Tree Candles

   As a kid, I often overheard Mom saying that the pine trees were decorated with their candles.  When I first heard this, I began to get excited, even though, I knew it was springtime.  To me, decorating any sort of tree meant Christmas and I had seen the candles that used to be used on Christmas trees "back in the day"...so putting two and two together, I came up with the wrong answer.  It was not Christmas and Mom was not referring to wax candles to be lit on the tree. Crazy talk...but she was not wrong...I was wrong.  She was referring to the new growth shoots on the pine trees in the woods. The new growth on pine trees does indeed resemble the Christmas Tree candles of long ago and...get this...those new shoots are called candles!

  Here is a tidbit of information about those "candles" for anyone who wishes to have a small, well maintained pine tree in the garden.  Once those candles appear, it is time to do some trimming which is actually called "candling" in the gardening world.  Usually, the new shoots can be broken by hand or using just hand snips.  Trimming back these shoots will encourage thicker branches and, also, inhibit rampant growth overall...at least, so say the experts.  I have never tried it as I do not have space in my gardens for a squatty pine tree.  In fact, I wish the few tall ones that are near the house were gone altogether.  Pine trees and hurricanes do not play nicely and the trees usually wind up snapped.  

  While I have no plans to go out breaking the candles from the tops of pine trees, the sight of them brings back some fond memories of taking walks in the woods with Mom.  Pop taught me most of what I know about planting but it was Mom who taught me the sweet names and some folklore about things found in the woods.  I sure miss Mom and Pop.  As I age, that missing becomes stronger and stronger.  I miss their knowledge, their strict rules and, mostly, their kind ways. Very few people are like that nowadays.  Anyway...look at the pine trees!  They are decorated with candles just about now and it is not even Christmas yet!

Not Feeling It...

  Once again, Christmastime is upon us and I am just not feeling it.  This has been a particularly hard couple of weeks for me so the exhaustion is fraying the nerves.  I want rest not the hustle and bustle of holidays.  Then again, this hustle and bustle will not last and I shall then wish it was here again.  The brain is never satisfied!  It is to be an unusually quiet holiday season around the Bayou, this year as, once again, Mark has to be away and the grandlittles cannot come from the island.  Son and I will putter about the place and hope that Darling Daughter can take off of work at the senior care center long enough to share at least Christmas Day with us.  The effort of decorating seems almost pointless but I am going through the motions.  Hopefully, my mood will brighten once I start poking bits of "Christmas" in every nook and cranny of the Little Bayou House.

  This morning, I spent my time putting ornaments on the tree.  The tree stands in the middle of the room so can be viewed from all sides.  This gives me the opportunity to sit and admire the beauty from different angles but, also, makes each misplaced light stand out like a sore thumb.  I have been rearranging lights and ornaments all day.  In fact, I think I have spent more time "fixing" the tree than actually decorating it.

  For the past ten years or so, the "theme" has been a country Christmas but, since "farmhouse" everything has caught on with a rage, I had to be a bit different.  The tree is now decorated with ornaments from "Christmases Past" which suits me fine.  I am old. Why not have old decorations?  In fact, it sort of suits the living room since the entire thing is filled with "old".  Old furniture, old clocks, old lamps, old me...we all fit.  

  By the time I complete the Little Bayou House's transformation to Christmas, my spirits will have lifted and things will be easier.  The peace of the season will settle around the Bayou and make the old brain thankful for what is here even though I shall miss what is not.  

A Nudge in the Right Direction

   Since it was a dreary, rainy day, I decided it was the perfect day to attempt that Christmas decorating that I have been neglecting.  Somebody has to do it and I guess that somebody is me.  So, I tried to get the lights working on the tree.  For being a "prelit" tree, it sure has a ton of unlit bulbs. To add to the frustration of finding so many burnt bulbs, the replacement bulbs were also nonworking.  The packet was still sealed but only three out of thirty bulbs were good.  Silly of me to expect those to work.  Mr. PJ helped tremendously by just being the sweet old dog his is.  When he noticed me getting ready to toss the whole tree out the back door, he gently nudged me as if to say "I will let you pet me to make things all better."  I did....it did and I was ready to accept fate and let the tree be semi-lit.  A half lit tree is better than no tree, right?

