Christmas Postathon — Day 19

Posted on December 19, 2015 by joey

On the 19th, Nancy lists the Christmas tree.

I’d argue it’s a Yule tree, but I must admit, Christmas trees seem more popular.

We got a live tree this year.
We don’t always.
Last year we had Cletus the Dog Kitten to contend with, so we felt like the artificial tree was better suited to kittenhood.

We’ve had several artificial trees since we’ve been together. Initially, we had a gigantic one and that was cool, because we had a lot of space.
Then we moved to a smaller home. The first year, I took off some limbs and put it in a corner. The second year, I decided that gigantic tree would look better in front of Beauty Queen’s picture window, and we bought a skinny pre-lit tree instead.
I’ll never buy a pre-lit tree again. I’m just sayin.
Then we moved to Georgia and our skinny tree looked absolutely ridiculous in our big house. So we used real trees awhile, and then we bought another 8-footer, but not too full.

The real tree is where it’s at for me. Smells good. Supports farmers. Becomes mulch.

But one cannot always find the perfect live tree for the space.
Or the kittens.
Or the toddlers.
Or the allergies.
So you know, I don’t have anything against the fake trees. They’re certainly easier to trim.

Surprisingly, I’ve not caught Clara in the tree yet this year…

Two years ago, I decided to reclaim the tree from the children’s ornaments. Last year, I let them put some of their ornaments on. This year I did not. Maybe next year. Maybe not.

I’m already fighting three cats, do I really need to address the kitsch and clutter of 100 kid ornaments?
I secure the ornaments as if they’ll spontaneously combust when they hit the floor. (As I’m sure all cat lovers do.) I put some jingle bells on the bottom for the cats’ amusement.

I’ve never figured out how to have a tree skirt with cats.

This is the first year I got wise and looked for other ways to do the ribbon. Not so much a garland as what seems to be an explosion. When I wake up in the morning, I don’t have to redress the entire tree. I just stick the ends of the ribbon back in.

ig_tree

I’d love to have a new fake tree. I think I’d opt for skinny again. And flocked. And maybe with some gilded pine cones.
But then, the genuine smell of pine….Ahh!

I’m one of those people who really loves the tree. I mean, c’mon, twinkly lights and sparkly things and ribbon!
I secretly wish to admire lit evergreens all year, perhaps one in every room. Maybe a lil Charlie Brown tree on the table…
Sadly, I live in a little bungalow with Mister Bah Humbug and he’d be quick to point out how many, many evergreens are outside.

Do you love tree-time, too? Do you have to be careful about getting a tree that is just right for your space?

About joey

Neurotic Bitch, Mother, Wife, Writer, Word Whore, Foodie and General Go-To-Girl
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38 Responses to Christmas Postathon — Day 19

  1. Josh Wrenn says:
    December 19, 2015 at 12:59 PM

    Yule trees were typically left outside and the holly was brought inside during Yule. The outside trees were decorated and food was tied to the bows for animals. So I guess a Christmas tree being inside is fitting. We got a tree way to big for our house once. Hannah and I in our tiny little house we rented. It barely fit through the door, was just under the ceiling with the star on, and took up almost the entire living room. It was awesome, and funny.

    Liked by 2 people

    • joey says:
      December 19, 2015 at 1:05 PM

      True, but they still evolved from there.
      I understand the tree too big thing, because even when I took limbs off the gigantic one, it really did look like it would devour the baby like some haunted horror tree! Someone came over and said, “So you REALLY love Christmas trees, huh?” LOL
      Thanks for sharing your story 😀

      Liked by 1 person

  2. Judy Martin says:
    December 19, 2015 at 1:04 PM

    That is a lovely tree Joey, and it looks so pretty. I love real trees, but those pines seem to get into everything! 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

  3. jan says:
    December 19, 2015 at 1:20 PM

    We have an artificial tree – looks so of like a birch tree. Definitely a little different but easy to take care of and decorate and the cat leaves it alone! Have a great Christmas!

    Liked by 2 people

  4. coldhandboyack says:
    December 19, 2015 at 1:23 PM

    We always have a live tree. It doesn’t make as much sense with the kids grown, but there you are. It took us two tries to get one that wasn’t suicidal this year, but I’m writing this from under its twinkling lights.

    Liked by 2 people

  5. Benson says:
    December 19, 2015 at 2:19 PM

    In my first life,( with wife #1) we had an artificial tree for a couple of years. Didn’t really like it. The first house was an old farm house with tall ceilings so I got a HUGE fir tree. The stand I had didn’t support it so I had to run over and get the biggest one made. My boys 8 and 6 at the time were holding on to the tree while I drove 10 blocks and back. They were doing well until the oldest ran to pee. Got home to a monstrous tree devouring a 6 year old. No one got hurt,thankfully. Probably not the smartest move I made. Pretty funny though.

