The Christmas Table
Sparkle and shine was the motto for the table a couple of years ago. Crystal, and white china with gold accessories and candles made for a festive and sparkling setting to showcase the mounds of food.
Sparkle and shine was the motto for the table a couple of years ago. Crystal, and white china with gold accessories and candles made for a festive and sparkling setting to showcase the mounds of food.
Holiday Decorating
Holidays are the time to pull out all the stops. More is better now so shine up that crystal, dust off those decorations and add a few nostalgic tears of love.
The Christmas Tree
I have somehow found that one tree is not enough. Ok, I am a kid in love with the idea of Christmas with all its sparkle and wonder. In my home, now that my children are grown, I have begun setting up several trees, each with a different theme.
I have a small tree in the kitchen covered with ornaments that relate to food and food preparation.
I have a tree in my front room that is formal and dressed with my most beautiful ornaments
I have a 'family' tree full of those precious ornaments I have collected over the years.
The Christmas Tree
I have somehow found that one tree is not enough. Ok, I am a kid in love with the idea of Christmas with all its sparkle and wonder. In my home, now that my children are grown, I have begun setting up several trees, each with a different theme.
I have a small tree in the kitchen covered with ornaments that relate to food and food preparation.
I have a tree in my front room that is formal and dressed with my most beautiful ornaments
I have a 'family' tree full of those precious ornaments I have collected over the years.
Work with what you have
Over the years I have managed to collect a large assortment of ornaments.
I allow myself a small budget each year for new or replacement decorations. The biggest problem with this is that I only buy ornaments that I really love so now that I have all these ornaments I want to display them.
I have had as many as 7 full size trees up and decorated. Extreme, maybe. Beautiful certainly. And for the kids, magical. But time marches on and I now find that it is taking longer and longer to decorate all those trees and the house. I don't know what this year will bring. My plan is to document my decorating this year to share.
My best tip for a magical tree is more. Just when you stand back and think there isn't any room for another ornament, look closely, I bet there is.
I allow myself a small budget each year for new or replacement decorations. The biggest problem with this is that I only buy ornaments that I really love so now that I have all these ornaments I want to display them.
I have had as many as 7 full size trees up and decorated. Extreme, maybe. Beautiful certainly. And for the kids, magical. But time marches on and I now find that it is taking longer and longer to decorate all those trees and the house. I don't know what this year will bring. My plan is to document my decorating this year to share.
My best tip for a magical tree is more. Just when you stand back and think there isn't any room for another ornament, look closely, I bet there is.
Our Legacy
My mom started us out as toddlers with strong Christmas traditions. Her German heritage brought us lavish trees and lots of food. Her last Christmas, 2007, mom watched quietly from her chair as I busied myself with decorating a tree.
She would gingerly reach into the small box on her lap occasionally and offer me an ornament to hang. With each new offering she would say, "You can't possibly put anything else on that tree?" and I would smile and reply as I took another beauty from her, "Just watch me!"
When we were done we had a tree that would make any tree decorator proud. Mom is gone now ans as I approach the idea of decorating this year it is with a tear of nostalgia as I realize that each of those ornaments will tug at my heart forcing me down yet another road of memories.
This year I dedicate my efforts to my mom, the one who got us started. Her love of the holiday infected us all.
She would gingerly reach into the small box on her lap occasionally and offer me an ornament to hang. With each new offering she would say, "You can't possibly put anything else on that tree?" and I would smile and reply as I took another beauty from her, "Just watch me!"
When we were done we had a tree that would make any tree decorator proud. Mom is gone now ans as I approach the idea of decorating this year it is with a tear of nostalgia as I realize that each of those ornaments will tug at my heart forcing me down yet another road of memories.
This year I dedicate my efforts to my mom, the one who got us started. Her love of the holiday infected us all.