When we put up our tree I couldn’t find my favorite Christmas ornament. It is a must have every Christmas even though I switch out the other ornaments on the tree, I always want the spark plug on our Christmas tree.
One of the first Christmases we lived in this house Matt took one of the old spark plugs from his truck and threaded a piece of wire through the top. He hung it on the tree as a joke, thinking I probably would never even notice it.
Of course I noticed it right away and I loved it!
Once I told him I loved the spark plug ornament and planned to put it on every Christmas tree we ever had the joke was on him 🙂
Since I change the other ornaments out from year to year I always put the spark plug in my top dresser drawer so it will be handy no matter which boxes I drag out each December.
This year I went to the drawer and couldn’t find the spark plug. I looked two or three times and finally gave up on the night we were decorating the tree.
A few days later I went back to the drawer and took every thing out of it. Still no spark plug. I took every thing out of the drawer below it, but it wasn’t there either.
I finally went to the basement and pulled out all the decorations I used last year. There it was right in the middle of all the other ornaments. I obviously did not put the spark plug back in my top drawer last year when I took the tree down.
Matt making the spark plug ornament for me all those years ago is one of my favorite Christmas memories.
I helped Granny decorate her house and put her little tree up yesterday. She didn’t feel like helping but at least she felt good enough to sit up and supervise. I was happy to give her some Christmas cheer.
Last night’s video: I Almost Burnt the Pressley Party Buttermilk Pralines & Matt Made a Delicious Supper!
Tipper
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I always love hearing the story behind the spark plug, this memory and the one where you play the selling the truck joke on Matt are two of my all time favorites.
You and Matt are so funny together! So glad you found the spark plug he hung on the tree so many years ago.
I love the story behind the spark plug and how Matt ment it as a joke. It was his way of teasing you about the truck. Isn’t it funny how something that started out as a prank ended up bringing you two together for a lasting relationship. What a fun cherished memory of a loving relationship that has lasted all these years and will for many more loving and fun years to come. Praying Granny feels better so she can enjoy the Christmas celebrations with all her family and ring in the New Year in better health.
Wonderful story and memory! Granny is so good at finding enjoyment where she can. . Have a nice “Hump day”!
As usual you bring back memories, that I
Probably wouldn’t think about. The year my 45 year old son was 3, when ask what he wanted for Christmas his answer was Baby Bumblebee. That summer his sister sang a song about a bumblebee she learned in school. I mostly ignored him, I thought he just liked the word. The kids father brought over their gifts and I tucked them away to be put out on Christmas Eve to be from Santa. I had a doll for my daughter that was in a blue sleep shirt, with a cap trimmed in blue braid. I wasn’t very happy with it for her and found her another doll. Then in the gifts from her dad was a stuffed animal. When is separated the gifts there were dolls and soft animal for my 6 year old daughter and for my 3 year old son there were tractors, cars and nothing to cuddle. At the last minute I switched to small blue doll to his side. It really did look like a boys doll. We’ll come Christmas morning the kids run to the tree. My son screams Baby Bumblebee and grabs and hugs the doll! I was so surprised!
I still have the doll and put him out every Christmas.
I love the spark plug ornament. Those are the kind that end up meaning the most, it seems. A funny memory attached to it. Merry Christmas!
That’s a beautiful story. Thanks for sharing it.
I am sorry to hear that Granny is having some harder days. Praying for comfort and an easing of her pain so that she can enjoy the Christmas holidays and family time – and some turkey and dressing! I love the precious memories wrapped up in that sparkplug and happy that the ‘lost was found’ for this year. May you get enough snow to have a white Christmas and y’all have some fun in it with those sweet boys!
our first Christmas, Phillip and I had just begun living on a sailboat near Key West, Florida. (Nothing fancy. We had built it ourselves, with wood and a saw and hammers and nails and fiberglass. Phillip had dreamed of doing it and had plans and know how. 30’x12′)
We sailed out to a little group of islands (the Marquesas – fairly secluded, way back then, and 25 miles from the mainland ).
we anchored and we’re thrilled to be having a grand Christmas adventure!
