January 13th – the day we took the Christmas Tree down.
We were ready. But we were also sad. Are sad. We miss it.
There’s something about that final step, isn’t there? For those of us in the midst of the ‘bleak midwinter’ it means all the celebrating, lights and sparkle are over for another year and we’re faced with gray skies, snow, ice, and treacherous roads. Somehow all of that is more bearable with a pretty Christmas Tree glimmering and shimmering in the den. Its piney scent, by the way, was as strong as ever.
Once I decide to take it down, I’m very efficient. Ornaments off and packed away immediately. Lights down. Tree out the front door (Don takes it up to the woods to provide shelter for the birds.) Vacuum comes out, needles (which are everywhere) are vacuumed up.
Everything back in place.
You’ll notice we’ve moved the Parrish to this wall. It was hanging over the music cabinet but there’s no lamp there and this particular print looks so beautiful in the lamplight. So we’ve switched it out with the Lost Lamb print that used to hang here. So far, it’s working.
The Necco Snowglobe always stays on display for the winter. One year, I kept it up through the summer. I figured it might help provide some ‘cool’ in the midst of the humidity of August.
Here’s the corner’s early morning look. See? Lamplight. Glowing Maxfield Parrish.
This kind of photo is a no-no in the blogging/photo world, you know. No artificial light. All natural light. And that’s usually what I go for. But every once in a while it’s nice to break the rules in order to tell a story. And this story is about a corner of the den, lamplight, a snow globe, and Maxfield Parrish.
And a missing Christmas Tree.
The outdoor lights are still up on the porch. I turn them on every night.
Imagine driving down a dark country road in the bleak midwinter. You’re tired. You’ve had a long day. You’re driving somewhat cautiously (hopefully) because deer can appear without warning. Maybe it’s slushy out there. Maybe it’s a bit icy. And you see, up ahead, the glow of lights on a porch, lights that swoop from railing to railing; white, sparkling lights that provide a momentary beacon to guide you on your way.
It just might put a smile on your face.
Happy Thursday.
Good Morning, Claudia! I know you are featuring the Parrish print in these pictures but I am just ga-ga over the shadow box frame full of the little pitchers! I am always drawn to these little colorful pitchers when I am out about in an Antique store or secondhand store. I also love the snow globe. Don’t worry about your no-no picture. I take lots of these as those are the real-life shots that we live with every day. Have a super day.
I love collecting miniature pottery. It’s hard to find, so I’m thrilled when I find a piece.
I always find it a bit sad putting away the Christmas decorations. I had a go at making a snowglobe out of a sweet jar this Christmas – perhaps I’ll leave it out for a bit longer. Yours looks so pretty!
It’s nice that you still switch on the outdoor lights in the evening. Downtown where I live, there is an enormous pine tree in front of the old town hall which is decorated with lights every December. I can see the top of the tree from my bedroom window and I must admit I like seeing the glowing star on these dark, cold mornings.
My mother used to put a Christmas tree with lights every winter on the deck outside her kitchen doors. It was an artificial tree, but it looked very pretty when it snowed. My parents’ house backed on to a golf course and they had no pets, so their backyard was a lovely, quiet refuge for all sorts of wildlife. Every spring robins would make a nest in the artificial tree – sometimes there was even tinsel woven in the nest. Perhaps your Christmas tree will become a bird tree this spring!
I think it will. And now, when all the trees are bare, this little tree will help them out as they get through the winter.
Your blog is like those comforting sparkling winter lights, Claudia!
Aw, thank you, Sylvia!
I love your little shelves of mini jugs! I love jugs too, and collect them. Your display is just adorable X
Thank you! There’s a post somewhere on the blog on how I repurposed that shadow box.
I’m an emotional type, Claudia. One who has been told, many times, that I wear my heart on my sleeve. I do. When I read the part of your post about the lights being a beacon, well, that brought tears to my eyes. We all need a beacon at times in our lives. Thank you for writing, Claudia. You touch many people with your words. You truly have a gift.
Hugs,
Deb
Oh, thank you, Debbie. If I touched your heart…my day is made. xoxo
Hello Claudia,
I love the Maxfield Parrish print in the lamplight. It absolutely glows. I actually like the glow of lamps in pictures – it makes it soft.
We are keeping our twinkle lights on our fence longer than usual. Our neighbor said that she loves looking out and seeing them each night.
Have a lovely day.
Julie
I bet she does! I think it helps everyone stay a bit lighter, a bit cheerier, during the winter months.
