We decorate the house first
Tabletops and mantles
And when all is done, we enjoy the house decorated as such
before we add the tree
For just a few days
And then a road trip to the tree shop
Once home
We keep it on the porch in a bucket of water
Until we're ready to bring inside
Where it's put in the Christmas tree place in the living room
And lighted with the big old fashioned colored lights
And strands and strands of red beads
that look like shiny cranberries
Then the ornaments are placed on
And then the tree is finished . . .
With icicles dripping from each branch
Ornaments old and new . . .
A styrofoam ball pinned with metal stars and circles
Made by me when I was a Campfire Girl . . . ages ago
A wooden German ornament
A used bulb for the Kansas City Plaza Christmas lights
sold by them to help finance those lights
A 50's plastic Santa -- from my childhood tree
A metal stamped ornament made by WF Norman Sheetmetal Company
from Nevada, Missouri
Two antique blown glass birds
And the finishing touch
Is the tinsel
Real "antique" tinsel
Packages and packages bought by us at a flea market ages ago
Probably from one of the last years that they sold "real" tinsel
Because of the price!
A tree isn't a tree without real tinsel
The tree . . . in the living room . . .
The Christmas decorations are now complete
It shines and shimmers and is a welcoming light at night.
Both Husband Jim and I enjoy the beauty of the tree.
And each year, we think this year's tree is the prettiest ever.
We both think that this year's tree is
the prettiest and best Christmas tree!
I'm joining The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays and Susan at Between Naps On the Porch for Met Monday.
16 comments:
It just looks beautiful! The real tinsel is like the icing on a cake.
We'll decorate our tree tomorrow afternoon. I can't wait to sit in the dimly-lit living room with the glow of the fire and the twinkling lights of the tree.
That's the best part of tree decorating -- when you're all done, the boxes are back in the basement, it's finally twilight, the living room is dimly lit, the fireplace provides additional light and the tree is the star! You said is so eloquently, Pondie!
Your tree is truly beautiful and has the look of trees I remember from childhood. A nice memory to see this morning...thank you.
Beautiful Martha, much like the Christmas trees I grew up with. Now my question is, do you pull off the tinsel to save for the next year? Mother always made us pull the strands off to save in the box they came in - just being frugal I suppose like saving the wax paper from sandwiches to reuse. :-)
Judith
Yes, the real metal tinsel we do save -- but I must admit that you lose some every year.
Beautiful, beautiful tree! Brings back memories of when we were children throwing the tinsel on the tree (Smile)!
Oh I remember my sister, mother and I getting so mad at the "men" in the family tossing the tinsel on the tree -- the "ladies" hung it strand by gleaming strand. We'd send my Dad and brothers away, because we didn't like their tinsel messes. Hmmm ... I think they had a master plan!
LOVE your tree. I remember that tinsel packaging; I can't believe you have it! After the first couple of trees after we married, Howard and I gave up on the tinsel. I so miss it. I remember sitting on one side of our family room when I was a child, and puffing out a breath of air, and being able to count 1-2-3-4 and THEN the air would hit the tinsel on the tree across the room, and it would shiver.
Great memories! Thanks, Martha and Jim, for such a great tree to share.
We put up our fresh tree last evening, letting it relax ... and now Howard is beginning to put on the lights.
New little doggy Dylan thinks the lower branches are a delicious snack! He is such a brat.
Merry Christmas, my dear friends -- Cass (and Howard, too)
How lovely to see a beautiful old-fashioned tree like I remember from my childhood...thank you!
Love the old ornaments and the stories behind them. My daughter has one on her tree that always makes us all smile: My maid of honour gave her a dancing hippo in a pink tutu years ago. Every year Arlene hangs Sherin's special ornament on the front of the tree, and we all chuckle. It's a lovely warm memory, many years in the making.
Have a great Christmas! xox
Love a tree dripping with tinsel. My favorite are the antique birds. They are darling.
Martha,
I agree...the Best Christmas Tree ever!!!
Fondly,
Pat
Hi Martha...lovely setting for X'mas.you have a beautiful tree and other things.have a great season and thanks to drop in...Love ..sujatha.
Your tree is just beautiful and I see you decided to put on the tinsel. I am also glad to see that you use the colored lights, old fashioned ones too. Those are the kind of lights I use on mine as well, it brings back memories of my childhood since thats all we had on our tree growing up. Love your bubble lights, we use to have some but no longer working and I can't find them anymore. We always had those on our tree when I was a child as well. I opted not to put tinsel on my tree, the mess, grands that put everything in their mouths, yada yada. I enjoyed your Christmas tree post.
Carolyn
The tinsel is the icing on the cake. Love your tree and the ideas and recipes you so generously share on your blog!
Gorgeous! Love the colors!Looks like the Christmas trees from long ago- cheerful and bright!
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