  Next I wrangled the never-ending strands of garland from the upstairs closet.  Garland is one of those things that looks so beautiful once it is in place but can really fight with you while you are trying to hang it.  Mine is currently decorating the floor of the living room.  The rain is at fault there.  My tall step ladder was out in the greenhouse and I was not going to run there to retrieve it.  Instead of hanging garland, I stood on a chair to reach the top cabinet where the Christmas dishes were stored.  At least now, the china cabinet looks festive!

  Mark has promised to take me shopping in the morning to do the entirety of our gift purchasing.  Yep.  One trip shopping is the way to go and I plan to start that journey at the lumber yard!  They open at 6am and have some of the most useful gifts around.  Lumber yards and building supply stores are some of the most overlooked markets for Christmas gifts and not just for men!  I buy tools for myself and my daughter!  Darling Daughter Elizabeth is just as happy receiving a new saw or drill as I am!  Once the shopping is complete (hopefully before noon), the decorating will commence in full force. I plan on knocking that out by midweek so I can get onto my favorite part of the holidays.  Baking!  

  Yesterday, I could have foregone the entire holidays and hibernated the next month away with nary a care.  Things changed.  This morning, I was prompted to adopt a new attitude.  Mr. PJ has a way of pushing me into a better mood.  He is enjoying all of the hustle and bustle of the decorating so I should do the same.  Each box, bag and mound (of garland) intrigues him.  Watching him explore has made me smile.  We will do ok, PJ.  Happiness is an old dog helping with decorating the house for the holidays.

Not Feeling It.

  Ok...so today was "Decorate the Christmas Tree Day".  I have procrastinated long enough about getting the Little Bayou House decorated for the holidays and today was the day that it had to be done.  I had threatened that if it was not at least lighted today, the tree was not going to be decorated at all this year.  For that matter, nothing at the Little Bayou House would be decorated this year.  I am just not feeling it.  Usually, I am enthusiastic for Christmas and all its trappings but since the place will be pretty much empty for the holidays, it is hard to get excited.  Part of the family is off on an island somewhere while another part will be out of state, Mark will be working far up north where ice and snow rule and Son will most likely be house-sitting.  The Little Bayou House will seem mighty large and mighty empty this year.  

  This evening as I sit here pondering the holidays past, I glance over to see the old dog, Mr. PJ, snoozing under the half decorated tree.  Thoughts of how so many things have changed in the past year for the both of us ran through my head.  This will be his first Christmas in several years without little ones squealing over Santa's visit.  He appears to be handling it well...better than I am. ` Dogs have this great way of adapting to situations much easier than we do, it seems. 

  So, the tree is half decorated, boxes of tinsel, lights and garland litter the living room, shopping remains undone and I have not the energy nor the mindset to attend any of it.  I am thinking that Mr. PJ and I will enjoy a scaled down version of the holidays this year.  Perhaps he and I will sit by the fire and reminisce of Christmases past or perhaps Old Santa will see fit to leave the old dog a special treat just for being such a good companion.  Then again, perhaps tomorrow will find me in a frenzy to get everything bedecked in its Christmas finery...who knows.

My "After" Christmas Ornaments!

  For the past month or so, all thoughts have been on decorating the Little Bayou House simply yet beautifully.  Well, I tried.  The simply part was...well...simple.  The beautifully part probably is arguable.  I am not the best when it comes to coordinating decorations.  It is more "toss it in the air and see where it lands" with me.  My cousin claims that she thinks I may have FSS or Flat Surface Syndrome.  You know...if there is a flat surface...fill it?  Perhaps I do since there is not a vacant spot in the house.  Things are everywhere.  I finally had enough of all this and started undecorating before the Big Day even got here and I am even more ready to toss everything back in a box now.  I need a break from all of this, plus, I really want to start thinking of the next Clue Hunt on the Bayou!  These other holidays are good but sometimes a good thing can be a bit much.

