Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Sleet, snow, and more sleet – clean up of this first portion of the snowstorm will not be easy. It’s snowing again this morning and we’re due for anywhere from 4 to 7 inches more.

Not a particularly happy camper. We’re trying to figure out if we should go out and clean up what’s already there or just wait. Since it seems to be snowing rather heavily at the moment, I think that decision has been made for us. We’ll most likely wait it out.

Don, of course, cannot make his audition today. It’s too dangerous. First of all, he can’t get out of the driveway, secondly, it will be snowing all day long and even if he did get out, he might not get back in! It’s a dangerous storm.

Case in point: A few days ago, Don said, “We should get a real tree this year.” I was surprised because whenever I suggest one, he has a negative response. We’ve been using our tabletop white tree – which we love – for the past 4 or 5 years. That started when Don was working in California and couldn’t be home for Christmas. I didn’t want to deal with a large tree by myself, so I used the small tree. Then Dad died, less than 2 months before Christmas. Then Scout died the following year. We just weren’t in to a big celebration or a real tree. And we just kept using the small tree.

My response to Don’s statement was, “Where will we put it?” We used to set it up in the den, but the dollhouse is there now. No room in the kitchen. No room in the living room.

Until I thought about the space in front of the french doors that lead into the den. We could put it in front of the pew. That might work.

So yesterday, as the snow had just started falling, Don said, “Let’s go get the tree now!”

Again, I was surprised, to say the least. But he was even more surprised when I said “Yes.” It turns out he’d been kidding, though he didn’t tell me that until later.

I threw on some clothes, we headed down a snowy country road to our local nursery, and made a choice in record time. They tied it on to the car. We bought a stand, even though we already have one but I can’t find it, and off we went. On the way home, it was even snowier, and Don drove very slowly. As we neared the intersection near our house, we slid off the road. It was unnerving to say the least. The car behind us (which had been following at a respectful distance) drove around the car. Don backed it up, and we got back on the road. As we neared the red light, we noticed that the car in front of us just kept right on going since there was no traffic. A wise move. It was a slippery intersection. We prepared to do the same, but the light turned green right before we went through.

Getting up the driveway was dicey, as well. But we made it.

Whew! I’m glad we didn’t leave any later than we did.

After we got the tree inside, I realized we could move the pew behind the loveseat. So we tweaked the sofa’s position and moved the pew over and set up the tree.

Here it is, so far.

We chose one of the smaller trees because we didn’t want it to be too wide. It has a lovely shape. We let the branches settle overnight. We also thought to bring the decorations in from the shed right after we got home yesterday. I also have decorations under the stairs, which entails moving the egg cup cabinet at some point today. (I have a sneaking suspicion I’ll find the other tree stand there.)

It smells so good! Fingers crossed the lights still work – they’ve been out in the shed for a few years now so we haven’t tested them. If they don’t, decorating will have to wait a few days.

As in previous years, I’m avoiding the traditional tree skirt and using one of my bark cloth remnants. I really love that look.

I know this is early for the girl who waits until the second week of December. Blame it on the snow.

Happy Monday.