In last week’s newsletter, I shared a short essay, The Tinsel Tree, about the way that decorating our homes for Christmas and the holidays is about more than the ornaments themselves.

It’s about the stories told through the tinsel, memories immortalised in glass baubles—cracks, scratches and all.

I can see dad, on his knees on the lounge carpet, carefully unfurling each branch of the tinsel tree. Sea green streams glinting, if a little more sparse every year.

But no less magical.

To change it would be to change Christmas.

Shoeboxes, smelling of old books and covered with festive wrap from years gone by, are ceremoniously brought down from the loft and opened to reveal delicate, handpainted baubles shining like jewels in fuchsia, emerald and gold.

To this day, I’m drawn to the ones that look just like them. And I know why.

How I wish I had just one or two of the originals, but they’ve been lost—along with the years, in my mother’s memory.

But I know that everything is tucked away, somewhere. In safekeeping.

(You can read or listen to the full piece here.)

Before we kick off the podcast, I wanted to tell you about something that has happened since I recorded it.

I shared the essay with my parents, when I dropped in during the week one lunchtime. It was spontaneous—I hadn’t intended to. But hearing the memories recalled-even as her own, for now, are dimming-made my mother’s eyes light up with delight. She smiled like a child, as I once did, as the shoeboxes of decorations came down all those years ago.

She remembered.

And it was SO beautiful.

Also, it makes this week’s show, in which we’re breaking from the regular format with a guest interview, even more poignant.

I loved chatting with Karen Rutledge, founder of vintage online store Jenny and Pearl, about decorating our homes at this time of year. A wonderful storyteller herself, a dear friend and an expert on all things home and vintage, she offers an insider’s perspective on how it’s about so much more than decor.

The Story So Far is all about the stories that connect us, and the ones that hold us together.

Stories about family, faith, home, and all it means to belong.

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Links for this episode of The Story So Far:

Connect with Karen, and get links to all the ways to shop Jenny and Pearl on Instagram.

Find Jenny and Pearl merch here!

Myquillyn Smith, AKA The Nester.

Elf.

White Christmas.

It’s A Wonderful Life.

The Sound Of Music.

Actual photo of Jen at the end of the conversation.

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So speak I to myself: and when I speak, the images of all I speak of are present, out of the same treasury of memory.

—St Augustine, Confessions

To treasured memories, in this time of preparation and waiting.

Don’t miss this Friday’s newsletter, as we look ahead all things Advent. 🕯

With love, Jen XX

Music for this episode of About Home courtesy of the fabulous Purple Planet.

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