My plans to work on The Comedy of Errors yesterday were foiled by a spurt of cleaning and decorating energy. When that happens, I’ve learned that it pays to embrace the energy and go with it. First off, I made good on my vow to clean the bathroom, which, as you know, is one of my least favorite things to do. Done.
Then, though I normally don’t do any decorating until mid-December, I kept thinking about putting up our little tree. No matter what I did, that idea kept resurfacing. After a while, I realized that it was because I am leaving for Hartford soon and won’t be in my Christmas-decorated cottage during the week before Christmas. In essence, I am losing a week at home during the holidays. Make that two weeks, as I’ll also be gone for the week between Christmas and the New Year. (Never fear, I’ll be home for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day.)
Because of all that and, I think, because we’re really starting to crave it, we want to keep things simple. No big tree for the second year in a row. Just the funky little white tree that I got at Michael’s many years ago.
I stood in the living room and boom! I realized that we have the bistro table now. What about putting the tree on our beautiful table instead of its usual place on the industrial stool by the chimney? A quick text to Don (he was in the city yesterday) and his enthusiastic “Yes!” got me going. I dragged the tree from the closet under the stairs, cleared the bistro table, and went to work. The tree was put together, lights were strung and I went with a new idea for the tree skirt, rather than the pretty little pastel-y print skirt I already had: a remnant of vintage bark cloth from my stash.
I put Pandora on, brought my mini Bose speaker downstairs and played Christmas music while I played with the bark cloth.
I wanted a splash of color and I got it. I really, really love it.
Instead of using the minuscule little pink ornaments I’ve used in other years, I decided to dig our smaller Shiny Brites out of their storage bin in the shed because, darn it, I missed them! That lead me to the Christmas wreath I also store in the shed. It’s now on the front door.
Back to the tree:
There it is mid-afternoon yesterday. I’m in love. Doesn’t it look great on the table? I added the Cardinal Snow Globe because, really, what could be more perfect?
Then I grabbed the outdoor lights and looped them between the posts on the porch, as we do every year. Then I cleaned like a madwoman. I wanted to surprise Don because he would be coming home after dark and I wanted him to see the lights on the porch as he pulled into the driveway and the lights on the little tree sparkling in the window.
It worked. He was surprised and delighted, if I do say so myself.
More and more, we seem to be on the path to simplifying Christmas and all the decorations and hoopla. Now, if we had grandchildren, we might be inclined to do more. But maybe not. I’ve never been a blogger who wants to decorate the house the day after Thanksgiving so I can do the House Tour thing. I like looking at those tours (a wee bit), but truly, the holiday for us is about quiet joy and as little stress as possible.
This idea of simplifying Christmas started a few years back when Don was working in San Diego and couldn’t be home for Christmas. I didn’t want to wrestle with a big tree, so I decided to only use the small tree. That, and the outside lights, and I was done.
It was liberating.
That put the thought in my head. Don already had it – he’s all for making it simple.
I am increasingly okay with not having a big tree, especially since I added the Shiny Brites to the mix this year.
This is all I need. The tree, a wreath on the door, and shiny white lights on the porch.
Oh, and Don, of course.
Happy Tuesday.
I do love Shiny Brute ornaments. I have the tree topper that was my dad and mom’s. The box has a price of 25¢! In the 50’s that was a lot! Have a great day!
I tried to put a tree topper on this little tree, but the one I had was too darned heavy! Yes, 50 cents was a lot in the fifties!
I LOVE the little tree! I have downsized my Christmas decorating. I have family Christmas at my house so I have to make the decorations enough for that “Christmasy feel”, but I’ve given up the big tree and have a small one as well. One of my collections is Santa’s, and it’s even gotten to be too much to put them all out, so I display my favorites. Enjoy this holiday season Claudia and Don.
Less is best, right Karen? I have a LOT of decorations in three big tubs that I keep in the shed. But I only use a few of them now.
It’s just perfect! I love the whole ensemble. And now, I’m off to the studio to get the last (for now) chair cushion done.
Your cushions are looking good, Shanna! Good job!
Thanks, Claudia!
It seems your table was an excellent purchase as it has so many uses. The tree fits there perfectly. And I love the cardinal snowglobe. I had an urge yesterday to rearrange my living room so that meant hours of cleaning and moving furniture. I’m glad it’s done. Looks much better. Now if I could just motivate myself to get the kids room painted and organized before they arrive for the holidays. :)
That table was one of the best buys we’ve made!
I’m with you on not being motivated to paint. I should have painted the kitchen and living room years ago. It still hasn’t been done!
