Xmas trees

So tell me about yours.
Real or plastic or a vintage aluminium tree?
Tinsel? Baubles? Homemade ornaments? Tree skirt? Lights?

an 8 foot live blue spruce, decorated with colored lights and orniments thru
the years. fun red and green sparkley tree skirt with presents to go with:)
––kel
"A new dress doesn't get you anywhere; its the life you're living in the
dress."
––Diana Vreeland

We always get the biggest noble fir we can find. This year it's a perfect
13–footer with evenly spaced branches that are far enough apart that all the
ornaments hang freely and fill it out perfectly. (my DH got it at the grocery
store, lol. how's that for a family tradition shattered?)
We have garlands of stars, wooden loops of multi–colors, almost like permanent
versions (only smaller) of children's paper chains, and white lights.
All the ornaments have been collected through the years, and every year I add a
new one for each family member. Mine is a christmas tree made of Barbie shoes
– with shoe boxes underneath. DD has a dancing cupcake, Son #2 has an electric
guitar, son #1 has a big O for his college and DH has an embellished red tin
heart from Mexico.
The tree skirt is a length of red wool in the royal stewart plaid, which is
artfully bunched around the enormous stand.
I love our house at Christmas! We have garland, lights and tons of gold
embellishments on the stair railing, lots of colored balls & funky colored
ribbon & garland on the mantel, and 5 stockings that reflect the personality of
their owner.
One of the reasons I have a big Christmas party is to have people in when the
house looks its best – and I am trying desperately to keep it clean with all
the craziness that the holiday creates....so far, so good.
cheers,
cary

"Silvasurfa" <eric....@bigpond.com> wrote in message
news:4bf59f3.0412220842.1f9ab...@posting.google.com...
a very realistic faux Nordic Pine tree..... it even sheds. It just doesn't
die!
garlands and lots of them,
lights and lots of them,
and lots of cool ornaments.... for all the time we have been together and
some from various travels and also friends who have gifted us some cool
things. Some are vintage bought from flea markets too
Stevie

We have a grouping of 4 of the thin alpine trees near our fireplace. In fact,
two are on the raised hearth and two are on the flagstone flooring in the
family room. All have little white lights and decorated with many types of
ornaments: glass balls, a few Radkos, ornaments from various states/cities and
one tree has entirely western and southwestern ornaments.
We also have an artificial tree with white lights and glass ball ornaments in
gold, silver and a copper color in the courtyard in the corner by my wooden
bench. This year we got smart and weighed down the base with rocks as last
year I lost several ornaments when the wind blew it over. Have a pretty dark
green tablecloth to cover the base and the rocks.
Candles burning in the home in either a cinnamon scent or a fir tree
(Colonial At Home makes a good one) to give a nice scent to our home.
Carol

Real tree – a lovely pine about 12 feet tall. Lots of lights; many of the
ornaments were made by the kids are they were growing up and quite a few have
their picture in them, which I just love. I also bought a ton of homemade
ornaments at a craft fair and those made the tree homey feeling.
No tinsel – I have kitties
Dana in DE

On 22 Dec 2004 21:20:09 GMT, Hateithere wrote:
You mean you put kitties on the tree?

In <cmgks013oebvujp8gc3kva2uen1tj0d...@4ax.com> Charlie Perrin wrote:
Uhhh, no Charles, I think she means kittens & tinsel don't mix. Well,
that's not true they do and it's fun to watch, but can be rather messy...
––
Cheers
Dennis
Remove 'Elle–Kabong' to reply

In article <20041222234705019–0...@news.sasktel.net>,
Ruddell <ruddell'Elle–Kabo...@canada.com> wrote:
Tinsel isn't just messy to pets. It can be deadly if swallowed and I'd
have about as much fun watching peoples' pets play with tinsel as I
would watching them run off–lead and into traffic.
Stacy

Yeah, one of my kitties will eat anything that hits the ground. He especially
loves plastic bags and bows off of boxes. So...there are no bows on any of the
presents, no strings on any boxes and no tinsel on the tree. It's no sacrifice
to us to leave off that stuff in order to save a beautiful but crazy cat that
loves that stuff.
Oh, and this year he's only unwrapped 4 presents so far, and has only stolen 8
or 10 ornaments off the tree (which he takes to the basement). He hasn't even
jumped into the tree yet this year! lol
Back to our regularly scheduled program.....
Dana in DE

