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[amyb]

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@magicmoodz wrote:

@amyb 

Such good ideas! Thanks for the inspiration!

We have not had a real tree since (2 houses ago😄) I could hear the needles falling on the hardwood floor. I was so angry I undressed that tree and hauled it back to the store for a refund!

I do make sure to have lots of real greenery and berries in vases to get the wonderful smell of evergreens. 

I don't have a hurricane, but like the idea of a glass vessel holding ornaments. Maybe a trifle bowl would work?

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Yes trifle bowl, any pretty clear vessel will work...I'm sure you can be creative with that. Sounds like you've got a good headstart on it all. 

Wow...that took determination, and work to "undress the tree" to take it back, but I don't blame you one bit! Yes, my memories are enough of being a young girl with my family, and us going out to the tree farm and cut it down. I'm glad I had those experiences and memories, but have no desire to do it now.

Last time I did it was once, in my current home, maybe 12 years ago, because I got it in my brain, that I wanted to "do a real tree again!"

(we didn't go to the farm to cut it, however, just bought it at a favorite, local nursery.) Had to go buy new strings of lights that year (they are still up in my storage.) It came out beautiful, I took such nice pics of it, then accidently deleted 300 photos, those included, that year! Sigh. Life goes on....

Anyhoo...got it out of my system. Donated my vintage tree stand from childhood, about 6 yrs ago. So...to everything there is a season. Like I said..I've had my fill of real trees, and am thrilled with the ease and lighting technology of my artificial one now. They do make them better looking now than they used to be, too.

Ok, I can't seem to stop rambling on about this topic, lol...so I'll leave it there! 🎄

[Mom2Dogs]

I have not put up a tree in years, but I do a lot of other decorating.  The way our house is designed, the tree looked out of place and took up to much room.  When my dad was still alive he was with us on Christmas, he went to bed, I took the tree down, he was shocked in the morning when he got up!!  I was sick of my crowded familly room.

Grand kids never asked about a tree at our house - probably because I have plenty of other decor to look at.

[vermint]

Yesterday I finally, FINALLY purged most of the paperwork from our business! Two years ago, we closed our office, sold the building and worked from home until December, 2023, when we officially retired. I went from a spacious office to a corner of our spare room...so you can imagine. It wasn't a whole lot, just a lot for the space, but filled a shredder bag, and a tall kitchen bag. 

I still have a small filing cabinet to go through, but at least the contents of that are hidden inside, lol! 

Feels good to finally have that task mostly done!

[magicmoodz]

@lynnie61 

Thank you for sharing your "moving experience". I am sure yours is a bit more difficult trying to fit your belongings among your dad's. It's commendable that you are sensitive to his feelings and not simply disposing of all his belongings.

Good luck with your desire to not add to your treasures. It is such good advice, but as they say "easier said than done"!😀

[magicmoodz]

@amyb 

There is something so nostalgic about going to pick out a live Christmas tree. It sounds so silly, but the naked light bulbs they hang to light up the area evoke such fond memories. We always made an event out of it, stopping in little shops in the neighborhood where the proprietors were always anxious to show us their holiday offerings serving cider and cookies. Then we would have a quick dinner before we picked out the "to us" perfect tree.

Oh  no! Losing all your cherished holiday pictures. That is gut-wrenching. Luckily you can hold those visions in your heart forever!

[magicmoodz]

@Mom2Dogs 

I know people who cannot wait to disrobe their holiday tree and haul it to the curb.  I often keep mine up way past it's expiration date. Since it isn't a live tree, I try to get the most out of the ambiance--plus I'm just this side of lazy. Haha!

[amyb]

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@magicmoodz wrote:

@Mom2Dogs 

I know people who cannot wait to disrobe their holiday tree and haul it to the curb.  I often keep mine up way past it's expiration date. Since it isn't a live tree, I try to get the most out of the ambiance--plus I'm just this side of lazy. Haha!

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That's me too! Another thing I "proclaim" each year..."I'm not going to drag it out too long this year"....and then I, once again, keep it up through January...and then....once that happens I regroup and once again decide....okkkk, I'll just make it a Valentine tree and THEN I WILL be done!! That's what I did last year.

I mean, who cares, to each their own, right? For me...all January feels fine because I noticed last year...during that dark season...my neighbors leave up their lit outdoor trees 'til the end of January. Some of our town trees stay lit 3 weeks into January. People leave their white candles in the windows all winter. And seasonal greens, wreaths...all are kept up for the winter season. So, I take down anything "Christmas"...any Santas, nativity, decorative boxes under the tree, etc...and I just keep the lit tree, and candles...it feel perfectly seasonal.

And as far as Valentine's tree...yes, that's excessive, perhaps, BUT....I have a cherished collection of heart ornaments of all kinds that don't all get mixed into the Christmas tree...and it's a way for me to display and enjoy them too...again....while it's still such a dark, dreary season. After that, I truly am done with it but thoroughly have enjoyed it 'til then. And it doesn't feel out of place because I really do transition all my indoor decor around it to only "winter-time" not still full-on Christmas that has dragged on too long.  

[amyb]

Here's some visuals to go along with my last post...Christmas morphing into Valentine's. So far...no matter how I "talk" about "not bothering" "simplifying"...I, so far, still enjoy doing it. I think I just need to hire a sherpa to schelpp it all in and out! That part I don't enjoy. Although...I'm more organized and streamlined with it's storage, as I've ever been these days. One day, I'll want to lighten up.

[rnmom]

I gave my hubby a calculator and some highlighters/pencils to take to work. The pencils etc are all contained in a basket in my "junk drawer" but there was just too many and we rarely use highlighters. I was tired of fighting around them when I went to grab a pen. Sometimes it's just the little things that annoy me. 

[rnmom]

@amyb - Your Valentine's tree is so pretty! As long as it brings you joy, who cares what anyone else thinks?

There is someone I follow on youtube and if I'm not mistaken, she has a tree up almost all of the time that she decorates for all the different holidays, St. Patricks, Easter, Valentinesetc. 

Definitely do what makes you happy!

I don't decorate a lot for Christmas but I still enjoy putting up a tree. I used to alternate colors and themes but right now I would be perfectly content doing the same tree with all of my favorite ornaments every year. 

I'm holding onto my extras for now because again, my son might want some of it if and when he moves out in the next few years. 

And while I do like looking at the tree I'm usually pretty glad to take it down after the first of the year and get my house back to "normal".