  Taking down decorations is never as fun as putting them up.  I started with the kitchen and then moved to the tree.  While the kitchen was easy and all decorations are down and stowed, the tree still stands almost intact.  My little granddaughter and I did remove all of the candy canes merely because the dog, PJ, was sniffing them a little too often for my comfort.  I just knew he was on the verge of no self control so the canes had to disappear before they "disappeared".  While she and I were removing the canes, we both noticed that some special "ornaments" were still on the tree.  On Christmas morning, Mary Ruth had found that Santa left her some "touchable bubbles".  After the hubbub of opening gifts had settled, her daddy decided to blow bubbles for the kids.  These things are great!  They do live up to their name!  The kids could catch the bubbles without them bursting.  Yep, great!  The bubbles also stick to everything!  As bubbles wafted with the breeze from the open door, they settled on the chairs, people's hair, the dog, the ceiling fan and, of course, the Christmas Tree.  This settling on the tree's needles was pretty remarkable in itself.  The prickly needles did not burst the bubbles.  Soon, the tree was covered with dozens of nice sized bubbles.  It was actually beautiful!  I figured that the bubbles were temporary so a few dangling here and there would do no harm.  

  Temporary...ha!  I now have a bunch of "after" Christmas ornaments on the tree.  This morning, while Mary Ruth and I pulled off the candy canes, she spied bubbles.  Even twenty four hours later, the bubbles were still gorgeous.  As the day proceeded, heat from the hot, sunshiny day filled the Little Bayou House and dried up all of the bubbles.  Well, it was good while it lasted!  Now I am tempted to only use bubbles on my tree each year! How easy would that be?  Set up the tree, blow bubbles and forget about it! Every few days, more bubbles would be added to replace the old...a five minute job max! The bubbles look like clear ornaments and sparkle beautifully in the lights of the tree!  Perfect!  Then after Christmas, I wait one day to let the bubbles dehydrate and then take down the empty tree!  No storage of masses of ornaments is necessary! Even more perfect!  I am ready!  I actually love this idea!  Now to get Santa to bring me an early supply of these touchable bubbles!  Santa, I have been good..I promise!

Out with the Glitz!

  When he was pulling down the masses of Christmas decorations, Son offhandedly made the remark that he hated glitter.  This is a funny statement since just about 90% of all decorations nowadays is plastered with the stuff.  It is hard to find basic ornaments any more.  Even with the sudden interest in burlap and other natural fibers, everything is edged with a bit of glitz.  Speaking of this craze of using burlap and unbleached muslin everywhere....folks, that ain't nothin' new.  Folks have made use of oyster sacks, feed sacks and flour sacks for generations.  Your "new" idea is not so new.  But back to Son and his distaste for glitter.  He knew that each large box of Christmas decorations he was toting down the stairs probably contained at least a pound of the sparkly stuff.  "Mom, can we just go a bit plain this year?" he asked.  Alrighty, then!  Plain it would be.

  The tree went up in a hurry since this is one of those new-fangled things that comes in four pieces and already has all the lights in place. Whew!  What a breeze that was!  Usually at this time, I start unwrapping the thousand or so ornaments that  have stood the test of time and many little hands but his words rang in my head.  Hmmm, it was going to be hard to choose what ornaments would make the cut and be hung on the tree.  How could I decide which were better than the others?  Well, to make a long story short....none did.  Nary an ornament graces the branches of the tree.  Bunches of red berries and pine cones were nestled in among the limbs and then three strands of raffia in the colors of gold, red and green were simply unwound and draped on the tree.  A stuffed angel sits high on the top branches and completes the whole look.  Quilts are resting on chairs, greenery bedecks the stair rail and is held in place with some (yep!) burlap ribbon and greenery dotted with a few wooden nutcracker soldiers rounds out the decorations.  All I have left to unpack is the Nativity Scene which will be placed on the buffet in the dining room and the Little Bayou House will be fully ready for Christmas.

  This bit of simplifying things is a grand idea.  While pulling what I needed to give the house just a bit of holiday spirit, I carefully put all other decorations aside for Darling Daughter.  She and her husband have a new home to decorate so I am in hopes that they will be in need of lots of glitter!

Oh, to be a kid again!

  Ever since I was a child, I have loved Christmas and all of its trappings. Back then I loved the hustle and bustle, the whispered secrets of gifts, the sights, smells and even the sounds of the holiday.  Not much has changed from that standpoint.  I still feel that twinge of inner child trying to sneak out at this time of year.  Things have changed in the world around me but deep inside, I want to be a kid again and celebrate like long ago.  

