Mission Accomplished

Just as I had hoped, when my mind was relaxed during the night I thought about where the Christmas stockings I made so long ago might be.  I recalled a flat, marble-designed cardboard box with a lift-up lid where I always kept the special, satin brocade ornaments and lovely, tasseled stocking with the wide satin band that my daughter, Amy, had made for me several years ago.  Married with her own family by that time, she had fashioned them from her highschool prom dress, salvaging pieces of the once-beautiful, but stained gown she had stored away.

Of course!  That's where the other stockings would be stored, too, I realized.  But I hadn't seen the box, so it must have been packed in a larger container, I reasoned, and was resigned to make yet another trip to the basement to delve into more storage cartons.  But first, I had to do some housework.  All my decor just looked like clutter until I dusted, waxed and polished things.

In my housecleaning flurry, I pulled the sheets from my bed and went to the linen closet for another set.  The shelves are very deep, and a few days ago I had stored a large, styrofoam, decorative pumpkin at the top.  I dislodged something getting the sheets, and the pumpkin tumbled down.  Putting it back, I saw something behind a stack of blankets.  The marbled box!  Now I remembered it clearly!

Sure enough, the cross stitched stockings were there lying neatly beneath the satin one.  Not only that, there were the two red felt stockings I had made more than 45 years ago for my oldest son and daughter. I had stitched their names in rick-rack.  MARK was printed in large block letters, but "Julie" was gracefully scrolled  in longhand.  I had made them from my red felt Poodle Skirt from my highschool days.

A couple of patchwork stockings I had made once, and a quilted "Magi" stocking, plus one of red plush with furry trim were there, too. I decided the cross stitched stockings were too nice for the porch, after all.  But where could I hang them?  The fireplace mantel was already full. Maybe I could stretch a line somewhere and fasten them with clothespins, I thought. Then, going through a crafts drawer I saw a ribbon strung with beads interspersed with tiny, craft clothespins.  Maybe I could hang them on that.  It worked!  There is a metal damper knob on the fireplace that held the string of stockings beautifully, like a colorful catch of fish!  I loved it!

I have a graceful, curved, wicker chest with wrought iron feet and clasp that was just begging to hold the satin ornaments and stocking.  A chocolate satin sheet over a plumped pillow made a perfect backdrop for the rich, ribbon-looped, ivory satin keepsakes.  I found places around the house for the other stockings, and now my decorating is done!  The stockings are hung by the chimney with care, not needing to be filled, for they are already full of memories!