Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Christmas is Coming





Christmas is a mere two weeks away and we've been busy decorating.  I know you have as well as I've seen on your lovely blog posts.  This year we have had a few roadblocks along the way.  As we are getting older we have considered paring down on some of the decorating, but I've resisted this notion so Grayden and I have persevered through problem issues with our so called Christmas pre-lit tree.  



We worked for three days trying to resolve these issues and then decided we needed to either buy a new tree or buy new lights.  We opted for a strand of new lights for the top.  


Our birds flew in to take their place on the small little tree in the living room.


I made this little ceramic tree in 1979.  It now has helped us celebrate Christmas in our home for 40 years.  Do you remember these trees?


 

We've had this Nativity set for many years now and have placed it on the mantle to remind us of the reason Christmas is coming. 


For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.   Isaiah 9:6


 


30 comments:

  1. I love all your trees, big and small. Sorry about the lighting glitches. The lights on our re-usable tree seem to be dimming to me.. we almost got a new one this year but decided to use it one more time at least. I hope you get to see all your family this holiday. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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    1. Teresa, I'm from a generation that expects things to last. Though the tree is now 10 years old I want it to last longer! We will have our family here at Christmas. It's a very busy time, but so wonderful! ♥

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  2. The trees are so beautiful. I think a Christmas tree just sparkles up a home SO MUCH. I'm visiting my daughter in Oregon from NY, she's been married since March, and is 8 days overdue with their first baby. She wasn't going to get a tree! Nonsense! I bought a simple pre-lit tree at Target, and it's made their house SO Christmas-y!!!!! I'm glad were able to decorate...it truly raises spirits, in my opinion.
    Della

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    1. Thank you for stopping by, Della. I'm glad you can help your daughter as she prepares for the birth of her baby by giving her a Christmas tree. I'm sure she must be grateful. Congratulations! ♥

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  3. Classic and elegant! I don't do lights any more, and stick to smaller trees. I may do away with trees all together in favour of mantel displays and vignettes. Have a wonder full Christmas with the family.

    Nadolig Llawen

    ~~~Waving~~~From Across the Pond~~~Deb in Wales xoxo

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    1. Deb, these lights were so frustrating this year. I'm not sure how we will handle it next year. I love little vignettes all sprinkled around the home. I try to put a little Christmas in every room.
      Nadolig Llawen, my friend. xoxo ♥

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  4. Your home is strikingly beautiful! Kudos to you and Grayden for decorating in a way that makes you happy . . . even if you did have to fight with those pesky lights! (Grrrr . . . ) I love your little bird tree (and well as your white sofa behind it)!

    I love the Scripture at the end of your post! It says so very much . . .

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    1. Thank you, Cheryl for your kind comments as always. I tried very hard to remind myself of why we are celebrating and not worry about the lights. ♥

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  5. Oh the tree is gorgeous there in the corner of your dining room. As one who has had big troubles with those prelit trees, I feel your pain. My troubles were so annoying that I refused to buy another. When I purchased the last one, it was with no lights. The prelits sure are nice IF they’d work. Perhaps it is planned obsolescence.

    Yes, I remember the ceramic trees and have my grandmother’s...somewhere. It runs a bit hot so I don’t use it as often as I would like. And the bird tree is a delight, too. The Nativity is especially nice set in a place of prominence. It is a wonderful set with so many nice pieces.

    🎄Merry on, Martha Ellen! You and Grayden both!

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    1. Vee, I've heard that many have had issues like you and I with those pre-lit trees! We need to decide what we will do for next year. But one thing is for sure, it will not be this tree!
      Merry Christmas to you and yours, my friend. ♥

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  6. Yes, I remember those ceramic trees. Martha Ellen, my aunt gave me a white ceramic tree with red lights many years ago. As you said, we downsize and pare down through the years, and I ended up giving it away. I always regret doing so, cause it meant a lot to me. Yours is so pretty, and knowing that you made it is even more special. The nativity is beautiful on your mantel, and your tree is pretty all lit up. It looks nice in the corner by the windows. What a sweet bird tree too. This verse is very special, and "Wonderful" is one of my favorite words. Enjoy this wonderful Christmas season, Martha Ellen.

    ~Sheri

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    1. I've seen the white ceramic trees, Sheri. With red lights that must have been beautiful. Taking ceramic classes was all the rage when my children were young. Merry Christmas to you and your family, dear Sheri! ♥

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    2. Yes, I remember the ceramic classes were popular. I also took a ceramic class and made a plate with Santa on the front that I still have. So glad I didn't give that one away. : )

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  7. Too bad the tree was giving you trouble. Glad you were able to work it out with a new set of lights. I had one of those ceramic trees too! I made it in ceramics glass plus an all white one with blue lights for my mother in-law. Now their popularity has resurged! Your nativity looks lovely on the mantel! Christmas is coming on fast!

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    1. Liz, Christmas is coming on fast! I'm still shopping. Merry Christmas to you and your family.

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  8. I love each and every image! Yes, I know EXACTLY what you mean about paring back. I swore I would. And I'm still decorating and it looks just as too-much as it did before! I finally justified it like this -- right now I CAN do it. Next year or two or five years or more, I might not be able to -- so do it while I can! I have a feeling you might have had the same thought! (I had to do lights on a tree this year where they'd been left on before. What a pain!)

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    1. I agree with you, Jeanie! As long as we can, we will! It was so frustrating for us to spend days on a job that shouldn't take that long, but everything takes longer these days. Lol.

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  9. Even though the large tree had a few glitches, it turned out beautifully! I can't help looking beyond the tree at the lovely corner where it stands. I love the windows and floor, and the color of the wall. If I should downsize, I would want to have a small ceramic tree like the one you made.

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    1. Thank you, Mary. I'm not sure how we will handle next year's tree. We love Christmas. At this point I can't imagine not having a large tree, though I know the day is coming when we won't be able to have one. Merry Christmas to you and your family. ♥

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  10. We've been talking about getting a pre-lit artificial tree and then this year we've heard about so many glitches with the lights. We also live in an area where we can buy a $5 permit to cut a tree down in our National Forests. Time will tell what we decide for next year. This year we bought our traditional mystery tree. Some years we do pare down depending on what is going on in all of our lives. Your tree looks wonderful and I love the mantel with that nativity set on it. Blessings on your time reflecting on Emmanuel...God with us!

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    1. It's good to be flexible like you said, Ellen. We used to buy a real tree and then graduated to an artificial one, then to prelit. The prices of a real tree have gone up quite a bit here. $5 for a tree sounds mighty good! The practical side of us says, buy an artificial one. I don't think we'll get a prelit one again. Merry Christmas to you, my friend. ♥

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  11. Absolutely gorgeous Martha Ellen, everything looks gorgeous!

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  12. Although we have cut down on our decorations, we do still have many family favourites that come out every year, it's part of the wonderful family tradition which I think is important.

    I enjoyed seeing your photographs, everything looks so lovely and I do like all of your trees, big and small :)

    Enjoy the season.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Traditions are so dear at Christmas, Jan. Merry Christmas to you and your family!

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  13. Such a beautiful tree and lovely setting for it.

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    1. It all comes together thankfully, Betsy. Merry Christmas to you and your family. ♥

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