I drove around yesterday looking for a strand of clear lights on a white cord. (First time I’ve driven since the ankle injury!) No lights anywhere. No little inexpensive pre-lit trees, either. I definitely want low-key this year, but I found myself balking at the possibility of no tree lights.
So I came home to my $20 Michael’s pre-lit tree and proceeded to pry off every one of the lights, which had been clamped to the branches in a rather intricate pattern. The clamps were sort of like the plastic closures that come on a loaf of bread and they were very hard to remove.
Two hours and a couple of broken fingernails later, I had finished. In the meantime, Don went out to the shed and brought the Christmas light bin inside and I found one unused strand of lights. I hadn’t planned on opening any bins this year, but we had no choice. Lights were strung on the tree, some little ornaments I had upstairs were hung, and then to fill it out, I added some faux berries that were in the light bin.
And we’re done.
Just enough for us this year.
And it’s fairly well protected where it is, so Scout won’t fall into it – another reason we didn’t want a real tree this year.
I’m close to finishing my book and I’m in a little bit of a panic because I don’t have another book by Susan Hill ready and waiting. And I’m so into this series that I don’t want to start something else. If all else fails I can get it on the Kindle, though I’d prefer a real book I can hold in my hands. But I’ve got a plan. Tomorrow I have to go into the city in the evening to watch a performance – something I have been involved with off and on. I’m going to go in early, take the subway to the stop closest to The Mysterious Bookshop and I’m going to spend an hour or so in that lovely shop, where I know they will have Susan Hill’s books on the shelf.
I’m going to treat myself to the next three in the series. Hey, if I have to haul myself into the city this close to Christmas, I should have some sort of reward, don’t you think?
Happy Sunday.
The tree is so u
Thanks, Deborah!
Love the tiny tree, and the white is perfect. I agree simple is enough this year :)
Simple is just right, Dawn. xo
Pretty tree. We almost didn’t put a tree up this year but I caved on Wednesday. It just didn’t seem right to not have a tree at all.
Blessings,
Betsy
I know. I’ve always had some sort of tree!
Love the tree – we too were looking for more clear lights on white cords yesterday, all gone, but tons of green cords!
Take care going into the city, it will be busy of course, and have a wonderful time. Hope you tell of the performance here later – and hope you get another book.
Hugs – Mary
Oh, I’ll definitely get another book, probably a couple of them! Thanks, Mary.
Just perfect.
We bought a pre-lit white tree for the lobby of our building this year. Very simple, very few decorations. There is an enormous antique mirror behind it that reflects the light. It’s lovely to come home to in these dark days of winter.
Oh, I bet that is so pretty!
We always have a small tree now. We had gotten used to having a small tree where the cats couldn’t get to it. We love real trees but the cats used to drink the water from the tree stand, knock off ornaments closer to the floor, and try to climb the trunk. Even though this will be our first cat-less holiday season in many years, we stayed with the little tree. I hope your beautiful tree brings a little lightness during this season as you remember.
Yes, cats can definitely wreak havoc with a tree! This year, the little tree is perfect.
I think your tree is perfect for you in every way! I’m not quite finished with our tree…..I still have a few ornaments and bows to place. I kind of started to get excited about this season, once we got the lights to work. I became a sentimental fool as I looked over our collection of ornaments. ( Notice I left out the word ” old” in between sentimental and fool!) And, even though we are having a low-key Christmas…our tree is not low key by any means. I got caught up in all the emotion of every single ornament…I couldn’t help myself…our tree became an explosion of sentimentality! Now, I’m off to bake some cookies…enjoy your day! ;)
Well, sentimentality is a good thing! Have a great day with your tree and your cookies, Donnamae!
Lovely little tree. I’ll bet it feels more Christmasy already. You’ll be feeling better as time passes and this is just another little gift you have given yourself. The loss of your Dad is a hard one to deal with. Cry if you need to. Losing someone you love is hard.
It is. Thank you, Barbara.
When I looked at the pretty white tree, I immediately thought of sweet Scout. Beautiful soft and white as is she.
