Gone.
That gorgeous Christmas Tree was so dry after having been here for over a month, that it had to come down yesterday. On top of running errands, we added the dismantling of the tree as one of our chores for the day. It took longer than I thought, but eventually, Don carried it out to the woods, propped it up against another tree and thanked it. We both said thank you repeatedly as we were taking down the ornaments. I do have qualms sometimes about trees – living things – being raised only to be chopped down for our temporary use during the holidays. I have to be honest and say that I go back and forth on that one, just as I do on a number of issues.
I missed seeing those lights when I came downstairs this morning. But I do like the clean look of the house.
Does this ever happen to you? You look everywhere to make sure you haven’t missed some decoration that needs to be packed away. You do it more than once, and finally, satisfied that you have corralled all of the Christmas stuff, you pack it away.
The next day, you notice something you missed. In my case, as I was sitting on the sofa having coffee with my husband this morning, I focused on Stella and saw the two bottlebrush trees that are sitting on her shelf. Whoops! I’ll have to find some place to put them until next year.
Did any of you notice that I closed yesterday’s post with “Happy Monday?” Yep. It wasn’t until we were in the car running errands that I realized it was Thursday, not Monday. The first thing I did when we came home was edit the post to the correct day. I swear, it seemed like a Monday! I’m discombobulated.
I’m working on Dove Cottage. I added some missing window sills and a window frame the other day. I’ll do a bit more today. And I’m deep into Jane Eyre, which is beautifully written, isn’t it? I have to finish it, then read the script for the play, then do some work on the dialects – all over the course of the next 4 or 5 days. I’m starting 2020 off with a work commitment and that makes me happy.
Happy Friday.
Hi Claudia. I though it was Monday yesterday as well. Maybe because most holidays, at least in my mind, end after a weekend. We’re all messed up here too. We missed the lovely twinkle lights after taking down a tree a few years ago. We found an incredibly real looking palm tree that takes up very little space (our neighbor watered it!), added some lights and we couldn’t be happier. Brings a nice warmth in the dark winters’ mornings and nights. My cousin, who lives in dark winter Seattle, loved it so much she followed suit.
We are watching Unbelievable. Great recommendation.
What a neat idea, Verna! Thank you. Glad you’re enjoying Unbelievable!
After I painstakingly packed up all the Christmas decor and put it back out in the shed I noticed three ornament boxes in my office. Sigh.
For what it’s worth, I leave twinkly lights up in my office all year round. It is just too pretty to take down.
I’m guessing no one noticed you wrote Happy Monday in yesterday’s post because everyone else thought it was Monday too!
Happy New Year to you and Don!
I think you’re right, Andrea! Hopefully, we’ll all be back on track come next Monday.
I love your floors, Claudia. They’re really so attractive, with the wider planks. Mine are only 3″ and not so nice!
We leave the tree up until we get tired of it and sometimes that’s not until deep into January, and once, even February. Our neighbor, with a fake tree, once left hers up all year.
I understand what you mean about living trees. I feel somewhat guilty about them, too.
Have a wonderful 2020.
We left ours up until mid-January once and when we were just using the white tree, even longer.
Thank you, Cara!
I know exactly what you mean about finding that one last Christmas item after you’ve put everything away. Then you try to find that perfect place to put that item so you won’t forget it the following Christmas. Lol!
Exactly! Will I forget it???? Thanks Cathy!
I’m going to take down the decorations this weekend as it’s Twelfth Night on Monday. Maybe you could drape lights around the door frame in your photo. I’ve finished Unbelievable which is excellent. My friend is coming for a meal later this evening. She’s an Anglican vicar, a real ‘people person’. I might suggest we start watching Messiah which has only recently appeared on Netflix.
Jane Eyre is one of my favourite books. I had to study it as part of my English Literature qualification in my teens. We even watched the 1940s film with Joan Fontaine. I’ve visited the Bronte home at Haworth Parsonage as it’s only about 30 miles from my home.
Happy Friday
I’m not a fan of Christmas lights in rooms other than on a Christmas tree. We do have our outdoor porch lights still up and I enjoy seeing them at night.
I’d love to go to Haworth, Dee Dee. Lucky you!
We had planned on taking the tree and other things down yesterday…Monday…but ran out of energy. So…today’s the day….whatever the day of the week it is. Funny how it truly felt like Monday yesterday.
It’s gloomy here today, but when I removed a wreath I had hanging in the window…so much more light was filtering inside. Years ago, we made the decision to no longer buy a real tree for Christmas. I love real trees, be,ieve me. So we’ve made sure to plant evergreens in our yard, where we can enjoy them year round, and light them up during the holidays.
It’s nice that you have some work to look forward to…that’s a great way to start off 2020! ;)
I think we’ll still be using a real tree for the time being. I do feel good about not sending it off for mulch but having the option to use it on the property as a place for birds to take cover and for deer and other animals to eat.
Thanks, Donna!
happy that you are happy to have some theatrical work ahead (to enjoy and share your talents). a great way to start the new year!
growing up, my family and i had live-cut trees; now we have artificial ones.
i love them all and understand reasons to choose to use/avoid either kind of tree. there is another option. though it would likely mean having a smaller tree and keeping it indoors for a shorter length of time … what about getting a live tree with a root ball (usually wrapped in burlap) that you can enjoy indoors for a while and then plant somewhere on your property after Christmas for you, don and the creatures to enjoy for years? just an idea.
hope you have a nice weekend!
kathy in iowa
We have hundreds of trees on our property and limited open property. I know all about live trees, but we have no spare room in which to plant one and we also have huge areas of the yard that must remain open because we have a septic system and leach field.
