Among Friends

[BlueFinch]

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@UpNorthGorgy wrote:

@BlueFinch  I have a friend in TX.  that does that  and the tree is up to the ceiling, all decorated.

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@UpNorthGorgy Oh my, we may be on to something. Maybe it's a TX thing. We do things a little wacky in TX, lol. 

[UpNorthGorgy]

@BlueFinch She lives an hour from Austin. She also sent me a Christmas Tree idea  a few years ago decorated totally with empty wine bottles. Wacky?!

83  years old. World  Wide Traveler.  She's going to Egypt in January.  Had part of a colon removed  and last month surgury again to get rid of the bag. She is tougher than I am. Texas Tough! 

[amyb]

Nice @Meowingkitty Enjoy! 🎄 🐱 

This is rare for me, but this year I'm kind of itching to start earlier too. This is a busy weekend watching GD, then busy week ahead with four appts, including some dental surgery I'm not looking forward to. But once that's all done...

....this next coming weekend or the week of Thanksgiving I'm planning on starting. That probably sounds just about on time to most people, but usually I don't do the tree until the week or weekend after Thanksgiving, like by Dec. 6 when they light our town tree. But, this year, I'm thinking of putting it up before Thanksgiving. I do have a tabletop I put by my fireplace...which I might just get out sooner, without ornaments it just looks like an evergreen, seasonal tree. That may be where I start. Big tree week of Tksgiving.

I've changed...I used to start late and leave it up the whole month of Jan. Now I think I'd rather start a bit earlier and take it down earlier than I used to. I took it down earlier and put everything away last year, and liked that, rather than drag it on. Felt like it helped me start the New Year fresh that way. Kept up just winter seasonal stuff through Jan...to light up a dark month.

[amyb]

@Bella8888 Simple, festive, cheery...I love the cozy nook you've set up with it. And that's just seasonal to me...good for all winter. 

[BlueFinch]

@UpNorthGorgy She sounds wacky wonderful and full of fun. Empty wine bottles, that's a new one. 

She's tougher than this Texan. I would love to have her as a neighbor. I bet she has stories that would entertain for hours. 

[Bella8888]

@amyb 

Thank you!  The lights gently twinkle too.  There will be more decorations later, but I'm really enjoying these now all day and night long.  The set up feels 'intimate';  feels close to one's self.

[UpNorthGorgy]

@BlueFinch  She is a Vietnam  Marine Veteran.  She enlisted so her brother would be spared from the draft in the 60s. Dressed up as a  Traditional Vietnamese Woman, smoked a pipe and was a courier, undercover. I'd also  love to hear more.

She said they didn't know what to do with a College Educated female at the time. She taught Physics and Math in TX.  Drove a Harley. I met her on a River Cruise and took two trips with her. She's bossy but a seasoned,  knowledgeable traveler and yes, a character. We are both Dog lovers and  have rescues.

[monicakm]

I asked my husband today if we were going to put up a tree this year.  He said yes, for Howie (our dingo who thought about taking my nose off today ).  He LOVES sleeping under the tree for as long as it's up.  I wait till 2 weeks before putting up the tree and keep it up till NYs.

[shoekitty]

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@I am still oxox wrote:

My menorahs come off the shelf the day before Hanukkah and go back the day after. They are always on display on the top of my Ikea curio cabinet

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@I am still oxox   are your Menorahs passed down, or new. I have a friend who has  one over 125 years old I think.  Not good, but has enameling and lots of etching. I love to see different kinds of Menorahs, so beautiful and interesting. Especially some of the history. 

[elated]

I don't decorate for the holidays. I do like to see the houses all decorated. I was watching TV and saw this tree called the Santa Tree. It comes all decorated and you just need to put it up. It was very interesting. .Superstar Santa Pop-Up Christmas Tree, 7FT, Pre-Lit w/ 200 LED Lights, AS SEEN ON TV, Santa Topper Projects North Star, Opens Instantly, Fully Decorated, 7 Colors, 32 Modes w/Remote, Stores Flat.