Here's My Christmas Tree

Pretty,pretty!!! Susan, is that a collection of tree toppers? Angel bears maybe? Can't tell for sure, but that sure is a pretty mantel. Mine is pretty simple, but will try to share of shot of it anyway.

More mantels, please!!!!!!

Debra

This is my daughters tree. It is one of the pre-lite ones.
Bernie

Bernie, that's a pretty tree. Looks like Santa's already been there!

Not a very good photo, but this is my mantel.

Debra

And the little red stockings I made in jr. high school described above in thread. Some cross-stitched stockings made by my MIL are mixed in, too.

Good night and Merry Christmas.

Debra

Debra, your tree is darling and your mantle is just gorgeous - how I miss having one!!! We have a woodburning stove, but if we are using it (which we often are), I can't put decorations on top of it!

Bernie, your daughter's tree is beautiful - mine is pre-lit as well and I've been really pleased with that fact . . . saves so much time and frustration. Not sure what is done when the lights have all burned out, but hopefully that is a long, long ways off!!

Merry Christmas to each and every one of you!!!

Beautiful, Bernie and Debra! Merry Christmas!

Brenda

Gorgeous trees everyone...and mantles! Merry Christmas to all!!!!!!!

Beautiful trees and mantels ! Love the socks, Debra !

This is my tree, lighted, this evening !
Adina

Beautiful - love the reflection in the window, too!

Merry Christmas Adina! Beautiful tree!

Dan

Merry Christmas, Adina (and Boss). That's a good photo of your tree reflected in the window. Are you feeling better?
Debra

Merry Christmas, everyone ! Thanks ! Debra, I feel fine now , thanks for asking !
About the mantles, I thought I could show you what I decorated like it was a mantle! Carole, I miss having one too !
Adina

That works!

Thanks Debra, do you like the trees I made of pinecones?
Adina

Yes, Adina, I really do. You really are so talented. How do you find the time to do all you do? Cooking, decorating, crafting, photography, plumbing (LOL), and working at your new job. Do the days in Romania have more hours than ours over here? LOL

Debra

Debra, thanks ! You're too kind ! I wish our days had more hours !LOL I've stayed at home for several years, couldn't find a job, and had to learn all kinds of things arround the house, including plumbing, especially my DH is a blind person and can't help me with anything, except advices !
I usually make the ornaments on these rest days, between Christmas and New Year's Eve, when there is not so much work to be done. I really enjoy doing it, got it from my mom , she used to do decoration things too, just for us!
Adina

Adina, is Cici completely blind? I did not know that. Would never have guessed it seeing him peeling garlic and stuffing sausages! Give him a big hug and tell him I'm impressed with his skills!
Debra

Thanks, Debra! He is almost blind, only sees shadows. But his sight is damaging day-by-day until he won't see anything at all. We've known this for many years , so we got over it long ago, especially Cici. His real skill is the massage, which he had to learn after he lost his sight.
Adina

Adina I had no idea about this - how well he has adapted to the vision problems and you all have such a great oultlook on things. I true inspiration!

Does Boss help in this at all -- lead or what not?

Massage! Did he practice on you? That would be great!
Debra

Here I am in front of my dinky little tree.
but we just love it.

The story behind this " charlie brown tree" as we call it. LOL
is :

About 5 years ago I had a very traumatic event happen around Christmas time and I was out of work for a while and money was really tight. We usually would go out and pic a real tree and make it an event. Well this particular year it was not to be. We just went to a 5 and dime store and picked out this tree just to get us through the season.

Thank goodness the years to come got much better and we recovered, but One thing that seems to stick with us was this darn tree. We move to a new house then moved to a new state and this tree has stayed with us. Every year we would say: Should we get new tree? But we always said no we like our Charlie brown tree lets keep it. LOL Even though people come over and make fun of us and say Wow What a HUGE tree you have. We dont care , we just smile and remember how as a family we stuck together through thick and thin and this tree kinda symbolized something for us. In good times or bad times that tree was still beautiful to us. = ) ........ its whats in your heart that counts.

Unfortunately the dogs slid right into the tree and broke the base.
I was able to keep it together this year with some good old duck tape LOL
but I'm afraid this will be the last year for the tree, but I plan to some how use some part of the tree to keep as a reminder of our struggles and triumphs together.


