Christmas Tree is up !

I'm loving being snowed in and off college this week. 

It's given me the time to completely absorb myself

in all things christmassy and

I      L  O  V  E     I  T

Yesterday I decided to celebrate the first day of December by putting up my tree.   It was a bit of a family event - getting all the boxes out of the loft !!



I have to say my little notes on the calendar helped!  Every year when I pack up the decorations I go straight to the new calendar and write a list of all the boxes and bags that are going in the loft so that next year it will be easy to locate them.  The list below is what I wrote in January this year ...

After breakfast I cranked up the christmas music, piled up the fire and got started.

First the tree goes up. 

I've decided to put it in the sitting room this year.

Then the lights go on

(Obviously you check they are working first ...

of course I hear you say,

yeah right, I'm sure you've put them up

and had to remove them all at some point, I know I have)

I use two sets of lights

gorgeous clip on candle ones that I got in Aldi of all places

and cherry ones that I've had for years

and despite one of the bulbs actually being broken

they still work!

 Then the decorations.

This is where I stick to tradition. 

All my decs are the same each year with a few new additions. 

Each and everyone of them has a story attached.

There are angels that I bought whilst out for lunch one day with a lovely lady called Pam whom I worked with many moons ago, there are salt dough teddy bears that I bought at a craft fair for my first christmas with a boyfriend, there are cute snowmen I bought with my friend Sarah on a shopping trip, a gorgeous grey mouse that ............. ok you get the idea.

And of course there's the train track I bought last year. 

It's a bit too big for the sitting room though so I've taken it away.

For those of you who have had enough of the tree look away now.

For those of you who haven't here it is lit up ...

Oh go on then, just one more .



There's a tree outside too but it just doesn't look as nice.

If you squint you'll see it on the right ...

and my high nelly takes pride of place

Just need to do some work on the front of the cottage next,

it's a little neglected.

And if you're still not feeling christmassy

after all that have a little read of this

Are we too grownup to feel a thrill

As we light the Christmas tree?

Are we immune to cookies,

Christmas cards and Christmas glee?

Are we too adult to "Ooh" and "Aah"

At the Christmas candle's glow?

Are we blasé about our gifts;

Do we shun the mistletoe?

Are we too mature for carols,

For merry or for jolly?

Do the decorations leave us cold,

The ornaments and holly?

Fat chance! We'll never grow too old

To love the Christmas magic.

A year without a Christmas

Would be boring, even tragic.

 

So bring it on! The candy canes,

The feasting and good cheer;

O Christmas, lovely Christmas,

You're the highlight of the year!

Poem by Joanna Fuchs from here

 

Have you put your tree up yet?