"Silvasurfa" <eric....@bigpond.com> wrote in message
news:4bf59f3.0412220842.1f9ab...@posting.google.com...
I have an invisible tree this year :–D

My favorite ornaments are those I buy on vacation. I always try to
find an ornament made by a local artist as my special souvenir. Then
we can remember our travels as we decorate our Christmas tree.
Tara

Thanks Cherie! So far it's been a really great holiday season and I'm
looking forward to the big day and seeing DD react to all her presents.
She's been having fun with the tree already :–).
Vicki in DC

Silvasurfa wrote:
It's a faux 8 foot generic tree with very fat branches and large gaping
holes between them, but we could never give it up for a newer, more
realistic tree. We've had it for years and for the last several years
of my Dad's life we kept it up all year round to cheer him. He didn't
enjoy many things anymore but he still loved the tree and it was one of
the last things he really gave a lingering look to just before he
passed away. It has taken on the same sentimental meaning many of our
ornaments have.
I usually decorate it but can't ever seem to get garland or tinsel just
right so I don't bother w/ it. This year we have multi colored lights
and in years past when I had more time, I'd fuss around w/ the lights,
making the strands all green, blue, white, or all red, white, gold,
green or some other color scheme. I said to hell w/ it this year, too
much else happening. The ornaments are mostly homemade/embellished by
our family from my paternal grandmother on down to me, and hopefully DD
will keep up the tradition one day. They range from elaborate ornaments
made by my grandmother w/ netting, hatpins, velvet loops and semi
precious beads to those "silk" balls embellished with lace and sequins
and pearl end pins, to plain ole styrofoam balls covered in fabric and
trimmed in ribbons and lace. The store bought are a mismash from my
childhood, what's left of my grandparents', and newer ones bought from
a year round xmas shop in West Va. near Mom's ancestral home – we love
their ornaments and want to keep them in business since the economy is
weak in their town. We have a hodgepodge; old glass baubles, a couple
on a bicycle built for two, feather birds, nests w/ "pearl" eggs, pine
cones, a glass champagne bottle, frogs, jesters, crocheted snowflakes,
lots of cats in various incarnations and this year, needlepoint and
stuffed cloth ornaments near the bottom of the tree for a certain
little kid to play with.
Tree skirt atm is a very old white w/ red and green cotton quilted
pattern and worn in a few spots. But we found a burgundy and gold
velvet to replace it if Mom likes it.
Wow, sorry this is so long, but we go all out and always will. For my
Dad every day was Xmas and at holiday time he would throw himself into
decorating, gift buying and even wrapping gifts. Then he'd cap it off
by eating way too much on Xmas day and sack out to watch football :–).
We know he's watching and would want us to keep it up.
Happy holidays, everyone!
Vicki in DC

"Vicki in DC" <Nickycharles2...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1103742584.679413.115...@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
Vicki I hope your family has a wonderful Christmas, your story about your
father brought tears to my eyes. Every day should feel like Christmas & we
should all cherish our time with our friends and family.
––
Cherie

7.5 foot faux noble fir strung with colored lights & ornaments from my
childhood as well as new ornaments for my kids & DH. Growing up my parents
would take my sister & me to pick out an ornament every year, the tradition
has continued with my family & I always have such a fun time reminiscing
while decorating the tree. We also have 4 homemade ornaments DS (whose 2)
made.
Under the tree is a red velvet tree skirt with snowman & presents for our
families.
––
Cherie

Cherie wrote:
We are unfortunately both allergic to real trees, so we have a 7.5 foot fake
green Christmas tree. Our tree is very eclectic and unfashionable, but we
like it. I put red lights on it and those silver bead things. Then I put
on the ornaments, which consist of red, silver and gold glass ones of
varying origin and cost, glittery snowflakes of varying origin and cost, red
and white candy canes, crocheted angels with red bows and crocheted
snowflakes (the kind that look like somebody's grandmother made them), my
Scarletts from over the years, stuff my SD has made in school, an old
ornament from Brian's childhood (very ugly), and cheesy "Our Chrimstas
together" ornaments from each year we have been married, some other
retro–looking ornaments we have picked up over the years, red plaid and
silver bows and silver and red floral thingies that I stick in any space
left after all that. There is a glittery white star on the top of the tree.
We also have a pickle ornament that goes on the tree Christmas Eve and SD
gets an "extra" present when she finds that one. The tree skirt is red
velvet and satin with silver and gold trim. My husband calls it a
"designer" tree, but it isn't at all remotely even close to being one.
~~Geri~~
(Sanctimonious Cornhusker Bitch)