I LOVE your tree and it’s ornaments! We have two trees, a big one down in the lower level family room with all of the kid’s ornaments over the years (no, they do not take them with them when they leave, unfortunately), and a smaller one upstairs that is “mine.” The smaller one’s second layer of lights went out this year after decorating; the top half went out last year so now it totally has lights that have to be strung on. I remember thinking what a great idea trees with lights built in was, not so much when they go long before the tree falls apart. Anyway, maybe I will replace it with a white tree! I also love the trees with the “snow” on them, but I can only imagine the mess.
That’s what happened to the white tree last year – the pre-strung lights went out and I spent hours removing them from the darned tree!
Claudia, that white tree with the Shiny Brites and bark cloth underneath is sheer perfection, my friend. I absolutely love it! We haven’t put up a big tree ever since Phil passed away (this will be our 8th Christmas without him), but we do (or should I say, I do – I do all the Christmas decorating) put a small tabletop tree on the buffet. Hoping to do a post later today about it.
Oh, Melanie. It’s hard to go full-out Christmas when you’ve lost a child. But a small tree is a great idea.
(I think Don was thrilled about this because he didn’t have to DO anything! He’s probably smiling to himself at this very moment!)
Your tree is lovely!! I have some of the shiny brites too from my parents. I too want to down size to a smaller tree this year.
Shiny Brites are so pretty!
Love it, the tree is so pretty! I think I am going to get our decorations out this week also. A lot of the neighbors have decorated and I just love looking out the front window and seeing all the pretty lights. I also loved the picture that you showed of Riley and Scout looking out the window at Don and all the pictures of the farm animals.
hugs and HO, HO, HO!
I love seeing the lights, too. My parents used to take us on a drive to see all the outdoor lights in our town.
Oh, it’s still a tradition for my husband and me. We drive slow, drape a blanket between us and I make a thermos of hot cocoa. We go all around and love seeing what people do for their homes. Best not to do it on a weekend, though, because people are off at parties and tend to have the lights off. Weeknights are the best for a tour!
It’s hard to do that around here simply because we’re out in the country and not in a neighborhood. And this year, I’ll be gone the week before Christmas. I love the idea of a thermos of hot cocoa as you drive around, gazing at all the decorations!
Your tree is so pretty! I love the Shiney Brites so much. I haven’t put mine out in several years because of the Grandkids and now a new kitty (show hasn’t touched the tree yet thank goodness). I’m not having anyone for dinner this year so put the tree on my table and I love it there!! A few more of my favorite things and I’ll be done decorating. I’ll share photos soon! I love that table more and more each time I see it! Hugs.
Fingers crossed the kitty ignores the tree!
I love your sweet tree, Claudia. The bark cloth is perfect . XO Laura
Thank you, Laura!
I love your tree! Yes, I enjoy looking at magazines and blogs where they totally decorate the house. In reality, for me, that isn’t happening. I have garland and ribbon decorated with mittens and snowflakes in my class. At home, I have a Christmas candle out so far … and that may be all this year. I am not a Grinch or a Scrooge. I just am choosing what is important to me. “What if Christmas he thought, doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas means a little bit more.” The Grinch
i agree (claudia, your tree is beautiful; limiting decorations, but i am not a grinch)!
kathy
xo
I’m not a Grinch either, just want to have Christmas be more about the meaning of the day than decorations! Sounds like you feel the same way.
Very pretty!
Thank you, Doris!
Your tree is perfect! Love that you were able to use your new table too. And it looks so pretty there, especially with that tree bark skirt! I’ve been downsizing Christmas for a few years…we don’t need all the decorations. We got a new tree this year…smaller, thinner, and all the lights work! I have my parents’ ornaments from the 60’s …still use them every year…but, have to be really careful….they are extremely fragile. And, they are mixed in with our family ornaments…so the tree will be quite full. It’s all about the ornaments to me! Love your shiny brites! ;)
These are fragile, too, and I’ve told Don not to get near that table!
It breaks my heart when one breaks…but it seems senseless to me to keep them hidden just to preserve them. I’ve accidently broken 3 already…so I’ve pondered this dilemma. They are meant to be used after all…aren’t they? ;)
Yes, they are!
Your tree looks great! I actually have a couple of Shiny Brite ornaments and didn’t realize that’s what they were. Thank you for taking the picture of them. I’ve had them for years – they were my mother-in-law’s, but they were never in a box.
Shiny Brites were on my parents’ tree and now, even the boxes are considered highly collectible, Carol!
Well done! :-)
Thank you, Regula!
Your tree is so beautiful. “Simple” has a whole new meaning for me as I grow older. I simply adore Christmas and decorate rather “large” but in recent years I’ve given a lot of my decorations to our son who was starting on his own. It was a joy to pass them on to him and we have all that we need. I’m sure what I still have would be too much for some but it’s just right for us and is considered simple from what we had before.