My goal for today is to think of every possible to-do that must be done in finishing things up, and do them. Then just some cooking and straightening for Thurs & Fri. The little loose ends are driving me a bit nuts this year. I need to get it all done so my mind gets some rest.
I am reading “What Alice Forgot” and all these annoying little jobs are keeping me from reading, and that is making me a bit crabby!!
Have a wonderful trip tomorrow and a fantastic hour in the book store!!
(btw…. since Friday I have visited you on your website as you aren’t “delivered” to my email til suppertime. I know you mentioned some others had told you, also.)
No, I was the one that told me. I subscribe to the blog via email, too, just so I can see what’s happening. Today – AGAIN – it didn’t go out when it was supposed to. I’m getting ticked off about the whole thing.
You most definitely deserve a reward to venturing into NYC just days before Christmas. And your little white tree looks perfect where you have it. PS – I know what you mean about removing those dead pre-lit lights. I once spent almost 4 hours removing them from a 4-foot tree I had. I was on the verge of tossing the entire thing in the trash bin several times. What a project.
I wanted to toss this one, too. The only thing that kept me from doing it was the fact that I knew I couldn’t find any lights!
You deserve a real treat!
I just stated the Louise Penny series and I like it.
Hugs,
M
You’ll love the series, Mer. Enjoy!
The tree is lovely. How lucky you were able to find a string of lights that works!
Wishing you and Don and Scout a very happy holiday.
Thank you so much, Marilyn. Happy Holidays to you!
The red berries on the white tree looks very pretty…maybe you could have cut the dead string of lights of the tree with wire cutters..just cut close to the clip and it it might have easily slipped through the clip…then the clips might have come off easier too…I’m just thinking in case I ever have to take the lights off of mine…Have fun in the city…three books and the theater sounds like a wonderful day to me!!!!..Tell us all about it please!
I thought about that, Nancy, but the cords were wrapped around the branches and then threaded through the clip, I would have been cutting all sorts of wires without actually getting the lights off of the branches. Better to remove the clips, then everything slipped off the branch.
Such a pretty little tree. I think its perfect!
hugs
Thanks, Nancy.
I will be interested to hear what you think of the ending of the book Claudia, I have read some very mixed reviews.
Just finished it. The ending was shocking, not at all what I expected. That being said, it made sense, though it broke my heart. Excellent, but dark, book. I’ll be reading more of her work.
Your tree is so pretty!
Enjoy your day in the city and hope the bookshop has exactly what you are anxious to read.
Thank you, Sue!
That is such a sweet little tree! I think your plan for those books is really a good one!
hugs,
Linda
Headed into the city today, Linda. Love to you
That is a beautiful tree and what works for you this year! Last year we moved to a small tree and I picked up another one this year at one of the Dollar stores. I plan to consolidate my ornaments and get them organized when it is my time to take down the decorations. I love small trees! All the beauty and a lot easier to put up. Wishing you joy during this holiday season.
I believe I’ll start on the first book in the series. You have been a great source for book choices. Thanks for that.
I’m starting to really like small trees, Annie. Thank you!
My husband I and were talking about Christmas shopping in New York. And you are going! ;-) But of course this is an other pair of shoes completely.
Anyway, you are brave. I don’t go to Wil (a town of 50 000 inhabitants, lots of traffic, no parking except at 9 am) before Christmas because it’s just crazy there. Have fun!!!!! Regula
Well, I’m not doing a lot of shopping, just in a specific store – and for me! I’d rather go on a weekday than the weekend. On the weekends at Christmas, NYC is too crowded!
Love the small tree, we went small and prelit years ago. Except I think I still put just as many ornaments on it as when we did large tree. I always think is it gaudy enough yet? I have Susan Hill’s book on hold at library, can’t wait to read it. I am always on the look out for a new series to read/listen to. If I really enjoy I buy the audio book, her first few are not on audio….. Have a great visit and Happy Holiday to you and Don, and Scout.
Happy Holidays to you, Mary. Enjoy the Susan Hill when you get it. I’m buying more of her books today.