Last year, I greatly admired Tatyana's beautiful post about choosing and decorating her Christmas tree. If you missed it, go
here. Each year
Loree posts images of her magazine-worthy holiday decorations which always make me think about decorating my own house. I used to love decorating for Christmas and put a tree in every room; still like the idea of it. The thought of taking it all down, however is not so much fun. Part of the reason not to do a tree was that putting the large imitation tree together and putting the lights on took so much time, more time than setting up a real tree. Tom decided to remove that obstacle this year by buying a new pre-lit tree. This would be the year to once again deck the hall in a big way. Cedar garlands, holly, all sorts of clipped evergreens to fragrance the house, a room full of decorations schlepped upstairs all to dress the house. Things got a little hectic with performances, jobs, blogging, etc. To join with Tatyana and Loree, I'd like to share the extent or our decorating.
I mentioned to Loree that we'd gotten a new tree this year that was still in a box in the entryway. She asked, "Will you be pulling the tree out of the box and decorating it? Or just enjoying the (I'm assuming there is one) photo on the box?" That lady is full of style pointers!
So, I decided to turn the box around to see if there might indeed be a festive picture. Gosh, I feel all warm and sentimental already. Look at that beautiful red background.
It only needs a few decorations on it. There, isn't that better? Ornaments on a tree, is there anything more quintessentially Christmas?
The best part? Only these two boxes to carry to the basement and just this little patch of vacuuming. This is a step up from last year's
effort. Maybe next year will be the year that I once again throw the Robert Shaw Chorale albums on the hi fi and deck the halls once again. Hope your holiday decorating is equally stress free!
Well, will we see a picture of the decorated Christmas tree, Peter? I'm looking forward to it! Happy Christmas to you and your whole family, Peter!
ReplyDeleteIt's a little late for this year. I'm hoping that next year I'll be able to post pictures of more than a couple of boxes.
DeleteAwesome idea Peter. Loree is always inspiring and she has gone above and beyond on this one. Stress free holidays are the best.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas!
Merry Christmas Shirley!
DeleteWhere is a tree, Peter? Will you show it with decoration and garland?
ReplyDeleteTree is still in the box. Maybe next year it'll find its way into the living room.
DeleteHi Peter! Everyone is in his/her own boat. When we'll be empty nesters, we'd probably have a couple of branches standing in a vase. Before that, we enjoy choosing out tree, decorating it and leaving a glass of milk and cookies under it on the Christmas Eve. We like to sit around it and talk. We talk about the meaning of Christmas and holiday traditions in different countries, about basketball, dogs and silly things. Many ornaments have a story behind them. I also love to decorate our dining room. It looks like a million dollars, people say, and it costs probably less than junk food that an average person eats in a week - because, among other decorations, I use old curtains for a tablecloth, three dollar prints in frames on the walls and silverware bought at ramage sales. It hurts my feelings when people start to judge other people's style and way to decorate.We don't have any relatives living close, it's just four of us. We went and still go through tough times, having a child with a heart disease. And, I will do my very best to make Holidays for my family as warm and beautiful as it could be, without regard to what other people think. Charlie Brown tree or fairyland tree, it's not important. What is in our hearts - important. Merry Christmas to you, Peter!
ReplyDeleteOh Tatyana, I didn't mean to offend you! I truly love an admire your beautiful tree and your traditions and actually long to do the same but have run out of time. I was serious when I said that you and Loree are an inspiration to me and agree that it doesn't have to cost a lot to create something truly gorgeous! I certainly was not judging your style as anything other than glorious; mostly, I was poking fun at my own sloth. I'm so sorry if I hurt your feelings in any way! Peace.
DeleteYou actually had me laughing out loud. I think Lila is seriously worried I might have finally gone off the deep end...
ReplyDeleteJust in case you do decide (last minute) to put a tree in every room, I thought this post from Martha might help you come up with a suitable look: http://www.themarthablog.com/2013/12/my-holiday-decor-2.html...oh Martha.
In the meantime I love what Tatyana had to say "Charlie Brown tree or fairyland tree, it's not important. What is in our hearts - important."...