Then – I realized we didn’t even have a Christmas tree!
well, that wouldn’t do.
We rigged a spare piece of plywood with a dark green worksheet. There! The Tree!
Then, there was the matter of decorating it… With safety pins, instead of ornament hooks or string, we placed on The Tree an orange plastic dish scrubber, balls of wadded up aluminum foil, a red bandana handkerchief, and a length of rope (maybe a few other items I’ve forgotten about in these 47 years since.)
We sang a few carols and throughly enjoyed our make do Christmas Tree. Like Joseph and Mary, we were given the gift of “make do!”
Merry Christmas! God bless!
I am so happy you found the spark plug ornament. I don’t think money could buy that ornament. It’s the simple things that are priceless. I’m glad you got Granny’s tree up. I know she is enjoying it. You are such a special daughter as well as all of your family to rally around Granny. I know that means more to her than you will ever know. Praying…
Good, I watched you video of your family decorating the tree. Felt sad you couldn’t find one of your favorite ornaments. I so easily forget where I put things I want to remember. Merry Christmas
I’m sorry Granny is feeling so poorly. I continue to pray for her every day. Ms. Tipper you are an awesome daughter! and what would you do without Paul. I enjoyed last night’s music with Paul & your nephew.
I don’t think I’m brave enough to attempt Buttermilk Pralines! Wow! I knew you would find your spark plug. That Matt is so innovative.
As always praying for Granny.
I have all of my son’s handmade ornaments he made in preschool. Some are too fragile to put up but some go on the tree every year. I usually comment while I’m watching Tipper’s videos so I said can’t wait for the spark plug! I was saddened that at the end of the video the sparkplug was a no show! I’m so glad you found it!
Lord willing, 50 years from now your great grandsons will put that sparkplug (by then, someone will have to explain what a sparkplug is and what it was used for), on their tree and talk about the tremendous love between their great grandma and great grandpa!
The ornaments on my tree all have meaning. I love putting it up and decorating it.
I thought this story would end up that Matt had hidden the spark plug and then put it on the tree when hou weren’t looking. I’m glad you found it and that it is keeping company with your other ornaments.
The wind is blowing hard over here in Haywood County. Bundle up and stay warm wherever you are!
Good morning, Tipper, and Tipper fans! Cold one this morning. Woke to deep freeze so it was pretty all white but cold. Nothing like two of my sisters are having in Iowa. They have snow, snow, snow. I miss snow for Christmas now I’m down here in SC! Tipper, I love your story about the spark plugs. I remembered you mentioning it before, and I could feel your angst that you couldn’t find it knowing what a treasure it is to you. I love the idea of a spark plug on the tree. I think of Granny every day and keep her in my prayers every night! I do so wish she did not have cancer! I’m on my third go round so I know all about feeling bad. I hope and pray God showers His love and blessings on us all, but covers Granny from head to toe!
Patricia, I will pray for you! Thank you 🙂
I love my time with my Blind Pig family each morning. Thank you for your commitment to our beloved Appalachia.
Matt has a cool sense of humor. But that’s so sweet to kerp up with the tradition you both started years ago. We haven’t gotten our tree up yet. It’s artificial. O e if these years we may get a live one.
You all have a Blessed and Merry Christmas.
Praying for Granny. And all your family. Tipper your an inspiration to keeping on the right track with God and family. I love you all. Your like family to me.
❤️
My tree decorates itself in the fall. It is at its best at Christmas especially if there is snow on it. In the spring it takes down its old decorations and that following fall again replaces them with new. The gaudily decorated trees in people’s windows can’t even hold a candle to mine.
Simple ornaments come from the heart. One day, many years to come, Ira and Woody will understand the spark plug story!
Everyone have a great day. Pray for each other today.
Brenda, simple homemade gifts or things come from the heart, bought things are often something I had to quickly get for someone. My Daddy would make children’s rocking chairs out of scrap lumber if he could find somewhere for the first time expecting mothers at our church. These rockers were crude when compared to store bought. One lady still laughs about Daddy repairing and writing her a note after she broke a slat in the seat by standing in the one he had made for her- the note went something like this “anyone can see the seat was made for you butt and not your feet.”