We’ve had many losses and tragedies over the Christmas seasons we have been married and this year isn’t any different. We are going through Alzheimer’s with my husbands father and my mother who will be 80 in just a few weeks is having her own health problems. We live a good distance from both of them so there has been much travel time along with much stress. It was wonderful to return home this past Saturday from a long week with my in-laws to my home filled with Christmas lights. It was the warmth and happy that we both needed during this most difficult time.
I love your simple Christmas. We all need to find that balance for what works for where we are in our lives at this moment. Embrace that fully!
One last note, thank you for your blog. I look forward to your posts each day with my cup of coffee each morning. Thank you and Don for sharing your life with us. I hope you have a most lovely day Claudia.
I’m firmly convinced that everyone should decorate in a way that pleases them and makes them happy, Belinda. Thank goodness, in the midst of stress and family illness, you were able to walk in your front door to be greeted by your Christmas-decorated home! I hope that you find some respite this Christmas and time to relax and de-stress.
That’s a beauty! :D I might end up with just the mini trees this year.
Go for it, Brae!
A charming little tree filled with vintage ornaments. It could not be sweeter! You made the right choice about keeping it simple. I have vowed that this will be my last complex Christmas and the last time I will join a Christmas blog party. I enjoy the invites and enjoy supporting my blogging friends, but honestly, it is exhausting. I long for the simple life too. I long to get cozy and enjoy the Christmas lights, watch old movies and read. When I was in Austin a couple of weeks ago, I picked up a copy of My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante at Book People. Have you read it?
Love,
Susan and Bentley
I bet it is exhausting!
Watching old movies and reading sounds like heaven to me, Susan. I have My Brilliant Friend here at the cottage in my To Be Read pile but I haven’t started it yet.
Oh Claudia, where to begin. First, I love that you were thinking of Don coming home to the lights! The more you talk about the things you do for each other the more it reminds me of my hubby and our relationship. Second, I love the simple decorations especially the shiny brites!
Thirdly, I’m with you, (I’m 54 and don’t like all the clutter and work.) the blog home tours are ok, but I think they go a wee bit overboard and this year I’m pretty much over them.
Me too! I click on the occasional tour, but it all seems over-the-top and then I read those same bloggers saying that they pulled all the decorations down on Christmas Day because they were sick of them. Is that what Christmas is about?
Sounds like you have a wonderful relationship with your husband!
Simple is truly simple. At (nearly) age 67, I find it takes longer to do all of it, and that makes me enjoy it much less. Then there is all of the taking down and putting it away again to look forward to in just a few weeks. So, less is best. I shared one of those blog house tours this morning with my husband, and his response “this is someone’s HOUSE??” Some of it, although pretty, is just so overwhelming. Too much is truly too much.
The tree and the table look like they have been waiting to meet. Looks wonderful! I love the outdoor lights, too. I enjoy driving through town to see how homes are lit up, and to look out our window and see the neighbor’s lights. I think of it as a little gift we give to each other as a community to enjoy. Hope you are enjoying your Tuesday!!
Too much is what I often see on blog Christmas decorating tours. Every room is decorated within an inch of its life. And don’t get me started on ‘themes.’ The theme is Christmas, right?
I love the way you think about outdoor lights – they really ARE a gift we give each other!
You did a great job, Claudia. The tree/vignette is so cheery and glowy and warm. I bet Don was so pleased that you showcased the cardinal.
In past years, I got away from the red & green of Christmas. This year, so many people in town put up their exterior lights Thanksgiving weekend but I was struck by the total lack of red & green. I suppose all-clear lights are sophisticated…and they can be nice for all-year…but, at Christmas? Whatever happened to those bright colors of our youth? I, too, have begun to crave the red & green again. This year, I’m not going for the Shabby Chic pastels; they’re pretty, too, but I’m wanting to revisit childhood this year. Comfort-seeking! Red & white of Santa. Little dark green bottle-brush trees on fake snow, a mini deer nestled here and there.
What’s nice about your white tree is that, really, any sort of color combo will ‘go’, won’t it?
PS: I just had this image in my head about my best friend’s house at Christmas in the 60s. Her mom loved blue. Everything in that house was blue…the sofa, the carpet, the drapes, the dishes, the wallpaper, the bedspreads, the towels; even their automobile was blue. They had the artificial tree, silver/aluminum with all identical blue balls. I’m thinking of that now…as Charlie Brown would say, “Good grief!” Except, done right, a silvery-white/blue tree can of course look very beautiful with today’s products…lots of choices…
Yes, the white tree is fine with any colors. But I felt the same way about our real, green tree. I don’t really go with a certain color anyway, I just hang my ornaments!
I well remember those silver trees! They were in a lot of my friends’ homes.
