Christmas Shrubs and other Foliage

Last weekend my dear sweet hubby and I erected the Christmas tree.  Even though our flat is minuscule we have a rather large tree.  Basically, I have a rule:  it is not a  Christmas tree unless it is taller than you are (otherwise it is called a Christmas "shrub").  To those of you who sit reading this on the other side of the Atlantic, you can't imagine not having a large tree, but here in the UK most people have stubby little trees that they put on tables.  I ask you, what fun is that! 

So Himself and I re-arranged the flat so that you can just about move around the space, agreeing that there are several of our friends and family who probably shouldn't visit until after Christmas due to their lack of spacial awareness.  Clobbering my Christmas tree would put me in a distinctly unfestive mood.

You'll notice that there is not a single doll of any kind on this tree.  That is because when we first made these ornaments I wasn't a doll-maker.  In fact, hubby and I had very little in the way of well, anything, so we resorted to some creative scrounging.  And now we have lovely all natural, sweet-as-anything ornaments.  I love remembering sitting with Himself for hours making clove pomanders out of Styrofoam balls.  Himself proved annoyingly adept at studding the entire ball in cloves in record time using his signature 'pomander manoeuvre.

Then Himself came over all crafty one day and foraged in the park for twigs to make the twig star at the top of the tree - all by himself!  You could have knocked me over with a feather.  He even insisted this year that we re-make the cranberry rings.  Of course, I had to participate in some craft one-upmanship by making mine hearts.  No simple rings for me!

Himself was very receptive to the heart motif and was not at all put out when I forbade him from touching the lights - husband and strings of fairy lights = bad combination.

So even with a bossy, opinionated, craft know-it-all of a wife he still manages to have Christmas spirit.  And has listened to Christmas carols since...well, actually there hasn't actually been any respite, I play them all year round.  So maybe Himself should be St. Himself.  He certainly deserves a halo.

Comments

[shashi]

Colleen,your Christmas tree is beautiful and how lovingly you and you hubby have decorated it with hand made ornaments. It must be a very special tree. Me I just succumb to the temptation of the glittery goodies in the shops. However I do have certain old ornaments which I think I will never get rid of they are too dear to me as they hold special memories. You are absolutely right it has no business to be a Christmas tree which cannot tower above you. lol!