The Ornaments On My Tree and the Photos They Remind Me Of

This year, as I trimmed my Christmas tree, I realized a lot of the ornaments on my tree are connected to my photography. In this post I will share some of the photos that are evoked when I look at them. Merry Christmas to all who celebrate!

My Old Friends at Cabin Creek ornament reminds me of the beautiful retired thoroughbreds I have come to know and love at this farm in Greenfield, NY where I volunteer, and of the many human friends I have made there as well.

Clockwise from top left: The farm from above, Will’s Way, Red Down South and Zippy Chippy, Commentator.

My Grand Canyon National Park ornament reminds me of my 2017 trip to this gorgeous place.

Clockwise from top left: The Grand Canyon in late afternoon, El Tovar Hotel, detail of the Grand Canyon, a mule and wrangler.

My many Cape Cod ornaments remind me of the countless trips I’ve taken there over the years and the time I’ve spent with family there.

Clockwise from top left: Nauset Light in Eastham, Eastham Buoy Christmas Tree, First Encounter Beach in Eastham, Mayo Beach in Wellfleet.

My Toga Heritage ornament reminds me of the many photos I’ve taken in my hometown of Saratoga Springs, NY.

Clockwise from top left: Downtown Saratoga from above, War Memorial in Congress Park with Christmas tree, Saratoga Spa State Park from above, Fireworks over Saratoga Lake.

My Eiffel Tower ornaments remind me of my visits to the City of Light.

Clockwise from top left: Notre-Dame Cathedral, Louvre Museum, Montmartre neighborhood, Eiffel Tower from the Seine River.

My Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise ornament reminds me of my trips to Banff National Park in Alberta and canoeing on Lake Louise.

Clockwise from top left: Canoeing on Lake Louise, a grizzly bear in Banff, Lake Louise at night, a rainbow over Moraine Lake.

My Yellowstone Lake Hotel ornament reminds me of my trip to Yellowstone National Park in 2013.

Clockwise from top left: Lower Yellowstone Falls, a grizzly bear cub shakes off water after bathing in the Snake River, Old Faithful Geyser, Yellowstone Lake.

My Walt Disney World ornaments remind me of my countless trips to the “Happiest Place on Earth.”

Clockwise from top left: Hollywood Boulevard at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the Monorail glides by at Epcot, Main Street USA at Magic Kingdom, a lion takes a nap at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

My New Orleans ornament reminds me of my trip there in 2018.

Clockwise from top left: Trumpeter Buddy Ruff plays a tune, a street car heads down Canal Street, nighttime on Decatur Street, Jackson Square.

My Saratoga Race Course ornament reminds me of my hometown race track, where this past summer I shot for Saratoga Living Magazine.

Clockwise from top left: Damon’s Mound wins the 2022 Grade II Saratoga Special Stakes, the track from above, jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. celebrates his win of the 2022 Grade I Jockey Club Gold Cup on Max Player, American Pharoah gallops around the track the morning before running in the 2015 Grade I Travers Stakes where he placed second to Keen Ice.

My Oswego State ornament reminds me of my 9 semesters at my alma mater and the gorgeous sunsets I witnesses over Lake Ontario.

Clockwise from top left: A cloudy day on Lake Ontario, sunset at Fort Ontario looking out at Oswego Lighthouse, statue of founder Edward Austin Sheldon in front of Sheldon Hall, self portrait in my dorm room.

My Ahwahnnee Hotel ornament reminds me of my 2014 trip to Yosemite National Park and my stay at the Ahwahnee.

Clockwise from top left: Gates of the Valley, the outside of the Ahwahnee Hotel at night, the Ahwahnee Great Room, Half Dome at night.

My Timberline Lodge ornament reminds me of my 2016 stay at the hotel and visit to the Mt. Hood area.

Clockwise from top left: Mt. Jefferson from the Timberline Lodge, the Fruit Loop in Hood River, the outside of the Timberline Lodge, the lobby of the Timberline Lodge.

My St. John’s ornament reminds me of my 2019 trip to Newfoundland.

Clockwise from top left: a house in Trinity, Trinity from Gun Hill, Cape Spear in St. John’Clockwise from top left: a house in Trinity, Trinity from Gun Hill, Cape Spear in St. John’s, a puffin in Bonavista.

My White House ornament reminds me of my many visits to Washington, D.C, and my tour of the White House.

Clockwise from top left: United States Capitol, the White House, Marine Corps War Memorial at Arlington Cemetery, National Mall.

My Rockettes ornament reminds me of my many visits to New York City at Christmas time.

Clockwise from top left: Saks Fifth Avenue, skating at Rockefeller Center, Rockefeller Center with lights, Radio City Music Hall.

My ruby slippers ornament reminds me of my visits to many landmarks associated with my favorite actress, Judy Garland.

Clockwise from top left: Judy Garland’s former home in Belair, CA; Judy’s handprints and footprints in front of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre (now TCL Chinese Theatre) in Hollywood; one of Judy’s stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame; the Thalberg Building at Sony Pictures Studios, formerly MGM Studios where Judy worked from 1935-1950.

My beefeater ornament reminds me of my trip to London in 2009.

Clockise from top left: A guard outside Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge, Parliament, Tower of London.

My Kennedy Space Center ornament reminds me of my visits to Cape Canaveral when my grandmother lived nearby in Florida.

Clockwise from top left: Outside of Kennedy Space Center, Mission Control replica, Saturn V rocket, Saturn V boosters

My Nipper Knolls ornament reminds me of the beautiful horses I met volunteering at Nipper Knolls Equine Center in Granville, NY (formerly Gansevoort).

Clockwise from top left: Max, who passed away last year, runs in the snow; Luke walks towards the camera while Quincy, Sonny, and Frankie graze in the background; Sonny and Luke have a playful spar; Frankie, Luke and Quincy share an affectionate moment.

My House of the Seven Gables ornament reminds me of my visit last year to this historic landmark and the city of Salem, MA.

Clockwise from top left: Pioneer Village, House of the Seven Gables, inside one of the Gables, Salem Witch Museum.

My Sanibel Island Light ornament reminds me of my trip to the “Seashell Capital of the World” in 2006.

To see more of my travel photography be sure to follow me on Instagram and Facebook. All photos in this post © Samantha Decker and may not be reused without permission.

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