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For the Adams family, it was something old, something new and something tried and something true.

Charles Adams and his family have been celebrating the coming of Christmas with open house at the Adams Glass Studio on the weekend after Thanksgiving for about 43 years.

This year, Adams said he decided to try something different.

“Every now and then, you just need to put old ways to the side and try something different,” Adams said, as he settled against the counter and turn up a short “co-cola.”

“This year, we had an all-day event,” Adams said. “On Friday morning, Santa Claus was here to visit with the children. On Friday night, we had a customer appreciation wine party for all those who have supported us over all these years. It was a good day and a good time.”

Adams said he and his family have made many friendships over the years and their door is always open.

“But, there’s just something special about getting together around the holidays,” he said. “Sam would have liked all of this.”

Sam Adams was the family patriarch. He opened Adams Nut Shop in 1953 and it has been a mainstay on U.S. Highway 231 south of Troy since that time.

“Daddy sold sliced watermelons in the summer and peanuts, pecans and cockleburs in the fall,” Adams said, laughing. “He sold unique items — porcupine eggs, square gourds and bags of red dirt. He would be interested in what we’re selling now. He would get a kick out of red pickup trucks and John Deere tractors.”

Adams Glass Studio is a shopping place for locals as well as travelers. And the glass art that Adams and his son, David, create also changes with the times.

There is always something old and something new.

Adams Glass Studio is known for its nativity scenes, angels and ornaments and the traditional glasses pieces are the hallmarks of their Christmas creations. However, there is something folksy and whimsical about 2019 and the father and son duo is trying something new.     

“We have whimsical glass Christmas trees and folk art nativity scenes,” Adams said. “There’s a folk-art craze going on so we have folk art pieces. And, we have John Deere tractors.”

Adams said tractors, especially the John Deere tractors, are jumping ahead of the red pickup trucks in popularity as Christmas décor.

“For the last several years, red pickup trucks with Christmas tree in the bed have been the popular thing. They are on everything from T-shirts, Christmas cards, you name it,” Adams said. “We are a farming community so we have tractors for Christmas. Around here, John Deere is very popular but we have red tractors and blue tractors, too. It’s good to try something new and we’re having fun doing it. And, just think about it, Jack Deloney has been doing tractors for years, so why not?”