Setting up the Christmas Tree

I set up my Christmas tree today. I have one of those perfect, pre-lit, in the box, trees that comes in three pieces. I had it up in record time and all decorated, then I turned on the lights. Okay, why is the bottom section lit up and not the top two. It doesn't take a Rocket Scientist to figure this one out, but one sure could have helped. I finally realized that each section had to be connected. DUH!

Did you notice that my beautiful Angel looks a bit tipsy up there on the tree top. She either had too much wine while I was decorating the tree or she's afraid of heights and is about to fall off. (LOL) I better straighten her out.


I gave her a new dress and wings awhile ago. The dress was a Barbie dress and the wings were the tail of a mermaid. I thought that the tail made perfect wings.


This little elf was handmade for me by a lady that knew my Dad. I don't remember exactly when I received him, but I do know that I was quite little. I have placed this little guy on a Christmas tree every year since then.

Almost all my decorations were made by my family. Such nostalgia as I opened the box and unwrapped them, some tears, but mostly loads of smiles as I placed them on the tree.


When my children were young we would make Christmas ornaments out of salt-dough. It was so much fun and they made great gifts. This little angel is one of Trina's beautiful creations. She loved to make Angels, and I have four of them that I place on the tree each year. You can see that her wonderful talent for creating whimsical figurines was in full force back then too.


Charlie and Michael were more into making cars. (Left is Michaels) Michael was really little at the time so his brother helped him with his and (Right is Charlie's) They do resemble the Match Box Cars that they loved so much. They would play for hours on end with them. They still have their cars stowed away in match box cases after all these years.


My husband Charlie loved crafting and salt-dough was right up his alley. He made this whimsical Ben Franklin that makes me laugh every time I see him. He was always making something and each time he would get into a new project he would call it his (what ever he was doing at the time) phase. Well this was his "Salt Dough Phase". He had the carving phase, the macrame phase, the drawing phase, the bird house making phase just to name a few.


I can't believe I made this ornament. I never feel like Bah Humbug so I'm blaming it on the movie Scrooge, I must have just finished watching it.


One of the things I love to do at Christmas time is going from neighborhood to neighborhood and see all the beautifully decorated homes. Some could be in a magazine and others, well, all I can say is that the decorators have "The Christmas Spirit." It kind of reminds me of when my sons were little. I would give them the tinsel to hang on the tree and they would have fun throwing it at the tree instead. It would wind up in clumps, not the prettiest look, that's for sure. As I write this post I am reminded of what wonderfully fun times we all had together.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year