Thanks for listening,

GG

What a lovely story, GG! And I don't think it looks like a Charlie Brown tree... it looks great! You must keep it in your Christmas decorations somehow, I'm sure you'll find a way to keep it in the family. So glad to hear your story of recovery and strength... we too have had to come a long way since 4 years ago. And we are thankful daily, that we have!

Thanks bsavage:
glad to hear things are better for you as well.
what doesnt kill us only makes us stronger.
as my mom used to say. LOL

GG, what a very moving story - and yes, definitely keep at least a piece of that wonderful tree in your holiday decor! Thank you very much for sharing.

And to you and Bsavage, I'm so glad things are better for both of you!!

GuardenGirl, you could use stout wire cutters to make a wreath out of pieces of your tree. Here's my "Charlie Brown" tree. I was planning to make a plywood cut-out Charlie Brown to stand up next to it, but I ran out of time. Maybe next year... It's a baby Dawn Redwood, a deciduous conifer. They lose their needles in the winter.

Here's the indoor one. It's a Norway Spruce, about four feet high, standing on a table.

GG - that is a touching story. Can you sink the base into an urn or pot filled with plaster? I've seen those in florist shops. Thanks for sharing.

claypa - now that IS a Charlie Brown tree! How cute! Love the single ornament.

Debra

GG,
Great story!
Be a shame to stop that meaningful tradition.
After Christmas, when it has been taken apart, post some pictures on Crafts or Handyman.
I'm sure someone will have a way to do the repair.
Though Duct Tape.................... LOL

Ric

GG, that is a wonderful story! I'm so glad for you that you recovered, but you definately must keep the tree ! Can't you use a superglue?

Beautiful tree, Claypa ! The outdoor one is wonderful when it has needles !

Anne, this is the reason we first took Boss, to lead Cici, but in Romania there isn't any school for training dogs for the blind people. Boss could do a great leader for Cici!

Debra, he used to practice massage on me, when he was in school, so many years ago !LOL However, I was lucky this year to go smoothly through my spring allergies, thanks to his reflexology therapy !

This is from my tree !
Adina

LOL yes duck tape.

the three dogs slid right into the tree like it was home plate.
every now and then they like to chase each other and dont realize they cant stop on the wood floor like they can on the carpet. LOL

Ohh yea please note the small box also used to level tree as it now leans too. ROTF.


Oh Im sure I'll find a way to save some part of it and will most definitely post pic's of my creations.

thanks for all the wonderful comments.
GG

GG - just an idea........I did this once with a Christmas tree in a pretty urn on a pedestal. It's pretty!

http://www.kinkadestudios.com/silk_plant_shaping.htm

www.silkflowers.com/containers_category.asp

What ever you decide to do, you will be glad you went to the trouble to save it.
Debra

GG - didn't have a chance to comment yesterday, but I agree with above. Great story. I can see why you would want to keep the tree. Good luck as you decide on a creative and permanet way to keep part of it.

Ann

Tree's coming down tonight will see what creative ideas start flowing once I begin.

I don't have a digital picture of it and the original photo is God knows where, but one year Robin saw some Christmas trees at Lowes that where hung upside down so she did the same at our house that year. Using a fake tree and only using one side of the tree had me attach it to the wall about 2 feet above the floor. It was quite unique and became a conversation piece and really was not bad at all just a challenge. Haven't done it sense. Doesn't take up near the room and once up very easy to decorate.

Don grandfather to Chase w/cf
http://livingwithcysticfibrosiscf.blogspot.com/

Don, I'v seen those trees. They are a conversation piece. That's a very nice website about your grandson. Hope he enjoys his soccer games!
Debra

I appreciate the thought about my grandson I just hope it does not bother anyone my doing the link.
I never knew how many people have this disorder and never get diagnosed, according to my daughter a lot of folks die from it and its not detected until an autopsy is preformed if one is preformed. How weird is that.

Don

Sounds like your GS is in good medical care. Hope you get to watch him play soccer for many years.

The link was wonderful, Don, and won't bother anybody - your grandson sounds like a real champ and I'm glad he has such a loving grandpa!

Carole, I agree, it was wonderful to share with you all such wonderful moments ! Happy New year everyone !
Adina

Happy New Year Adina!!!!