Love keeping your Christmas lights up! I am keeping out all my white lights from the Christmas boxes and am planning on putting them in a box at the very top so I can easily get them out in the summer. I am thinking I may put some twinkling lights out on the back deck this year. At least they will be easy to get at if I decide to do it. It’s really not an option if the box is buried beneath who knows what. I love your new corner.
Good idea, Tana. They would look awfully pretty out on the deck!
My husband died a couple of weeks before Christmas, and we have put a little Christmas tree on his gravesite each year. My children and I make birdseed ornaments and hang them on the tree. Though I suspect the deer get to the majority of the ornaments, I hope that birds get at least some of the seeds. So, I like Barbara’s story of robins nesting in her parents’ artificial tree, of a bird finding enough security in a Christmas tree to nest in it!
Aren’t small outside white lights magical when one comes upon them unexpectedly?!
Yes, they are! Putting a Christmas Tree on your husband’s gravesite it such a beautiful tribute to him, Wendy. I love that idea. xo
You are right…the Parrish does glow…lovely! I’m glad you are leaving your outdoor lights on…I love seeing country homes with lights…it says welcome! Our outdoor lights and tree came down on the 2nd…it was warmer that day. That’s always a consideration when it comes to putting lights on the house and taking them off here in Wisconsin. There is nothing worse than frozen outdoor lights in March! I have kept our battery operated candles on inside though…gives off a nice warm glow in the evening.
I should remember to turn on our lights that look like candles – we have them in the upstairs windows. Thanks for reminding me, Donnamae.
Glad to be of service! ;)
I love the way that corner looks with the lamplight on. Our lights are still up on the porch and I love sitting out there in the dark in their glow. Today is a big day at our house. I am keeping my cousin’s 2 yr old granddaughter and she has decided today is the day she will be potty trained. I am so proud but since I have decided she will be the last baby I keep the day is kind of bittersweet too. She will start pre K in 2016 and I’m already dreading it.
Such a big event, Janie! Hope it all worked out perfectly!
I love that you’re keeping your outside twinkle lights up, Claudia. From the time I started working, the worst part of January was driving to and from work in the dark, missing all the festive Christmas lights that made coming and going in December so pleasant. I was always grateful to those folks who kept their lights on in January and February. It always felt like a little encouragement to round a curve and see a house lit up in the night, I told myself if I ever have a house of my own, I’m going to be sure to decorate for the holidays and hopefully “give back” a little of the pleasure. These days I especially love the folks who string some small saplings in the yard, or shrubbery, with white twinkle lights which look really nice lit all year long. God bless their little twinklin’ hearts… And enjoy your day!
Oh, yes – driving to and from work in the dark – no sunlight – has to be one of the worst things about winter! I hope you get to see some twinkling lights on your journey, Janet.
That is a beautiful spot for your Parish. I guess I don’t know all the blogging “rules”. I take pictures wherever and whenever. I guess maybe that’s why I don’t have tons of readers…but the ones I have are loyal and have become friends and that’s the whole point of blogging to me. I love that you left your lights up for awhile. It would be a very welcome sight on a cold and snowy night.
Blessings,
Betsy
Oh, there are far too many blogging ‘rules’ Betsy. It’s best to ignore all of them! Just do what makes you and your readers happy. That’s what I’ve learned to do, too!
I like the corner photo– yes the tree is missing; but you couldn’t appreciate that Maxfield Parrish with a tree blocking the view. That’s the upside.
I do like the thought of lights in the distance on a cold winters night– a welcome sight.
Glad the house is back in order and the tree is serving a purpose as cover for the wild things!
Have a nice day!
The sun is out here I’m going to take a walk with the kiddos!
Well, the Parrish was hanging elsewhere while the tree was still up, Pat!
Sun is out here today too. We took a little trip to Target just to get out of the darned house!
I agree 100% with your philosophy about the lights(although I’m a colored light gal.)
The winter is so harsh when they gone! Almost like your a stranger in your own world.
-Judy A-
Perfect way to put it, Judy. Suddenly, you’re in an alien world!
