My Little Tree

Yesterday, I decided to put up a Christmas tree. I haven’t done that in a few years (too little time when I was working, no motivation since I retired, etc), but I decided that it was time to do it again. I started by placing a wooden tray table in front of the window, next to an outlet. The placement would allow the tree to be seen from outside while letting me enjoy seeing it inside without blocking the view of the television. I covered the table with a snowman themed runner.

I then went to the hall closet where all of my Christmas stuff is stored. I took out a swag and rigged it up so that I could hang it outside my door. Conveniently, there is already a hook there, so all I had to do was hang the swag on it. Then, I chose one of my small trees (yes, trees, plural) and took it out of the box. I chose a 3-foot Norway pine that I got on sale at Hobby Lobby a few years ago. I paid $4.99 for it.

It took about 15 minutes of work to get the branches spread out and looking okay. Oh, and did I mention that this tree was pre-lit. It has 35 mini lights already twined within the branches. So, once the branches were to my liking, I set the tree on the table and plugged it in. The Christmasy feeling started to bubble inside me.

Next, I had to decide on ornaments and decorations. Since this is a fairly small tree, I couldn’t really go overboard. And then I remembered some vintage ornaments that I had bought last year from the White Elephant table at a craft show. There were about 15 of them and they would be just what my tree needed. Total cost of the ornaments: $1.75. I got out the ornament hangers and began to place the balls on the tree.

There were two clear glass ornies that had been be-ribboned and hand painted with snowflakes, three dark blue and gold papier mache ornies and 10 of the old-fashioned glass ornies in pale greens and pinks. They gave the little tree a very Victorian feel. I had some glistening mylar snowflakes left over from a craft project that I scattered around the tree, too. I topped it off with a $.99 frosted pearl garland (it looks like little snowballs) and wrapped the end of a small white feather boa around the base.

The tree looked a little lonely standing on the table by itself, so I added a set of fabric-covered boxes (another White Elephant find for $1.00). There are three boxes, each covered with green and white fabric with a pink fabric top. They each have a candy cane on the front and the lids are embroidered with “sugar,” “spice,” “everything nice”. I stacked them at an angle and the colors really match the ornies on the tree.

Then, following the “less is more” approach, I decided that I pronounced the tree finished. Total cost of tree and decorations: $8.75. I opened my blinds so that the outside world can see my tree and it stayed lit until I went to bed. This morning, I took a picture of my tree, which is attached here. The boxes are on the other side, so not too visible in this photo, but they are there. It is absolutely amazing how having that little tree has put me into a very Christmasy mind-set.

Today, I am going to put together my little gifts for my great nieces and nephews (twelve right now, but number thirteen may be here by Christmas Eve). Tomorrow, I’ll bake my cookies and make some candy (I’m going to try my dad’s fudge recipe). Then, on Christmas Eve, I’ll bake one pie and thaw the other (thank you, Marie Callender) and head for my sister’s house for dinner with the family. And when I come home, my little tree will be here to greet me with its light and help to make the season truly bright.