We have two this year – a 7 foot Douglas fir in front of the bay window in the
living room and a 8 foot artificial in the family room. The living room tree is
covered in multi–colored lights (no twinkles, here) and our ornaments from our
20+ years together. Everything from Hallmark to wax ornaments from Germany, to
the crafty ones made by the girls to family heirlooms : )

We broke down this year and bought an artificial tree for the family room. It
has all of the girls' ornaments on it (they each have their own box/collection)
and came pre–lit with white lights. The skirt is made of felt, I think it was
SIL who made it back in her middle school days 30–odd years ago.
We redid the family room this year, with new oak mantel and cabinets, furniture
and carpet, so plenty of new decorating opportunites abounded. The stockings are
hung with care – I'm going to have to look for new holders after the holiday. I
knew we were fated to be together when I found out that hubby grew up with the
very same Frederick and Nelson Christmas stocking as me, so these are an
important part of the holiday for us.
Happy days to all.
––
Pam K
my2p...@yahoo.com

A 6ft fake this year (it was too hard to get a real one with 2 cars and
living on the third floor..)
Blue, Silver, Green sparkly snowflakes
Blue, Silver Green sparkly stars (the cool spikey ornaments that were
everywhere this year)
Tiny little snowman
Tiny little silver/blue/green balls
silver tinsel
all white lights.
Presents underneath to be opened tonight!
Kelly

6ft Grand Fir (our first non noble tree)
Large gold star on top–a newlywed purchase 11 yrs ago
The ornaments are mostly stars, moons, and snowmen along with my favorite
vintage ornaments. There are also a few ornaments that keep sneaking up on
the tree thanks to the creative efforts of three children.
Tree skirt is a red/green/blue star pattern.
Tons of white lights.
My themes of wrap this year are:
White, red, and silver wrap with sheer red ribbon.
White/blue/silver snowflake papers with either sheer silver ribbon or sheer
white ribbon.
One roll of really shiny royal blue wrap that my 8y.o. fell in love with so
those presents are wrapped in that.
Kelly


"Silvasurfa" <eric....@bigpond.com> wrote in message
news:4bf59f3.0412220842.1f9ab...@posting.google.com...

Silvasurfa wrote:
Vintage aluminum, with white lights, silver/white tinsel, a crystal
garland, silver/purple/pink/blue tin icicles, pink and blue mirror ball
ornaments (and a few actual tiny mirror balls!), a purple velvet skirt
with sequins along the edge, and on top is an acrylic snowflake with a
silver tinsel burst in the center. Really, it's very pretty.. I'd take a
picture of it but my camera software isn't loaded on this machine yet.
Maybe I will do that later today. <g>
wg

whirlygirly wrote:
Is it safe to use lights on those old aluminum trees? I would love to have
one of those, but I thought you had to use a color wheel to light them.
~~Geri~~
(Sanctimonious Cornhusker Bitch)

Our neighbor had one of these aluminum trees back in my childhood years...I
thought it fascinating and loved it so..my mother thought it tacky and there is
nothing like a real green tree, LOL, according to her.
A reminder that A Christmas Story (possibly "the" best Christmas movie) will be
shown starting Christmas Eve at 6 PM, every two hours for 24 hours or so on TBS
(I think it is TBS channel).
I love the arrival of the prized lamp and the bunny suit from the Aunt and the
father cursing at the old furnace.
Carol

Carol wrote:
Is it safe to use lights on those old aluminum trees? I would love
to have one of those, but I thought you had to use a color wheel to
light them.
~~Geri~
That is my husband's favorite Christmas special so we have the DVD. My
favorite line: "Fra–gee–lay! It must be Italian!"
~~Geri~~
(Sanctimonious Cornhusker Bitch)

