Advent Calendar: Grab Bag

This was the topic from the 17th but I thought I would us it today. Author’s choice. Please post from a topic that helps you remember Christmases past!

When we lived in Whitestone, New York we had a finished basement.  At one end of the basement there was a closet that went from one end of the room to the other.  I drew it here below in my Electric Quilt program.  I made the doors a different color but the room was all wood paneled.   

My drawing of the basement closet

In the middle of the closet my Dad kept the summers screens or the winter storm windows.  What a big job that must have been to take those off and swap them out twice a year for a three story home. Anyway I am sure my drawing is not to scale but I just wanted to give you an idea of how the closet was set up.  At each end he had shelves for tools and what not. 


So how does that relate to Christmas?  In that middle section on top of the screens our Christmas gifts would be hidden.  They were hidden under a tarp or old blankets.  I don't remember which one of us kids found them first but I have a vague memory of George and I poking around.  I think I decided it was more fun to be surprised on Christmas morning instead of knowing what we were going to receive.