    Liked by 2 people

    • joey says:
      December 19, 2015 at 3:45 PM

      Hah! It is pretty funny! I’ve seen a few giant firs with the big wooden X at the bottom for stability, and I guess now I’ll have a new appreciation for them!

      Liked by 1 person

  6. Deb at The Front Door Project says:
    December 19, 2015 at 2:21 PM

    We always have a real tree downstairs, and I still let the kids have the bottom foot or two for their ornaments (I lost that argument!) I love looking at my ornaments as I unwrap them every year. I collect German glass ornaments and I have so many favorites. Last year we got a second tree, a fake, for the attic which is refinished as our family/TV hang out space. It’s nice to have something festive up there too! I do love the tree, and the smell, and the twinkling lights.

    Liked by 2 people

  7. vanbytheriver says:
    December 19, 2015 at 3:06 PM

    I held out so many years to have a live tree. We needed landscaping when we built this home, so we bought potted ones, that are now growing up the second floor (16 years). I broke down and the hubby got his desired artificial tree…and there are benefits. It can be put up way ahead of time and there are few needles that shed ! I miss the smell of a fresh killed tree, but the last few years, the live ones had little or no fragrance. 🎄
    p.s. I kinda like the ribbon explosion !

    Liked by 2 people

    • joey says:
      December 19, 2015 at 3:50 PM

      Thanks 🙂
      Yeah, the artificial ones are certainly easier to trim, no doubt about it. I’ve considered planting a row of firs out back for more privacy and sound absorption. I thought more like 20 years, but if yours are at the second story by 16, then all the more reason to really lean toward that, so thanks for the info there.

      Liked by 1 person

  8. April says:
    December 19, 2015 at 4:19 PM

    I tried crunched up craft paper as a tree skirt this year. The cats destroyed it in the first couple of hours. I finally put the old blanket they love lying on and they won’t go near the tree—fickle things. We go with a fake tree. Our family/living room is a 2-story room–I guess that’s what you would call it. The ceiling goes way up. Our little 6 footer looked lost so we finally go a skinny 9 foot tree. We have always had to go with fake because our oldest has allergies to the real ones. As far as the ornaments? All plastic except for the very top.

    Liked by 2 people

  9. Fannie Frankfurter says:
    December 19, 2015 at 5:46 PM

    I love that tree! You put way more effort into yours than I did.
    My dad used to put up a “real” tree but I never liked the scent.

    Liked by 2 people

  11. Dan Antion says:
    December 19, 2015 at 7:39 PM

    Your tree is beautiful. If you can keep the ornaments on tight, you’re better at decorating than I am. MiMi seems to be able to get anything off of our tree, We try to keep her distracted with sacrificial ornaments.

    Liked by 2 people

    • joey says:
      December 19, 2015 at 7:46 PM

      Thanks, Dan. Those sacrificial ornaments are important! I’ve got jingle bells all around the base, so that really helps with distraction. I really do wrap and wind those green wires tightly. The more precious, the more winding!

      Liked by 1 person

  12. _Marielli says:
    December 19, 2015 at 9:15 PM

    Lovely tree I love your ornaments as well 🙂 I never had a Yule tree before

    Liked by 2 people

  13. Marc-André says:
    December 20, 2015 at 6:32 AM

    Love your ornaments.

    Liked by 1 person

  14. Nancy says:
    December 20, 2015 at 9:33 PM

    Every year I send Hubby for the tree I tell him “tall and thin” (we have 10 foot ceilings Ina smallish living room. He used to come home with “short and fat” 😬 But now that Miss D goes with him she keeps him in line. I guess I could just go pick it out myself except I really don’t want to.😉
    I love your ribbons. I might try some myself this year.

    Liked by 1 person

  15. dalecooper57 says:
    December 21, 2015 at 4:27 AM

    We have a minuscule tree, but it is real. It’s small enough to fit on the coffee table and comes with pre-fitted, battery powered lights and a few baubles. My daughter and I made some extra decorations for it and it looks very festive. Plus, an extra bonus, it only has a very small capacity for dropping needles everywhere.

    Liked by 1 person

  16. Judy @ NewEnglandGardenAndThread says:
    December 22, 2015 at 1:42 PM

    Love tree time with shiny ornaments, white lights – what’s not to love? Well, I guess I don’t love getting all those boxes down from the attic or putting them all away, but I love the four plus weeks it is up. On a gloomy day like today, I can plug everything in and enjoy the brightness. Fake, slim, pre-lit tree here for the past couple of years – fits perfect in the corner I have for it. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    • joey says:
      December 22, 2015 at 1:46 PM

      Thanks, yeah, it’s definitely my style 🙂
      The corner bit is definitely a benefit to the skinny artificial sort, and why I’d like a new skinny artificial one on reserve.

      Liked by 1 person

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