Christmas Forecast

Shhhh...yes, My Christmas Tree is up. No other decorations have emerged at this point, however, wait until the end of the week when we return from Thanksgiving in Gainesville...watch out Griswold Family!
Fabulous...
The coming Christmas Season is going to be fabulous. I have concrete proof.
My Christmas Tree is in place...lights on (all 2,000+), ornaments carefully placed..it is beautiful.
I am happy to report that in the process of setting up the tree and wrapping each branch with strands of lights, no one got hurt. Better yet, I did not utter a swear word or anything remotely close to one!
With no Tree Set Up incidents, the Christmas Season is looking like one of the best ever.

Setting up my Christmas Tree is a Two-Day process. I am passionate about assembling my (not real) tree, placing the lights (read...not pre-lit) on "just right" and savoring the memory of every ornament as it is unpacked and placed on the tree. Sometimes, my Tree Decorating zeal crosses the line and, in many years past, I have sworn at something or someone. One year, while standing on a stool, I flipped straight up in the air and landed on my backside with full force...now that brought some choice words at my helper (Andrew) and to the air, in general.

As much I love scent and beauty of a Fresh Christmas Tree, we have always had an artificial (Fake, Faux, Not Real, etc) Tree. With Ron's allergies and the Florida climate, a fresh tree has never been an option we wanted to try. I was thinking yesterday that after 29 Christmases together, we have saved thousands and thousands of $$$$ by not purchasing a tree each year.

Oh, what a fabulous Christmas Season awaits...I am soooooo darn excited

Christmas Tree

My Memory Tree

Two collections I have are connected to Christmas

1 ) Nativity Sets 2) Christmas Tree Ornaments.

Because of the Ornament Collection, My Christmas Tree is full of memories. Each ornament brings a memory of the child who made it, the person who gave it, the time/place I made it, the place it was purchased, etc. I love to unwrap each ornament and place it on the tree as years of memories rush to my mind.

My ornaments are another way to record family history....My Christmas Tree tells a story...Not just one story, but many stories. Oranments with years of family photos, ornaments from travel, Golden Pears (from a childhood story), Gingerbread houses, Santas made from paintbrushes, cinnamon sticks, wooden spools, starfish, door hinges, light bulbs, and more. Each story brings a smile to my face!

Each year, an ornament is added for each child and at least one for the family. Recently, I make sure to date the ornaments for each child and if there is space, write something on the back that was a highlight of that year. In the above photo, you can see directly to my left a pair of yellow/red flip-flops. They were perfect to write on the back of. (Example: on Megan's this year it will say, got baptized, went to Utah alone, 2nd grade, Mrs. Palermo, etc.)

When the children marry and set up their own homes, they receive the ornaments collected for them over the years. Last year, I packed Curt's ornaments up for him after he married. I did not realize how hard it would be to part with those memories. I even shed a few tears. When I put up the tree without those ornaments last year, it was noticeable (to me) that there were certain ornaments gone.

With Jeffrey marrying this coming year, I have yet another group of ornaments to say good-bye to and pass on. I hope my grown children and their families will enjoy them on their trees as much as I have enjoyed them on mine.