Thanks, Kathy.
wow; you have a lot of trees!
off now to search what a “leach field” is. :)
kathy in iowa
okay, am back after a little research. wasn’t connecting “leach field” with “septic tank” … duh!
happy weekend to all.
kathy in iowa
“Discombobulated”…haven’t heard that word in a long time…Love it!
I so get it. I was talking with the massage therapist and we decided this year has had too many Mondays! It seemed like Monday yesterday and it did on the 26th, and then there was Monday with trash day that completely threw me off. I am sorely needing a routine!
And yes, I find those things too. I try to rationalize it like Dickens — I will keep Christmas in me all the year. Of course, I think he meant in the heart instead of on top of the book case but whatever works!
I was just commenting to a friend that since the two sets of holidays were Tues-Wed it seemed like every 2 days it was a weekend and then another Monday. Every morning when I wake up I have to think about what day of the week it is. Crazy!!
We started de-decorating today. It certainly takes me longer as I get older!! But, being retired, I do have an abundance of time, and no reason to hurry, so it all works out. Dusting, vacuuming and cleaning as I go adds to the time, also. But I am doing one room at a time this year, and it seems to be making it easier, and not quite as much chaos, for sure. I really hate having bins stacked up everywhere in the house as they seem to be taunting me for some reason.
Hope the remainder of your Friday (I just typed Saturday) is a quiet and peaceful one.
We’d put up the fresh tree about December 4, so we had to take it down for tree/trash collection day on Dec 31 but we were too late, so it’s laying forlornly on the lawn, side of the house. I’ve also thanked it several times! I wish we could be like you and just be able to let the wildlife use it but, despite the hillside, we can’t do that where I live in SoCalif; still a bit too urban. My husband gave me a long explanation of how these fir trees are ground up and recycled for other things; but, yes, otherwise doesn’t seem right except that I also am acquainted with this particular tree grower who in fact is in the business of re-growing the trees (chop one down, another is immediately planted I guess; it’s a business).
I still have all my other Christmas decor scattered about, so that’s a job for this coming weekend for sure. All the stores around here are still having their fifty percent off sales, post-holiday; I’ve grabbed up a few things to give as gifts next year; can’t beat the prices. My husband took the exterior lights down yesterday, to my despair; I would have preferred them to stay on at least thru mid January but, man, when the holidays are done, HE is done…and he’s the one with all the work of the set-up and takedown, so I have to be understanding of his gameplan.
OMG, the most beautiful day here in SoCalif: 72 degrees, pleasantly warm in the sun, robin’s egg blue sky with soft white gossamer/streaky clouds, no wind; took a 2-hr drive in our closest locale (pretty green hills from Christmas rain) and wound up at the beach as per our usual; gasped at the huge waves, the big blue sea; talked to a surfer who said he’d had enough pounding in that vigorous, cold surf, even with his wetsuit on. He said of the Pacific Ocean, “She’s a fickle mistress!”
We had a gift this year of the monthly box delivery of what are called imperfect, all-organic produce and it went to the wrong address while we were gone but it stayed quite cold with its freezer paks inside. Now, I’ve gotta deal with that posthaste as it’s a lot of perishables; the most gorgeous, large orange bell peppers; broccolini; nice carrots; pears and apples; onions that look perfect to me; a lot of stuff! Nice gift. Doesn’t travel far; is packed just about a 90-minute drive from us.
Last subject: Military family two doors down. Young couple, first house they’ve owned. He’s deployed and we worried about her alone for Christmas and all the family is out of the area (Midwest). If she hadn’t have had friends to be with, over Christmas Eve/Christmas Day, we were going to invite her to be with us, even though a couple of ‘old people’ can’t take the place of her husband/relatives. I could tell today, first time I’ve ever noticed this in four years since they’ve lived here, when we were chatting briefly on the street, that she’s nervous; I’ve never quite seen her with a long face; usually is jolly and upbeat. I think she’s worried sick about him (I could see the dark shadow fall over her eyes), which is making me fear the worst that he’s in that mess (or about to be) over there in the Middle East. Saying a special prayer tonight for her husband’s safe return.
Claudia, you are right, it never fails. Everything is packed away and all of a sudden you see a decoration left out. We packed up a few more things today. Tomorrow we start on the tree. It is always a sad time stripping the tree and taking it out to be picked up by the sanitation truck. It does feel better that it will be used for mulch. I loved Jane Eyre.
Marilyn
I just wanted to repeat something I’ve probably already said: I love your house.
It wasn’t Monday? LOL! Sara had to go back to work and I had Scout for the morning. We had a fun time playing. She is so creative and we nurture that. Things aren’t progressing as quickly with my Mom as hoped but I patience is my new mantra! Sending much love and hugs.
Lol. No matter how long I wait to put the Christmas decorations in the attic there is always one decoration that gets missed. Glad I am not alone.
I was also so confused on the day of the week. Wednesday seemed like Monday. Friday like Saturday. I hope to get things back on schedule this week.
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year to you, Kay!