It’s the most wonderful time of the year! The yule log is burning and the family heirlooms are on full display.
Week 49: Homemade
Each year I look forward to seeing the custom yarn stockings draped from the mantle over the fireplace at my parents’ house. They were handmade by my maternal grandmother, Edna (Dean) Millhouse.
Although all made in the same style and colors, not all were produced at the same time. As an example, mine and my sister’s could not have been made until our births, 1985 and ’87, respectively. However, they all look identical! My only regret is that the ‘K’ that starts off my name resembles more of an ‘X’ in the cursive yarn writing.
My grandma even made an extra one left unnamed which came in handy when my sister married. My mom was able to stitch my sister’s husband’s name at the top in the same style to match. My mom believes the pattern was incorrect and thus, my grandmother left it unfinished. It worked out quite well in the end.
My mom also remembers her mom being disappointed after creating my younger sister’s stocking. My grandma had thought all of the women’s stockings were red and the men’s were green, so when she made my sister’s, she worked off of that assumption. Once she compared them to the rest of the batch, she quickly realized her mistake! Of course, no one else would likely ever notice this – but she was a perfectionist, so it bothered her. Knowing that little story, I’m not quite sure why that annoyed her more than the differences in the Santas or snowmen affixed to the front. Each of those have unique distinctions as well!
They’re not just for looks either. Each year, they’re filled to the brim with chocolates, socks, and little presents! It’s a tradition I hope continues on for many years to come.
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