At least, that's the idea. This year, however, our tree decided that it didn't want to play nice. Apparently, as soon as it heard the chainsaw, it decided to give up the ghost. I have the pile of flammable needles under the tree to prove it. {Sigh} While it's still drinking a tiny bit of water every three days or so, Peter is convinced that it's going to be kindling by December 26th, and I suspect that he might be right.
In the meantime, I'm enjoying the glow of bubble lights (something we've had on our tree since our first married Christmas, 13 years ago), the memories associated with each ornament (yes, I can tell you where each one came from or why it's on our tree), and the smell of pine. Dried pine, but pine nonetheless. I usually do a Christmas photo tour of our home, but I have failed to do it this year...until now. Come on in!
"Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?
We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”
Matthew 2:2
What is YOUR favorite Christmas decoration?
Real (flammable) tree - or fake (slightly-less-flammable) tree?
I'm joining the Nester's Tour of Homes
Beautiful home!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Elizabeth. We are blessed. :)
DeleteI love the beautiful simplicity you've got in your home, and Carrie, are you HUGGING your tree? Because I don't know ANYONE else who would do a thing like that (which is why I get to carry the camera when we get ours...). We get a real tree (Oh, the smell!) and if I can't identify an ornament or tell exactly where it came from, it doesn't get to stick around. Unfortunately (or fortunately for the ornaments!) I have a very good memory! :)
ReplyDeleteI wonder if I could keep cute little "palm trees" like yours alive...I love them!
Jamie - of COURSE I'm hugging the tree! After tramping up hill and down, I was thrilled to finally find one that we both liked! ;) The little "palm trees" came from Ikea, and if I can keep them alive for a year and a half, you can. They don't take much care - just a tiny bit of water now and then (drop some ice cubes in there), and sunlight and you are good to go. :)
DeleteI LOVE bubble lights! Good on ya!
ReplyDeleteLori - we LOVE our bubble lights too! :) The challenge this year has been to find replacement bulbs in the right colors, but eBay came through for us. :)
DeleteI really like your Nativity scene. We only have a Little People one...our nice one broke in one of our many moves. :( I am hoping to find a nice one during the after Christmas sales.
ReplyDeleteThanks Karen. My mom got that for us several years ago. My favorite Nativity scene isn't even pictured this year, but it's made from a coconut and we brought it home from Indonesia. Special memories associated with that. :)
DeleteAll the greenery with lights around the doorways and windows looks beautiful, you really light up Christmas!
ReplyDeleteThanks Kathy - nice of you to stop by! :)
DeleteYour home is beautiful. I love the big real tree, even if it is fading fast. Only had a real tree once and it was a delight! We do have a mini real tree this year, so I guess that counts!
ReplyDeleteA mini tree absolutely counts! :) Thanks for taking the time to stop by and say hello.
DeleteYour tree looks fantastic. I prefer real trees but am allergic to them so we have fake. I like how you have displayed the Nativity with the plants.
ReplyDeleteI know several people who are allergic to real trees - sorry. :( Normally those plants are in my kitchen windows, but I put them with the Nativity last year and really liked how it looked - so did the same this year. :) Thanks for taking the time to stop by and say hello!
DeleteWhat a beautifully decorated home.
ReplyDeleteI really love the nativity scene. That's still on my wish list.
Thank you so much for stopping by my blog today.
Have a wonderful Christmas.
Thank YOU for stopping by! My favorite Nativity (not shown in these photos) actually came from when we lived in Indonesia, and is made from coconuts. Lots of great memories associated with it. :) Hope you find the perfect set for you!
DeleteIt is beautiful! I really like all of the lighted garlands.
ReplyDeleteI love the smell of real Christmas trees, but we have an artificial tree. It's cheaper, easier to maintain, and less messy. And it is from my grandmother, which makes it pretty special.
We don't believe there is such a thing as too many twinkle lights. ;) Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteCarrie, thanks for stopping by Thinking About Home and leaving your kind words.
ReplyDeleteTo answer your question...
For many years we had a real tree. We went to the tree farm and cut it ourselves and enjoyed the natural beauty and tantalizing aroma. Then one year, the (freshly cut!) tree started dropping needles by hundreds, as soon as we brought it in! After a few days, we realized that it was a losing battle (if you even walked into the room, you could hear needles dropping in droves), so we drug it outside...leaving thousands of needles in a path to the door. We drove to Target and purchased an artificial tree.
(I do not always leave such wordy comments. Just most of the time.)
Nice meeting you...and visiting your lovely home!
Thanks for stopping by, Cheryl! I think the worst experience that we had with a live tree was when I was a kid - about 6 years old. My family went to a tree farm and cut FOUR trees (one for a basement den, one for the living room, one for a sunroom, and one for my parent's bedroom - it was a tree-filled year). Sadly, about 2 days before Christmas, we realized that the trees were infested with TICKS!! It was a long time before we went to a Christmas tree farm again (though for the 13 years that my husband and I have been going, we have never had a problem). :)
DeleteI just stumbled upon your blog as I was clicking through the tour of homes on thenester.com and I am so glad I did! Your home is beautiful, I love the garland over the windows and the sweet little nativity scene. I hope you have a very Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteI'm a REAL tree girl! Usually we take the whole fam and go to the mountains and chop our own but this year we ran out of time to do that. SO, we bought one -- still "real" but it is dropping needles like crazy. I hate that. oh well, next year we will head to the mountains again!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful home & decor! I just love the bow on your wreath. Merry Christmas!
ReplyDelete