I love today’s story (as I love most of them)! I enjoy reading the comments too. I read all of them every day. Blind Pig is the highlight of my morning. Thank you to Tipper and family and to all the readers that leave comments!
This year I downsized some more, even the tree. Now we have a little bitty tree, and only my smaller ornaments fit on it. So I had a good time sending pictures of things they might want to keep to our two daughters and niece in-law. Each of them got something special—my mom’s beautifully embroidered nativity ornaments, the beaded felt snowflakes she made for me (keeping one of twelve for herself after all that work), and my Gram’s foldout foil snowflakes that are older than I am.
Love the spark plug, glad it turned up. Glad Granny felt up to supervising.
Randy, I’d love to see that toy tractor with a spoon for the seat. One of my best gifts ever was a little John Deer pedal tractor my grandfather found in someone’s trash. He took it home, gave it new wheels and a paint job, carefully repainted the John Deer label, carved a set of wooden sparkplugs and painted them silver, and later made a little farm cart for it. My toys and my baby sister got hauled in it.
Debra… what a treasured grift that tractor was!!! And it coming second hand and repurposed makes all the sweet and personal. Merry Christmas to you
Thank you, Leslie, and Merry Christmas!
With the children grown and no grandchildren, the thought of unpacking and decorating for Christmas is daunting at times. My aging back talks pretty loudly to me as I pull out boxes and climb the ladder……but oh the memories as I start to unwrap each ornament. I have ornaments that I made when I was in the 8th grade, a decorated duck egg that is still intact! Precious ornaments that the children made and many that I have recently made.
Love this about the spark plug : )! Glad you were able to decorate for Granny. Praying she can enjoy the season even though she’s tired and uncomfortable. Praying you all can have some very special, quiet moments with her that will become treasured memories. Big hugs from middle Tennessee.
Just for grins I did a web search for “spark plug ornaments”. They are out there. Not as good, of course, as your very own special one. But anyway, as the saying has it, “great minds think alike.” Also not a surprise, there are creative folks at Etsy (or is that “etsey”? I disremember). I’ve slowly gotten to where I tend to think if I can think of it somebody makes it. Doesn’t always work but often does. Glad that Granny was able to supervise and good to know we none of us are ever alone in life’s journeys.
Ron, I got my idea for fishing bobber ornaments looking for Christmas ornaments on Amazon or some other online place. I had to work too hard for my money to pay $10-15 for something I could make for about a dollar.
I’m thinking maybe -just maybe-it’s that spark plug that’s helped keep the spark in yours and Matt’s marriage all these years! I think it’s the best ornament I ever saw! Spark keeps the home fires burning, yall. If anybody’s able, willing or just for old times memory’s and love’s sakes, take a moment under a ball of mistletoe to embrace your precious sack of cold, lumpy taters-I mean the better half….ok I’m funning and picking now…Lord have mercy, I hate to hear granny is feeling puny. She’s in my prayers for blessings and comfort…. May you know I’m praying for you all because I know how hard it is, Tipper, holding it all together. If you’ve never heard RECORD BOOK BY CHUCK WAGON GANG, it’s beautiful beyond mere words…. God bless yall as I keep it real in VA…
Merry Christmas! I can’t find our Christmas stockings! I always put the box in the same place, but evidently not last year. I will keep searching.
So glad you found the spark plug! I was beginning to worry about it not showing up. It’s a very special memory that will go on for years & years . Merry Christmas to you & all your family. Praying for Granny from Texas. Hugs!!!
So glad you found the spark plug ornament!! I know how much it means to you. We so enjoyed your video of decorating the Christmas tree and your laughing fit is contagious!! We all laughed right along with you. So glad Granny could enjoy your tree decorating for her. Love and prayers to all of you and especially to Granny.
P.s. We really love seeing the boys in the videos and hearing them in the background when they’re not the “star”. Hahaha
We still use some of the decorations we bought 61 years ago for our first tree together.
Please Lord Jesus Bless Granny today and heal all her pain!