It looks beautiful Claudia. I, too, seem to do less decorating each year. Less time decorating = more time to enjoy it and relax~!
Exactly, Vera! I’m all for enjoying the season!
Claudia, your tree on your table looks perfectly lovely! I bet it was a welcome sight for Don when he came home. I made a ceramic tree some 40 years ago, and that is our tree this year. We put it on our kitchen table and it looks just right for us. Just couldn’t face bringing out more decorations that would only require taking down and putting away in less than a month. My broken wrist is healing nicely, but I seem to be so much slower at everything I do. Still, I am very thankful for all my blessings which includes your sweet blog. I do so enjoy it.
I love ceramic trees, Dottie. I saw a couple in an antique shop today. It’s best that you take care of that wrist and not overdo!
So pretty, I love the barkcloth skirt. Isn’t it so much nicer to wait until you are in the spirit or mood to decorate. It’s even more meaningful when you are surprising a loved one.
Yes. I was in the mood and it ended up being fun! It I’d felt I had to do it, it wouldn’t have been!
It’s just perfectly you Claudia!
Thank you, Nancy!
The tree and the table look absolutely lovely! They were made for each other. We also moved to a smaller tree last year. That, a wreath, and a christmas tablecloth for Christmas eve dinner are about as decorative as we get. This year my Christmas cactus plant seems to be making up for the loss.
My sister’s Christmas cactus is blooming, too, Jan. I’ve never had one!
Your little Christmas tree is Lovely Claudia! Love the vintage ornaments and the white fairy lights on a white tree; and how nice to have it right in front of the window where you can see it as you approach the house.
Now I am seriously in the mood to put up my Christmas tree, as a direct result of having seen how pretty yours is. :D
Oh, thank you, Elizabeth! Enjoy putting up your tree – make some hot cocoa, put on some Christmas music, and have fun!
The tree is beautiful. The next step to simplifying is to not undecorated the tree, but put it in a huge plastic bag and then back under the stairs. This is the only step I have not taken yet, but believe me, I have thought it. If I had a house built I would put a storage area behind sliding doors on one wall in the living room and behind this would be the decorated Christmas tree on a rolling platform! Am I a genius or what?
You are a genius! Wouldn’t that be perfect?
Looks beautiful Claudia. The table was made for your Christmas tree. I love
the simplicity of your decorating. I’m on my own, and don’t bother with a tree
but decorate the mantel, sideboard, shelving, cushion covers, etc., in the
living room.
My aorta valve replacement went well and nine weeks after surgery, I am
starting to feel so much better. Mind you, stopped watching CNN and only
Lawrence O’Donnell, Rachel M. and Chris Hayes on MSNBC, that has helped
immensely. Still very upset over the election. What is normal nowadays?
I’m so glad things went well, Lea! Good news! And switching to only watching MSNBC can only help!
I don’t know what normal is anymore. I truly don’t know.
Aortic valve replacement is not an easy surgery! My dad had it in 1989 when he was well into his 60s. It was made of titanium. When he died 20 years later, it had nothing to do with that successful/excellent valve replacement. Before 1989, the surgery was much riskier. It’s still more complicated than bypass, to my understanding, but I’m so grateful for the miracle of modern medicine. Dad had a lot of good years after that valve replacement. Happy for reader Lea!
The tree is beautiful and the perfect spot on your lovely table! I really enjoyed the photos of it. I’m all about simplicity these days. We went to just one small Christmas tree a couple years ago. And I have my snowmen collection out too. That’s enough for us.
I agree. Simplicity is, to me, the perfect thing for the holidays.
Your little tree looks perfect on that gorgeous table! Simplify, simplify, simplify……
Although, I do like enough clutter to make our home feel cozy. By clutter, I mean books and other things we love and use.
I couldn’t do without my books and favorite things, Sherry!
Your Christmas tree is perfect, Claudia.
Thank you, Nancy!
I love the charming simplicity of your tree. Every year I put out less and I am happy with the results. I am over the Christmas decor assault. A little tree, white lights and Shiny Bright ornaments is all anyone needs…… and as you say the people we love. Lovely Claudia, thank you.
You’re welcome, Betsy!
I really like your tree. Simple is the name of the game here too. Last year I purchased a white tree. Mine has blue lights, purple and blue ornaments. However, I do have some of those Brites packed away, and I may have to dig some of those out.
I have solar lights outside all year. Some are just white. Just lately I got some multi colored ones. Very Christmasy out there.
It sounds lovely, Trudy! We have only a couple of solar lights – right by the entrance to the porch.
Oh my! Such a beautiful little tree! Simple Christmas is best! Hope it is a wonderful time for you with all you have going on.
Thank you so much, Jacqueline!