I didn't realize that there is now a category such as "vintage aluminum
Christmas trees." I just thought they were the weird tree we had when I
was a little kid because I used to run around knocking things down and my
parents wanted to get something that wouldn't kill me if it fell on me.
We still have the tree, is it worth something?
I don't have a tree this year, but when I do it's artificial. My
family's always done artificial trees. I don't believe in cut trees; if
I ever have a real tree it'll be one that still has a root ball and will
get planted after the holidays.
––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Melanie Lee Chang | Form ever follows function.
Departments of Anthropology and Biology |
University of Pennsylvania | –– Louis Sullivan
mlch...@sas.upenn.edu |
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Melanie L Chang wrote:
It depends on where you sell it. I have seen them for sale for a couple of
hundred dollars or more.
~~Geri~~
(Sanctimonious Cornhusker Bitch)

artificial tree, lots of Radko and other glass ornaments, ornaments from
places we've visited, tons of lights, lots of ornaments that have
meaning for members of the family such as baby's first Christmas,
ornaments from friends etc.
Audrey

whirlygirly wrote:
I'd take a
Tsk, shyeah, right. That's what they all say. ;)
Warning––this is long. I take Christmas trees very seriously!
We have two trees, one in the burbs and one in the city. In the burbs we
have a seven foot real Fraser (or some other kind of fir.) I like a
mixture of sparkly and painted wood, needlepoint, or otherwise "daytime"
ornaments so the tree looks pretty day and night. I use a mixture of
white and colored fairy lights, and have a series of blown glass beaded
garlands looping around the tree.
I don't collect ornaments, but I sure tend to acquire them. I've bought
ornaments at the Museum of Science and Industry's "Christmas Trees from
Around the World" gift shop, the Christkindelnacht fair in Chicago, and
have stuff people have given me as gifts. I also have stuff my mother
gave me when she stopped doing her tree, including one of a set of
crusading knights that my great grandmother made. I also have home–made
ornaments from church fairs going back to the 1950s. I have some painted
wooden ones of Teenaged Mutant Ninja Turtles, Thomas the Tank Engine,
and Bugs Bunny that my kids found out on the parkway on trash day. And
now I have ones my children have made, plus Babar, Harry Potter, Alice
in Wonderland, the Cat in the Hat. And two martini glasses.
You see, IMNSHO, nothing is more vulgar than a tasteful Christmas tree.
For years the breakable ornaments were only at the top of the tree and
the stuffed and wooden ornaments were at the bottom, but now that my son
is up to my shoulder and my kids know to leave the breakable stuff
alone, I mix them up freely. Except that the angel ornaments are all at
the top part of the tree. So are Jesus and the BVM (I got them at the
Christkindlnacht fair.) And the secular stuff is towards the bottom.
This includes the Santas. Santas that look like St. Nicholas get to be
pretty high up on the tree. Santas that look like the department store
guys are pretty far down. Thus I express my dislike of the increasing
secularization of Christmas while simultaneously taking advantage of it. ;)
My favorite ornament is a pair of red satin Chinese baby shoes that I
bought when great with child. Both of my children wore them, and now
they hang on the tree.
After all that's on the tree, I finish with beaded snowflakes, blown
glass icicles, and blown glass pine cones and nuts for extra sparkle.
And a star at the top.
On Christmas Eve, after the children are in bed, I add candy canes (only
peppermint, thankyouverymuch) and various chocolate candies.
The tree in the city is a hand–me–down artificial tree from the Joe in
So Flas. I trim it with white lights and mostly red and silver balls.
It's kind of modern looking.
I know this is horribly long, but in my defense––you asked! :)
Priscilla
–––
p...@midway.uchicago.edu "Here comes the most beautiful woman in
puppetland!"

I had visuals of both trees and it was very nice, thanks for that. It was a
good way to start my morning.
I love all the various ornaments...religious, themed ones (southwestern chili
peppers and chili wreaths comes to mind), beautiful glass, wooden, and
cartoon/Disney character ornaments.
Carol

"Vicki in DC" <Nickycharles2...@yahoo.com> wrote in
news:1103742584.679413.115...@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com:
You have nothing to be sorry for! I miss my father too and enjoyed reading
your post. He also went all out at Christmas, and he had a similar attitude
about every day being something to celebrate. :–)
Happy Holidays to you and yours, Vicki.
––
Poetic Badgers
"Snow.. snow, that can't be good for suede, can it?" –Jerry Seinfeld

Priscilla:
I enjoyed it – thanks for sharing. Very cute idea to have certain
Santas nearer the bottom of the tree and certain others closer to the
top :–). I like how you tailor the trees to the different decors you
have in the city and the 'burbs.
This thread's not exactly on topic but I'm enjoying it as much as any
others on AF right now, and getting some fun tree decorating ideas to
lemming in the future.
Vicki in DC

On Thu, 23 Dec 2004 14:43:55 GMT, Cornhuskeress wrote:
The artificial trees they had back in the Dark Ages would melt under
the onslaught of an incandescent bulb... therefore, the color wheel.