From Russia with Love

It all started with a talk with my colleague Elena.

Back in September, Elena told me she was planning to visit her best friend who lives in Moscow during the month of December.   She told me about growing up in Russia, of the wonderful times spent with her best friend and how excited she was to go visit her.   

I told her that one of my dreams is to visit Europe in December and go to see the many Christmas markets where they sell beautiful Christmas ornaments.  I explained to her that I love decorating for Christmas and that I decorate three Christmas trees every year; one in m­y front entrance, one in the living and dining room and one at the cottage.

 

Each tree is different and special to me in its own right.

The tree in the foyer holds my most cherished ornaments that I have collected over the years.  It also has some precious glass ornaments that I really love as they come from my mom and dad and have adorned the Christmas trees of my childhood.

 The tree in the living and dining room, I call my little jewel.  It sits in an urn and is decorated with copper, orange and gold balls and delicate ornaments.  I often say it’s going to be my retirement tree because it’s not a wide tree and would fit perfectly in a condo (which I plan to buy after I retire). 

Lastly, there is a tree at the cottage (it used to be in my family room).  I call that tree the children’s tree.  It is decorated with multi-coloured lights and holds the decorations made by my daughters when they were small and also decorations that I offer them every year.  It also has a nice village under it.

I guess you’ve already guessed that I am passionate about my Christmas traditions and décor.

But back to my story...

Elena told me that she was definitely going to visit a Christmas market and that she would bring me back an ornament.  I assured her that it was not necessary but she insisted that she would be glad to bring one back for me.
Unfortunately, her plans fell through.  I was disappointed for her as she was so looking forward to visiting with best friend.

The next day, she came to see me and was very excited.  She said that she had told her best friend about me and my passion for Christmas ornaments and that her best friend was going to send me ornaments from Russia.  I told her again that it was not necessary but she told me her friend would be pleased to send them to me because she had told her friend that I was special.

Elena is special herself…she is the nicest person you could ever know.  Generous to a fault, Elena is well known for her afternoon tea time where she offers a different kind of tea to her colleagues.  She is always trying to be helpful and is efficient and dedicated.  I really enjoy working with her.

I told her I would gladly pay for the ornaments.  She would not hear of it and said it was making both of them happy.  She told me her friend had sent her pictures of the ornaments which included one Christmas ball for each of my tree and a special ornament from Elena herself.  

She said she would not show me the pics, because she wanted to surprise me.  I have to admit that I was looking forward to getting the ornaments and a month ago, Elena received them and gave them to me.  They are all beautiful.  The Christmas balls are from Elena's friend. 

I am told this is Santa's grand-daughter

The little blue and yellow bird is very beautiful and is a gift from Elena.  It was made in a small village 60 km from Moscow called Gzhel.  The blue ceramic is hand blown and hand painted using a special process they’ve been doing since 1802 and is signed and dated by the artist.  It reminds me of the blue and white dishes my grandmother use to have although hers had more of an Asian influence.
The ornaments are special to me as they come from Russia but more specifically because they come from Elena and her best friend who collaborated together to send them to me to make me happy.

I asked Elena to give me her friends email address so I could thank her.  I asked her what her friends name was and I was told she is named Olga…just as I would expect from someone living in Russia. 

I took some pictures of my three trees and sent them to Olga so she could see where her beautiful ornaments would hang.  She said she loved my pictures and my trees and that she would send me another ornament next year to add to my collection.

I find this way too generous but realize that there is no way to dissuade them as these two women have a big heart.

Until I myself get to visit a Christmas market in Europe, I will definitely enjoy looking at the ornaments sent to me from Russia with love.