Glad you found it amusing as that was my intent. Will check out Martha's ideas! I agree with Tatyana about what's in our hearts being important.
DeleteYes, I agree with Tatyana too. Whether you decorate or not, I know the spirit of Christmas is in your heart all year. When we moved here we left our old fake tree behind, and our first year in this house, we also bought one of those pre-lit trees. We used it the first two years, and haven't put it up since. So much work to decorate and undecorate and then moving furniture around for it...I hope none of our neighbors judge us for not having a tree. It seems to me that people are decorating less garishly nowadays anyway, at least the outside of the house.
ReplyDeleteChristmas spirits? Like eggnog with plenty of rum?
DeleteActually I do love decorating for Christmas but it seems silly to do it for just us. I keep threatening to entertain during the season which would give me an excuse. Maybe12th night next year would be a good goal.
It is not silly to do it just for you, if you would enjoy it!
DeleteYou are so funny…you don't want to rush into decorating for Christmas. If you did decide to take your tree out of the box and plug it in, your pre-lit tree would be pretty without any decorations. But of course, you would have to put it back in the box. It sounds like a no stress holiday is in your future. :) Have a wonderful Christmas and the best New Year possible.
ReplyDeleteThank you Karen and I wish you a very merry Christmas and the best new year ever!
DeleteI always liked very colorful Christmas tree, but this year I have a color gold and red. They hang on her reindeers :)
ReplyDeleteYou've made so many lovely ornaments this year!
DeleteWhy yes! Our Christmas decorating happens to be very similar to yours. I'm liking the less-stress part of it immensely!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to us ALL :)
Next year I'll do it up big but this year was very busy. Still am enjoying the season a lot!
DeleteThanks for giving me a Christmas Eve laugh! Merry Christmas to you.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed it! Merry Christmas to you Lyn!
DeleteYou are deciding by prioritizing all the other activities that you do, and I love that. Stress-free is perfect in my book. We all know you have the best Christmas spirit in your heart!
ReplyDeleteI love doing it up big for the holidays but this year was very busy. Next year perhaps my cold dark heart will grow a size like the Grinch's and I'll pull out all the stops.
DeleteWell, good for you, I guess, but bad for me. As a new blogger friend I really wanted to see you do it up big. Maybe next year? You may recall from previous posts that I do it up pretty big every year myself. I love Christmas!
ReplyDeleteI love the way you decorate and I love Christmas but it's a busy time with the three jobs and making gifts. Next year, I'll teach fewer evening classes in December and decorate. It'll be fun to pull out all the boxes again!
DeleteMy husband would absolutely love that approach to decorating and there are moments when I find it appealing as well - especially when I'm struggling with the blasted lights that worked last year but stop working as soon as I've got 1/2 the string up or which fail to cooperate as I try, Martha Stewart style, to hide the ugly wires from view. Enjoy your decorations however you package them!
ReplyDeleteThanks Kris! I love seeing other people's decorations and hope you post yours! Oh yes, the hide the wire game, I remember it well. Next year we'll make a point of getting back into our Christmas traditions!
DeleteMy Christmas decors of 50 Christmases past are in boxes on high shelves in the equipment barn. On days that I like to live dangerously, I put a ladder up there and bring down boxes of treasures. This time there was a box that I could not have reached if I'd stood on the highest shelf which was a little out of reach for me to step up to. I knocked that sucker down with an extension pole meant for use with a paint roller. Miraculously, nothing broke. I still haven't seen everything I remember as being there, but I've glimpsed ancient treasures. I brought in Christmas Cactuses and set some candles around and plugged in some lights stuffed in glass vases. Festive!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the laugh! I can just picture you out there knocking boxes down and finding treasure! Your decorations do sound festive! Hope you have a very merry Chistmas!
DeleteLove this post, just got around to reading it as I seem to be a few days behind. There have been years I just brought the tree upstairs, plugged it in and called it good. Next year you'll be all ready for that!
ReplyDeleteNext year I feel I should do it up in a big way!
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