  Tonight, I sit here in the dark.  Only the decorations shimmer with their twinkling lights.  It is pouring rain outside with a slight bit of wind.  The temperature is just cold enough to need the added warmth from the old cast-iron stove.  All is quiet.  Once again, it is going to be a quiet Christmas for me.  There will be no stockings to fill nor will there be the happy squeals from little ones as they see what Santa left.  The kids are all grown and have lives of their own.  

  Still, that little spark of anticipation flickers inside me.  It is Christmastime.  It is a happy time.  All is well with the Bayou.

A good pair of gloves can warm the hands but a single one can sometimes warm the heart.

  I am beginning to think that my holidays have not started yet. Early this morning, I dragged box after box of Christmas decorations downstairs and into the living room.  I figured that if I get the tree up at least it might FEEL a bit more cheery around here.  It is no easy task getting the thirty or so large boxes down the stairs.  Whew! Now I just had to unpack everything and get the house decorated.  Even with all that work, I was cold..really cold,  Perhaps that is the problem.  The Little Bayou House is cold and dreary for nigh on Christmas.  It is supposed to be happy and cheery not moody and dreary.  I pondered that fact as I built a fire in the old woodstove.  Sitting on the floor in front of the hearth, I stared at the fire.  The flames started with a flicker and soon were shooting to the top of the stove.  Ahhh, warmth. It seems that there is nothing better than an open flame to warm the body.  The electric heaters just cannot give what an old-fashioned woodstove can provide.  

  Later, my sweet sister-in-law came to visit and between the two of us, we managed to get the Christmas Tree up and partially decorated.  We ooohed and ahhhed over each ornament as we unpacked them and dangled them from the branches. Since I do not have "normal" ornaments, each item we unwrapped had a story behind it.  There was the little plastic blackbird from my grandmother's Christmas Tree. There were the wooden rocking horses and jumping jacks from my mom's place.  There were the folded paper angels from one year that this very same sister-in-law helped me make.  There were ornaments that the kids made in school and then there was the glove.  Yep, I have a Christmas Glove on my tree.  That glove was my youngest son's when he was a wee chap.  He loved his little gloves and would wear them year round.  Come Christmastime one year when he was about five years old, he carefully hung one glove on the tree as an ornament. When I asked why he put the glove on the tree, he informed me that it was so "Santa would know to bring him a new pair." Yep, Santa did bring him a new pair of gloves and, yep, the glove still finds its way onto the tree even twenty-five years later.  The Christmas Glove is going to stay.  It brings back memories.  It brings smiles.  And I need all the smiles I can get....don't we all?  A good pair of gloves can warm the hands but a single one can sometimes warm the heart.  My sister-in-law smiled after I told her the story.  "Yes!  The Christmas Glove needs to be on the tree!  I love your ornaments and the stories!"   

Its Snowing in my Living Room!

Last Christmas, Mark bought me a new play toy.  He knows that I am all about crafting so when he finds some new tool that he thinks I can use, he knows that he has the best gift ever.  I hate things that just sit on a shelf with no apparent use.  This tool/toy was something that his sister, Linda, was using to create all sorts of fanciful things.  Mark bought me a die cut machine.  This thing is great!  I so wish I would have had it back in the day when our kids were still in school!  I used to do so many art projects with the kids in their classrooms that this would have been a boon. I, also, would decorate a number of the classrooms for the different holidays.  Back then, I had to hand cut everything.  This thing would have made it so much easier and would have saved me hours and hours of tedious cutting.
 
This afternoon, I decided to pull out the machine and give it a go.  Michael came in to watch but soon was doing all of the cutting.  We made frilly little snowflakes and cut out the pieces for some folded stars.  I am probably the only person that has brown paper snowflakes and stars on their Christmas Tree but, hey, we are going for the rustic look here.  After cutting a few single snowflakes, we found that an entire three foot strip of brown paper could be folded and cut at one time.  This would produce six snowflakes with each pass through the machine.  After cutting the first one, I was intrigued by the "leftovers".  The background "trash" piece of paper after the snowflakes were removed reminded me of the old paperdoll chains. I knew right then that I would find a use for this remnant from the cut snowflakes.  After we finished the cutting, I hung the flakes on the tree and was pleased with the look.  The stars will take a bit longer as I have to glue the five points together to make a star shape.  It was that long strip of paper that was demanding my attention, though.

