Ben's skull sculpture is used every season to house our favourite holiday treat.
The holidays are most definitely here. And we’ve officially bought our first tree together. Due to my awful allergies, we can’t have a real one (although I’ve bought a huge real wreath for our front door so Ben can get that sweet pine smell he loves so much).
We’ve had a Christmas tree before, but it was a hand-me-down from Oma when we first moved into this house over three years ago.
Goodbye to our first tree together
From the right, in silver says, “from Oma 2007;” next in Oma’s handwriting in red, “6FT Give Away Tree Good;” and then lastly the note I taped on as we dropped in off at AO (Appalachian Outreach), “In good condition; all parts/pieces/instructions are included. An old but loved tree. Happy Holidays.” We dropped off the tree on our way to some stores and by the time we passed by it again, someone had already taken it. I hope it’s found a good home.
Although, if we’re going to be honest about the situation, it should be told that we pulled out Oma’s old tree; set it up and complained a lot about how scrawny and old it was; started putting lights on; argued about putting the lights on the tree in a way to best hide all those cords [impossible in such an old, sparse tree]; and finally deciding to just go and buy a pre-lit tree so we will never have to argue about lights again. Sometimes money can buy happiness.
We bought our new tree (“Boston Pine”) and brought it home and set it up. And let me tell you-although folding down and spreading the branches is a bit tedious, it is LOADS better than individual branches plus lights. LOADS, I tell you.
Ahh, the peace of a pre-lit tree.
Also, one of our favourite mentions in the holiday season is the papasan chair must be moved out of the corner to make way for the tree. This chair is mainly used by Attila for daytime napping. And he is NEVER happy when his chair must be moved to make way for the tree; really, he gets visibly upset.
Papasan sitting near hallway, whilst we set up the tree. A possessive dog desperately hanging on to his favourite nap site.
So we decorated the tree as best we could; it’s half a foot bigger than the last tree and definitely much fuller, so our ornaments are a bit more spread out than normal. We’ve bought a tacky ornament every season we’ve been together and sometime in the next week we’ll go out and buy our ninth ornament. Nine. As Oma says, “Gut Lord.”
Silly Rock Star with our fancy new tree.
And it looks good, I’m really liking our new tree quite a bit. Even Attila begrudgingly approves, once he found out we were going to try and figure out a way to make room for his beloved papasan this year.
On his cushion under the tree--just not the same as his chair.
I hope you’ve got some lovely holiday decorations that bring a smile to your face.
-K
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