This is what my Christmas tree looks like if you sit on the couch and take a photo without going through the trouble to get up and make sure you've gotten the whole thing. And if you try to find a setting to take a photo without a flash that doesn't come out all blurry.
I always love the Christmas tree. It's my favorite decoration and has sometimes stayed up well into January. I have been sitting downstairs and spinning by the tree or knitting in the recliner so I can spend time with the tree before I take it down. Probably that will happen this upcoming weekend. It's a process and takes some doing to put all of this stuff away.
I was wondering why we go through all of this every year. Why bring out 9 big totes of decorations and then a huge tree that blocks the light (at the time of year when light is scarce) and fills the living room? It takes forever to clean up the needles and pick them out of the rug and it sure isn't "green" to have a real tree.
And then I remember how much I love the tree. Each one has a personality and I start to feel like they're my friends. They bring out the kid with the sense of wonder as I stand there and tilt my head back and look at the angel on the top. The colored lights almost make up for the blocked sunlight and the tinsel sparkles as we walk by and it moves in the light breeze.
So, I'll go down and fix dinner and when it's over, I'll sit in the recliner and work on Pk's scarf (it's nearing completion) and bask in the glow of my friend, the Christmas tree. It tends to be cold down there so I'll wear a sweater and my warm socks and slippers. I'll listen to a book as I knit and purl and reflect on the beauty that is our Christmas tree. And know that there are only a few days left to do this so I'll enjoy it all the more.
Come Saturday, I'll collect the snowmen, reindeer, Santas, wreaths, snowflakes, penguins, lights and other things that were lovingly placed around the house in early December and pack them in tissue paper and put them away. Then I'll remove the tinsel, take off the garland and the glass beads and put them away and then remove each ornament and place it in it's box or wrap it in tissue and put it into the tote. Then I'll pull off the lights and drag the tree out front where it will rest on the curb until the trash men take it away next week. It will take all day. And when I'm done and the furniture is all back in place, I'll revel in the clean surfaces that are bereft of all the Christmas tchatchkes and the space and the light that can finally make it through the window. And the cats will be ecstatic to have the sofa in front of the window again so they can spy on the neighbors in comfort.
And Christmas will finally be over. Until next year.
10 comments:
It's not necessarily not green to have a real tree. The local paper had a big article on this last year, because there are so many tree farms around here. And actually, they grow lots of trees, they're always replacing the ones that get cut down, so there are always lots of growing trees, which is good. Buying them contributes to the local agriculture/small family farm economy, which is good (provided you are buying a local tree, which we do). When you're done with it, if you chip it or otherwise make sure it's composted (our dump does that), that's not bad, either. Or for people who have room on their property, you can leave it out until spring, and it provides shelter. I think it's far better than having a nasty fake tree that will never, ever decompose.
Plus it smells nice, and I think it's very, very strange to have a fake tree and spray it with fir smell. But people do.
I am always a little sad when the tree comes down. But it is so nice to have the living room back again. There is all sorts of room now! And soon I will fill it up with all kinds of junk much less pretty than a Christmas tree...
Lovely picture of your tree. Thanks so much for sharing that!
I'm glad I'm not the only one still sitting in front of the tree.
We didn't have a real tree this year which is a big change. It looks really pretty though and I don't have to worry about it drying out too much.
My mother always sat by the tree in the morning with her coffee and communed with it. That is one of my fondest memories of the holidays. Enjoy!
Im always a bit sad when the tree and decorations come down too. The lounge room looks empty for days. Then the usual clutter creeps back in!!
Happy New Year to you, PK and the girls!
I love my tree too and tend to keep it up longer than is traditional. I love that you take such care with it and all the bits and bobs that go with it!
I'm with Amy, those fake trees have lots of chemicals they shed too. Probably give you cancer or something nasty.
I'm taking down the xmas lights outside tonite. It will be so dreary!
i gave up on all the trouble and didn't even put a tree up this year. i usually do it for the grandkids but this year we were at their house and really they'll never know i didn't have one! i hate the undoing of it so much. we have a huge bonfire in our neighborhood every year but the burning pine bothers my breathing so i just drive by. our neighbors hoods generally compost so it's all good. i like to buy one with a root ball and plant it after the holidays. but not this year!
This is like a story. I love the cozy sense of cherished rituals and welcome changes. Thank you.
Oh that's lovely--and I know exactly what you mean... I was all ready to take down our tree--had the house clean and everything, and the entire family went, "It's the most beautiful tree we've ever had mom. Can we leave it up another week. Christmas was really nice--we don't want to let it go."
Of course they can.
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