  Yesterday, I had hung an old clock door on the wall not sure of what it would frame.  I just liked the way it looked.  Low and behold if the strip of paper (minus the snowflakes) didn't just fit!  I backed the brown paper with some unprinted newspaper and mounted this in the clock door. The door was rehung underneath a picture of snowmen.  Aha!  I love it! This was perfect!  Since we are going for a simplistic and rustic decorating theme, I figure making use of something that was headed for the trash would be perfect.  Brown paper and an old door!  How much more rustic can you get?

This die cut machine could very easily become something that I use on a regular basis!  It is fun, easy to use and such a time saver.  Yep, Mark hit it good last year..now, I wonder what tool he will find for this Christmas?

A different tree and a very different story.

Yesterday's story told of how a tree can cause tremendous damage and harm by falling.   My brother is still cutting his way through the massive oak that fell in his yard.  The sheer size of the tree will cause his cleanup to be an ongoing process.  How he will ever cut through the four to five feet of trunk is beyond me.  He has the best attitude, though, and is looking at this as a year's supply of firewood.  Today's tree story is quite different from yesterday's.  It involves a tiny tree of only about four inches in height instead of four feet in diameter.  It, also, is a "feel-good" heartwarming type of story.

My son, Michael, and I were out for a hike around the hillside this afternoon.  I had an idea of another art project and needed some driftwood pieces.  Since part of my hike would take me through so pretty rough territory, I asked that he join me.  I figured that with him along, the coyotes or wild hogs would not be a real threat.  We gathered a good bit of driftwood and then were sidetracked by Sweet Gum balls (seedpods).  I started gathering a number of the seedpods to use in some future project!  I did not notice that he had wandered a good bit away from me until I had filled my box with the prickly balls.  When I caught up with him, he tossed a few items into the box and we headed home.  Once there, I started sorting my treasures and cleaning the wood.  He disappeared outside.

After about ten minutes, Michael tapped me on the shoulder.  In his hand, he had a red Christmas ornament and a small clay flower pot.  He had obviously dug up a tiny cedar tree that was not more than four inches tall and potted it in the two inch flower pot.  I guess I looked a bit confused because he explained his actions.  "This is the little tree's first Christmas just like it is Mary Ruth's first Christmas.  The tree has to grow to hold the ornament.  By the time she is a teenager, the tree will be large and she can have her very own real Christmas Tree."   Well, that did it!  I was a bit overwhelmed to say the least!  What a sweet thing to do!  You see, Mary Ruth is his niece..my first grandbaby.  She is a tiny thing that will be celebrating her first Christmas this year and Michael wanted to mark it as something special in his own way.  Michael, being a man of few words, never makes a big fuss over anything and this, well, this was just touching!

The Little Tree is the first decoration for the Christmas season in the Little Bayou House.  It will set the theme for all the others this year.  That tiny sapling will welcome in the warmth and joy of the holidays and then will be cared for each year until a sweet baby grows into a lovely young lady.  Her very own Christmas Tree..one that will grow with her each year.  Gosh, uncles are pretty amazing men!  And one sweet baby girl obviously has her Uncle Michael wrapped around her little finger!

Blame it on myself!

I was energetic today and got furniture moved in preparation of the Christmas Tree in the living room. I knew the perfect spot and dragged out all of the decorations and extension cords to get started. It was nigh on mid-morning before I was able to get the tree in the stand and up. It was wonderful! A full eight feet of glory now stood in front of the windows facing the Bay! Beautiful! Ok..so now on with the lights. Personally, I like lights on my tree..lots of lights. I started stringing the multitudes of white lights but the tree looked a mite bland so on some of these I poked the little light covers in the reds, blues, greens and yellows! Now my tree looked more like a Christmas Tree! I was excited even though this took several hours to accomplish. Ok..so maybe the ornaments should wait until tomorrow. Wow, that was some job! Standing on a ladder for about three hours is not something that I relish!

With the tree up and the lights in place, I started digging in the many boxes that were brought down from the upstairs closet. There were the homemade ornaments, the plastic Santas from Mom's tree, the Jumping Jacks that used to line her mantel. Then in another box, I found the Dancing Snowmen. Oh, geez! Dancing and singing snowmen are not my favorites but obviously, Hubby gets a kick out of these guys. There is one large one that sings and twirls a string of red lights in one hand while tipping his top hat in the other.

