So I decided to go up into the attic for our tree and the decorations. This year I decided to do the 'big' tree. I was inspired because of two bloggers trees that they recently posted about. One is Donna's wonderful funky tree. It can be seen here, at Funky Junk Interiors. And the other tree is by Jeri. Her lovely tree with it's antique jewels can be seen here, at Hopalong Hollow.
After insulating the attic a year or so ago, DH did some rearranging up there and put all the Christmas boxes right near the ladder at the west end of the attic. It's all easy to get to and I enjoyed seeing the boxes and reading what was in them. My excitement for the days' project was revving up. I got the tree trunk in the stand and started putting on the limbs and then saw that the thing was crooked in the stand. It was slipping so wouldn't stand straight, having lost it's piece of cork that we had used before. I started taking bottom branches off, to see if I could remedy the situation with a shim, but that didn't work. I went out to DH's workshop and told him my problem, he came in to take a look, and ended up going back to workshop with tree trunk and stand. He brought it back in a little while later, ready to be inserted in stand and ta da, it's straight and should always be so from now on.
This tree was another one of our 'curbside' finds 2-3 years ago. It was right on the street east of us thrown out still all put together, but without a stand. Of course, FlowerLady had to have this tree because it was gorgeous, and FREE. Since our cottage is small, I got the idea, to leave off some of the branches on the back side so that I could move it closer to the wall and it wouldn't stick out into the room as far. It worked great, I just had to use some of DH's heavy little metal weights from his workshop. They work fine in the stand, on the back side.
The lights were also found curbside in the last year or so, and I was thrilled that they all worked. Once I had the lights on the tree, then the real fun began. Unpacking and hanging the ornaments. It was an all day job, as I walk around the tree seeing where I want to place each ornament. Sometimes I move them, because they could look better over here, or wait maybe over here. Ah yea, that's just right.
Some of these ornaments are really old, passed down from DH's family. Some my late MIL gave us each year until she passed away. She had started the tradition with her kids when they were little. Others we've collected through the years, and some were given to us, plus I was involved in a Christmas ornie swap with some friends for about 5 years in a forum, where we exchanged handmade ornaments.
After decorating all day, around 5 or so I was basically done with the tree, and pooped! Now I just have to hang ornaments where ceiling and wall meet, and set up the creche. That won't be until Sunday though, as I am working at my job today and tomorrow.
Here is a little peak at the tree as taken this morning from my little space. There will be more pictures once I get the rest done, and all the boxes back up into the attic.
The Christmas spirit
~ Love ~
changes hearts and lives.
Pat Boone
Zone 10 ~ s.e. FL
