, the Department Store Santa was my Uncle Ellis!
Now, you know that most Southern stories are part truth, part myth and part outright lies- this sad tale, I am sorry to say is the truth, the whole truth- it’s too close to Christmas to risk being naughty!
Love y’all, Camellia
All black and white photographs are from my personal collection and should not be used without permission. Who would want to? The photograph of Vulcan is from Wikipedia and may be subject to copyright.
As much as we Southern Ladies love our Pearls, we do have an inordinate fondness for Roses and Lace- touches that fairly exude feminine fashion! A lace handkerchief carried with a wedding bouquet, rose corsages pinned to lace blouses or dresses are classic pairings. My sister and I were already wearing lace trimmed blouses with little corsages from a young age. One Christmas, our aunt and uncle were taking us out on the town to the ornately beautiful Alabama Theater decked out in our finery, with our little pocketbooks too.
I think fashion is at it’s best when it is classic and simple- and this idea isn’t new, Leonardo da Vinci said it best way back in the 1500’s- ‘Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication’. A Classic Black Dress with Pearls can take you anywhere, darlin’ – Karl Lagerfield famously said: ‘One is never overdressed or underdressed with a Little Black Dress’.
The least expensive way to update a Black Dress or even a Wardrobe of Classics is with Accessories. A friend of mine received a beautiful Christmas bouquet of white roses this week just when I was trying to figure out what to wear to an occasion, I thought these three White Silk Roses pinned on a Lace Patterned Wrap might be just the thing. Winter clothing is often structured, it can benefit from soft beautiful accessories.
Coco Chanel loved using a floral pin- either in the same tweeds she favored or with Millenary Grade Flowers- like her iconic Camellia pin- she repeated Pearls and Floral Pins over and over in her classic designs. I think Southern ladies were doing this long before Chanel came along but we sure do appreciate her highlightin’ it for us! A word of warning- pins and brooches can be heavy- so make sure what you pin it on can support the weight and alternately some fabrics are heavy so make sure your pin can pierce the fabric- if not? Use a heavier pin behind it and clasp the pins on just the fabric’s surface. Holiday dressing isn’t all about glitz and bright colors, sometimes neutrals can be just as beautiful, just make sure you add Red Lipstick-the iconic ‘Cherries in the Snow’ would perfect this time of year.
Try Roses and Lace to soften your Winter Wardrobe. And if you are looking for some last minute gift ideas, a Warm Wrap or Scarf, an Accessory such as a Beautiful Brooch or Floral Pin and a great Stocking Stuffer would be the all time best selling red lipstick– Revlon’s® ‘Cherries in the Snow’ ! Of course if you have no time at all- send a Bouquet of Roses!
Love y’all, Camellia
photographs are obviously mine- the vintage photograph of me and my sweet sister are from our private collection and the Cherries in the Snow lipstick photo is from AOL images and may be subject to copyright. The rose pins were purchased from a small vendor several years ago, the scarf was purchased locally.