All the while this decorating was happening, the dog was patiently lying on her bed. She was watching but not bothering a thing. An occasional treat kept her happy which in turn kept me happy as I had not really wanted a fidgety dog to interrupt the whole process. She was doing well..until.....I had the bright idea of showing her the Dancing Snowman. Everything was fine at first..she sniffed the snowman. Ok..so that was boring, lets see if I can jazz things up a bit! I hit the button that makes this guy dance and sing. I might as well have hit Ezzy up side the head with board as she bolted. Keep in mind that this is one large dog..a Labrador Retriever. When she bolted it was like someone released a bull in the china shop! I give you just one guess as to what was the first thing that fell. Yep...over went the tree..right on top of one bewildered dog! As if she was not scared enough from the Dancing Snowman now she had a Glowing Tree Monster trying to sit on her! She scooted her way under the tree and out the other side. Around the tree she went, seeking protection from either Hubby or me. Hubby, in the meantime, was trying to grab the plummeting tree and was not in the mood to have a terrified dog in his lap! I am thinking of all the hard work but at the same time was trying not to have a giggle-attack at the poor dog's expense! She finally sought refuge on her bed and there cowered as we righted the fallen tree. My poor Ezzy..she will be terrified of Snowmen for the rest of her life! (I don't blame her..that Dancing Snowman is pretty scary when I think about it!)

Bayou Christmas!

Christmas on the Bayou! The house is decorated..not as much as in the past, but decorated. The candy is made, cookies baked, gifts wrapped and the tree is on the pier. The tree is on the pier? Yes..the tree is on the pier! Not a real tree but a Christmas tree made from an old cast net and a few strings of lights. I managed to steal a few minutes this evening and finally get my pier decorated. It is a bit late but still I wanted to look out my window and see Christmas on the water as well as in the house. The "tree" is my cast net strung on a cross rope between two posts. Lights were then attached to the mesh of the net and artificial poinsettias were wired into place as ornaments. This makes a perfectly divine Christmas Tree! One that is basically weather resistant and sturdy enough to withstand the North winds that whip down the hill and over the water. I did look for solar-powered lights but could only find two strings in the local department store so I dragged an extension cord down the length of the pier. (The pier is over two hundred feet long!) That is one long extension cord! (Actually, it took three cords that were each one hundred feet long and a short ten foot cord to make the distance.) I made a wreath to hang on another post and I will hang it in the morning! The pier is decorated..I am happy! The hard part of decorating the pier? It was cold..very cold! I almost froze out there! Of course, if I had used a bit of sense and done it in the middle of the day instead of at night, it might have been a tad warmer. But I didn't and I froze! That is ok though, because a mug of hot cocoa warmed me once I was back inside! Besides..I like to decorate outside at night..the lights just look so pretty! Now that it is finished, I can sit by my fireplace, sip my cocoa and stare at the lights on the water! Christmas on the Bayou..like none other!

Any suggestions?

Ok..so my little misfit of a tree, The Little Tree, has made its official debut as a decorated Christmas tree! It has brightened the dining room tremendously! It is absolutely pulchritudinous! (Now..be truthful..how many of you quickly looked up that word?!! Actually, my son and I were discussing this word today..it sounds like the exact opposite of its definition! Pulchritudinous.. beautiful, comely! Doesn't it almost sound as if it is something quite disgusting!) Anyway, now the question..my tree is decorated but has no topper..what should I use as the crowning glory of The Little Tree?? The tree itself is old, balding and tired.. it is leaning slightly to the left.. it is gorgeous if only in my eyes! It has the tiny, white lights and exactly $14.98 of ornaments! I challenged myself to decorate a tree for under $25 and have managed much better! The lights came from the local dollar store and the bought ornaments were from DollarTree! They actually have really pretty decorations. The boxes of glass ornaments surprised me with the quality! The garland of tiny light bulbs is another dollar store find and the green beaded garland is..well..sort of recycled. Actually, that will be called upcycled! Face it, Folks, I live on the Gulf Coast..we have Mardi Gras beads cluttering up every junk drawer in our house! The suggestion of using those for garland came from a young girl that I met in DollarTree. She and I were discussing how to decorate on a budget..I, because of my challenge and she, because of this being her first Christmas in her apartment. When I got home from the store, I dug around in every nook and cranny, box and basket, closet and cabinet to find all of the old Mardi Gras beads. What a collection! I had well over a hundred strings. I had multiple strings of all colors..except.....red. There were only two strings of red. I had so wanted a red beaded garland to match the big tree in the living room. Nope..wasn't happening..no way. Next choice was gold..only there were all sorts of golds..yellow gold..orange gold..almost white gold..hmmph! I am down to mounds of blue..too many different sizes..pink..whoever heard of a pink garland..purple..now there's a thought..and green. Green won out since the theme of the tree was to be red, gold and green following a gifted Santa ornament. So the garland was free. Since I have spent well under my allotted $25, I have leeway to splurge on a topper. I am just not sure that I really want any of the toppers that I saw at the stores..I want something a bit unique..something that will catch the eye and say "Hey..I am up here on the beautiful tree..look at me!" I would love something handmade perhaps! So there it is..what do I put on top of my tree? Any suggestions???

