Thoughts on trees . . .

 We put up our Christmas Tree yesterday afternoon.  Todd's been taking naps most afternoons, but he didn't yesterday.   I think it gets a little bit harder every year for Todd to get it down from the attic.  I think we may need to rethink where we store it at the end of the holidays this year.  But here I am so happy this morning typing to you once again via tree-light.  I  LOVE it! 

I just need to get a new tree skirt to put beneath it.  I didn't like the way the old one was looking when I took it out of the box and so it got put back in the box.  It was looking so tatty.  I will have a few adjustments to make today of course.  I was feeling rather tired myself by the time I had finished decorating it and so the last few bits just kinda got thrown on.  I have some tinsel also that I might use.  I couldn't make up my mind yesterday to use it or not.

We got rid of our dining room table.  We don't actually have a dining room.  Just the end of the lounge by the back window that we used for a dining area.  We actually hadn't been using it at all over these last months.  There was just no room to sit people around it once you pulled the table out and opened it up, and so we had gone towards the use of TV trays that we set up around the living room with chairs and which is ever so much more comfortable and gives you room to breathe.  Basically I had only been using the table for taking food photos.   I may regret getting rid of it at some point I am sure.  I said to Todd if we find we really do want a table again, perhaps we can pick up a small round one, big enough for two at Ikea or something in the new year.  For now, this suits.

I guess we aren't inviting anyone for Christmas dinner eh?  

 I love seeing how different people decorate for the holidays.  This one is from Clean and Scentsible.  It looks very, well . . .  clean and sensible!  Nothing too eye popping here.  Everything is kind of monochromatic and stylised looking.  It goes well with the furniture, but for myself I would like a bit more colour.

  This one from Eye Candy Creations by Jenn Hayslip on Flickr is more my style, although in all truth I am not sure I would like a Christmas tree taking up all that space by the back door at the end of my galley kitchen.  I would  love a galley kitchen however.  Any kitchen with more counterspace.  I wonder if Santa will bring me one.  (Won't hold my breath!)  What I really love about this (Besides that cute tree skirt) is that eye catching vintage covering on top of the china cabinet, which has absolutely nothing to do with the tree at all.  But its vintage and I love vintage and I also adore the drawer pulls.  Sigh . . .  I am incorrigible, I know  . . .

  This one is really more my style.  It is old fashioned and not colour themed.  I think the colour themed ones are pretty too look at, but I don't really think they reflect much of the family's personality.  I much prefer trees which have an assortment of ornaments on them.  Ornaments gathered and collected through the years with memories attached to them . . .  this lovely tree photo was taken by Steve Luscher on Flickr.  I do believe those are real candles on the tree.  And it is a real tree.  I am sure it smells amazing.  I am loving the little gingerbreadman I can see down in the lower right portion of the tree.  I have a thing for gingerbreadmen.

Oh boy in my head I just went back to the smell of Christmas when I was a child.   Pine scented.  Lovely.  My mother used to hate the needles in the carpet and the mess.  I confess that if you got one caught in your toe it did hurt, but that smell . . . oh that smell.   The smell of outdoor mountain tops  . . . all piney and fresh.  And wintery.

 Now that's what I call a tree and a half.  You need a house and a half to hold it comfortabley I think!  Its all so very grandiose with the winding staircase, all garlanded.  Golds, silvers and whites with pops of red.  Again a bit too stylised, right down to the gifts beneath the tree.  This is not really my cup of tea.  Again  . . .  where are the memories?  Pretty to look at but no soul.  From Frontgate.

 A tree should have soul . . .

 

A tree should reflect the personality and memories of the family that stands around it and that it serves.  Themed trees are nice  . . . in shopping centres, but I don't like them in homes.  (No offence to anyone who does or has one intended.)  Themes just are not for me.   Perhaps that reflects my childhood.  Our tree was filled with ornaments that my mother had collected through the years, mostly from our stay in Germany.  (The Germans do beautiful ornaments.)  I have a lot of blown glass ornaments on my tree . . .  red and white toadstools, snowmen, santas and gingerbreadmen.  All blown glass.  I try to pick up a new one each year.  Last year it was a little blown glass robin, which reflects my love of English robins.  You see them on lots of Christmas cards . . . . 

 

 

 They are a common theme, along with red post boxes, snow and holly.  I love them . . .   I have blown glass baubles also and little blown glass angels which I love, but my favourite ones of all are ones which have been gifted to me by friends.   I adore them.  You know who you are.  They are filled with love.   To think that someone has spent time to make me something beautiful to hang on my Christmas tree amazes me and fills my heart with  a joy I cannot explain.

Mitzie loves to lay beneath it.  I think she thinks we put the tree up for her alone.   That's okay.  I am just happy she is enjoying it too.  We don't really do presents in our house.  Oh, I sent small gifts to people I love outside our home, but Todd and I really have everything we need.  We are just happy with a good meal and each other's company and Mitzie Doodle as Val calls her.  (Love that name Mitzie Doodle.)

What are your favourite decorations?  What kind of tree do you enjoy?  I really want to know!

A thought to carry with you through today  . . . 


✿¸.•*¨`*•..¸✿ ✿¸.•*¨`*•..¸✿
One of the most glorious 
messes created in the world,
is the mess createdin
the living room
on Christmas Day . . . 
~Andy Rooney
✿¸.•*¨`*•..¸✿ ✿¸.•*¨`*•..¸✿

Spiritual Enlightenment 

 

 Cooking in The English Kitchen today.  Quick Cassoulet.  Deliciously simple!


 Have a wonderful Wednesday.  How did that happen?  This week is flying by!  In all the buzz don't forget!

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And I do too!