Hometown Sledding 2024 Ornament

Hometown Sledding Ornament Each year, I choose one of my paintings to become a Christmas ornament, and this ornament features my folk-art painting, Hometown Sledding. This painting was inspired by cherished childhood memories of sledding beside the LaCrosse Baptist Church in LaCrosse, Virginia. Whenever a good snow fell, children from all over town would gather on the hill next to the church. The road at the top would often be closed, creating the perfect place for endless sledding adventures. Although I only had a single photograph of the church for reference, the rest of the painting came from memory—mine and my sister’s. Growing up in a small Virginia town during the 1960s and early 1970s was a special gift, and this painting celebrates those simple moments that brought so much joy. Look closely and you’ll see children racing down the snowy hill, the church standing watch over the scene, and even a train in the distance—a tribute to the railroad crossing that gave LaCrosse its name. Every detail reflects the warmth of community, family, and childhood wonder. This ornament is more than a Christmas decoration. It is a keepsake celebrating small-town traditions, treasured memories, and the magic of winter days spent with friends and family. May it remind you of the places, people, and moments that made your own hometown special.