While photographing the Little Tree, I noticed the vintage Santas behind it on the shelf. Every year, I carefully unwrap these little Santas and smile. They make me happy! I remember as a small child playing with these very same Santas at my grandparent's house. Each holds a tiny tool in his tiny, hard plastic hand. I, also, remember as a child the horror I felt when I broke one of those tiny, hard plastic hands. I was trying to remove the tool and CRACK! Santa's hand fell off! Oh my! I just knew I was sooo in trouble! My grandmother consoled me and merely picked up the pieces. WOW! What a lesson in patience! But a few questions...are these supposed to be Santa? If so, why are there so many of him? Why is he the one (ones) with the tools..what is wrong with those elves? And why is he not wearing red? Is it his day off? So many unanswered questions!

It is NOT an antique!

I am elated that my daughter raided the Christmas decoration closet and took one of my artificial Christmas trees home with her! Because of this, I found a long-lost treasure hiding in the back of the closet. In the dark depths of no-man's land, there sat a large box that had not been opened for the past several years..more like about five years actually! I tugged at the box.."My goodness! This box was heavy!" Pulling off the lid, I found strings of lights. Not the present day, twinkly, mini lights..the big heavy glass lights of days past. I shoved the box aside..bah humbug! I thought some elusive goody was in that box..lights!..hmmph!..I have tons of lights. To tell the truth, I have huge boxes of Christmas lights of all sorts..too many to ever use..but I have them!..just in case! Then a thought.."What else is in that box?" I hauled it back out and felt under the lights. It was almost scary as I was not sure what was hidden there..maybe a monster or alien! (Or an active imagination!) There! There in the bottom of that box..far beneath the heavy lights..was a treasure! I dumped the box over! Aha! A true treasure! A lost treasure! My parents' Christmas tree! I remember when they first bought this tree! It was way back when..ok..we won't go that far! I knew I had it somewhere but when my husband came home with the latest pre-lit gorgeous tree, this one was relegated to the back of the closet. Now out it came! It was to be my beautiful red, green and gold tree for the dining room! I proudly hauled the box downstairs! I was busily putting together the tree stand when a thought went through my head.."Wow, this tree has been around for a while!" I am now waiting for one of my kids or some visitor remark on my "antique" tree. Folks...it is not antique! Nope..no way..can't be! I remember buying this tree..there is no possible way it can be antique! Retro..that's it! It is retro! After much twisting, turning, pulling, shoving, bending and poking..the tree is up! And oh my goodness! It used to look a lot taller! Do artificial trees like humans, shrink as they age? And I think it is going bald! In its heyday this tree was perhaps the best there was, now it is a sad, little squirt of a tree that is shedding its needles all over my floor. Tomorrow..the tree will have its lights and ornaments and become the treasure it was in my mind..never mind the remarks about it being antique!

I had good intentions of having that tree decorated by today but marmalade got in the way. Yesterday, my son and I seeded and chopped our way through seven pounds of kumquats. These were placed in the large enamel jelly pot, covered with water and a little lemon juice, boiled until tender and then let sit overnight in the refrigerator. This step is just to let it "steep" a bit which helps to make a good "set" when bottled. Today, the pot was lugged out and the marmalade was cooked to its golden goodness! Tomorrow..another seven or eight pounds will be seeded and chopped and the process will start again. Then out to the trees to pick some more! If all goes well, we should have enough to make about a hundred jars before all is said and done. Bring on the biscuits!