Claudia, I took down my tree on Monday. The living room is so bare now! I miss it. Tiger told me it was time Grandma!! LOL! I must confess to still having the white tree up in my bedroom though. It has pink and Paris ornaments on it and I think I’ll leave it up through Valentine’s Day this year. A treat for me at night when I go to bed and read a bit. Now that I have a small collection of the mini pottery I need a proper shelf to display them. I love your shadow box, so I’ll keep an eye out for something like that. I like the depth of it and the frame. The Parrish print looks wonderful in that spot and the light is perfect for it. Another rainy cloudy day here so I need something to brighten my day I’m afraid. Maybe I’ll work on my art project!
hugs,
Linda
It’s an old shadowbox from the 40s or 50s that had dark wood and a mirrored back wall. I just painted it and covered the mirrors with scrapbook paper. I bet you can find one of these fairly easily and they usually don’t cost much at all.
I’m rarely out driving after dark. Last night I noticed an apartment balcony still had a significant maze of tiny white lights across the top of their railing. I can enjoy those year round!
Isn’t that a nice surprise, Terri?
Love the Parrish! Cleaned the kitchen and put all the Christmas stuff away that had been on our buffet. That’s really all the decorating we did this year since we were on the road a bunch. We do have a live table-top tree that is still up and minimally decorated. Love it. It sits on a chest in our living room. Behind it, on the chest, is a window box where my husband has planted several varieties of lettuce and spinach. Everything is up and growing quickly!! Love that you’ve kept your outside lights up. A beacon of sorts.
How nice it must be to see some things growing at this time of year. I presume the window box is inside the house, Vera? Sounds that way. What a wonderful idea!
Lamplight has its own beauty.
It does indeed. I almost always have a lamp or two lit – even during the day. No overhead lighting for me, except for the pot lights in the kitchen.
You’ve put together a lovely corner, Claudia. The Parrish reminds me of something I would have seen in my grandmother’s Chicago apartment. Not that there was one, but her apartment just had the sort of ambiance befitting that type of artwork, and it looks very at home in your awesome cottage. And between your blog and others, I’m also getting an urge to hang twinkle lights somewhere in my house. :O) Have a great weekend! Bess
Go for it, Bess. Hang some of those twinkle lights!
Alas, Mississippi has been in a bleak midwinter mood what with gray skies, rain, sleet and freezing rain today.
You know what? I did not seem to enjoy the holidays this year and yet I almost came apart taking down my tree. It has been an emotional roller coaster this winter as it came on suddenly and very early and has been a dreary gray for days on end. We don’t normally get a lot of rain in the winter, but this year we have had a lot and most of it on the weekends when you want the house to be filled with light. Weather man is reporting sun starting tomorrow and lasting through Tuesday. I am so excited because I will be able to see dust and will clean like a fiend this weekend!
I, too, enjoy having a beacon to come home to. My husband strung rope lights down the front and side of our barn and around the deck on the back of the barn. It is so nice to see when I come around the curve approaching the house. I hope others enjoy it, too. We have the lights on a timer so they come on at dark and go off at dawn so that anytime you go out at night, there is a soft glow and yet it doesn’t intervere with the starlight.
May we all hold on for the Spring that is coming. Hope it is soon!
I can just picture those lights, Susan! I know what you mean about dark, dreary, gray days. Don and I were talking about it today and think we both have SAD. It didn’t bother me when I was younger, but I seem to be much more susceptible to it nowadays. I know Don is. He’s a Southern California day, so gray, rainy, snowy, yucky days were not a part of his upbringing!
Claudia, I still have my Christmas tree up and probably won’t take it down until Australia Day on January 26. Having it growing in a pot certainly helps, but apart from the comforting glow of light every night, it always reminds me of something else. This tree came to us about 15 years ago as a give-away. We’d had a hectic run-up to Xmas that year, gone looking for a tree too late only to find nothing left but a scrawny little fir with ‘two heads’ and not much else. We took it home, decorated it and planned to plant it out in the garden after New Year’s Eve. For whatever reason that never happened and it simply became the tree we would always decorate at Xmas. It’s no longer scrawny and no longer has ‘two heads’. Over the years it has turned from an ‘ugly duckling’ into the most beautiful of swans. For the time it sits in our living room, it reminds me not just of the joy of family and festivities, but that nothing is ever set in concrete, that change and transformation are always possible and ugly ducklings can always become swans.
Oh, what a lovely story about your little tree, Ruta. I love the message it represents.
I believe, after age 50, you’re allowed to break rules that had previously felt unbreakable … and that includes blog photos with lamp light ;) Love that photo, it makes the entire corner feel so cozy!
Isn’t it freeing to break the rules and feel no guilt whatsoever, Debbie?
We have colored outside lights we leave up all year round..I enjoy them when we are having sitting out there or having a cook-out..Your corner looks cozy and warm with the lamp light..