I hope you all have a Merry Christmas!
Joanna
I love the story of the spark plug ornament. I have many ornaments that just have to be on our tree each year too. The first ones are my children’s first ornaments with their baby pictures on them. I have ornaments my children made when they were little and ornaments my grandchildren have made too. I have ornaments from friends, and ornaments my kids bought me at Santa’s workshop in elementary school. I have a precious blue bird that my late son-in-law bought me as a gag gift. It’s covered with bright blue sequins and purple feathers. Little did he know that I thought his gag gift was beautiful, and that I would keep it forever. I pretty much know where every ornament came from and the story behind them. I think this is why it takes me forever to decorate it each year. I am glad Granny enjoyed you decorating for her. I keep her in my prayers.
May God bless your sweet Mama and keep her free from pain. I’m sure it cheered her up to have some Christmas decorations to enjoy.
So glad that you found the special spark plug!
Enjoy this day with your family.
Think snow!
So glad you found the spark plug ornament. I just knew it would turn up. Now your Christmas tree is complete and so beautiful.
We put up our big tree this year, we have artificial trees and we have a skinny one too. Our son-in-law loves our big tree and requested it for this year, so I’ve been working on hanging the different ornaments we have, which are mainly handmade from friends, family, grandkids and those we have bought from different places over the years. Hopefully I will get it finished this evening, we’ve been so busy with so much stuff going on it’s been hard to devote a day to it, so it’s and hour here and 2 hours there.
Prayers for Granny, for peace and healing in Jesus name.
To me there is not an ugly Christmas ornament. I like to look at them at Hobby Lobby. Hope everyone has a blessed day especially granny. Please pray for my niece Shanna. Her and her son Oliver are both going blind and she is in the hospital. This is the 3rd time they have removed her Shunt. She has fluid infection in her stomach. She is a very special niece and a great mother of faith. We would appreciate all your prayers. God bless you all.
Drama, I’m so sorry. I will pray for Shanna.
I’m glad you found the spark plug! I bet it goes back to its usual spot after Christmas this year.
Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus, please bless granny today, take away the pain she’s suffering Lord, give her peace , joy and comfort, we pray for deliverance from what she’s suffering, we pray for healing, God bless granny, in Jesus name Amen
that’s a great story Tipper, some items are special each year and forever, God bless you and have a great day
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas season.
We like to put a pickle ornament in our tree. A tradition passed down on my wife’s side of the family. We also like star wars and star trek ornaments on our tree.
Hallmark may have coined the phrase “keepsake ornaments”;but, we all have special homemade ornaments which bring back those precious moments of years gone by…
Praying for Granny. It makes my heart hurt knowing she is in pain. God bless all of y’all.
Good morning Tipper! Hope you have a blessed day. ✨
I sure hope Granny feels better over the holidays.
I remember when my daughter was three we had her Christmas out from Santa. When it was time we told her to go see what Santa brought her. She got to the living room door and saw a big pile started at it the ran and jumped in our bed and covered up head to toe.
We finally got her up, and she had a big time.
It is a good memory though. Her Daddy died when she was six and we’ve had 11 without him, but that was a good memory.
That’s so precious! The simplest things are the most treasured!
Matt may sue me over the copyrights, after first reading about the spark plug ornament several years ago I made some for some car loving friends. I had trouble finding used AC spark plugs for my GM friends, because I am a Ford man. At least one puts theirs on his tree every year. I have made few Christmas tree ornaments for my fishing friends by using the white and red plastic fishing bobbers and a snap swivel to hang them. I know of an auto mechanic that makes lamps and other things using old engine car parts such as the piston and crankshaft rod. In these lamps he will also mount a small clock inside of the insert cap on the rod. I bought my mechanic grandson one of these lamps. Don’t nobody tell him, this year, I have bought my son a toy size tractor this man has made using a “c” clamp- he used a spoon for the seat.
Randy,
Is imagination the mother of innovation, just as need is the mother of invention?
Sanford, I can’t say for sure, but I do say being poor is strong motivation for being a “do it you selfer.”