If you’re here from The Nester’s Tour of Homes, Welcome! I posted about our very special Christmas tree last week. For more explanation of WHY we did our tree this way, follow the link at the bottom of this post to the article I wrote for Christmas Change. It’s worth it, I promise…
So after we avoided getting arrested, we had a bit bigger tree than we’d bargained for. And we needed to decorate it.
We called in reinforcements. Aunt Katie and Uncle Stik arrived to save the day.
The first order of business was to put the lights up. The problem was, we didn’t have a ladder tall enough to allow us to reach the top. We decided to push all the furniture out of the way, roll up the rug, and push the tree to the other side of the living room.
This was one of the moments when I was actually grateful we don’t have a lot of big heavy furniture in our living room. We pushed the tree up next to our loft railing so that we could reach the top.
It was at this point I discovered I have “fear of heights issues” and reaching out over a railing to a swaying tree wasn’t going to help. Uncle Stik took over the light wrapping. We decided to light each branch rather than just drape the lights on branches. It highlighted the shape of the tree, although it is a lot of lights on bare branches. But it’s lovely. As we moved down the tree, it was definitely a group effort to get the lights on the tree. It took two ladders and a person on the ground to do the middle of the tree.
Miracle of miracles, we didn’t run out of lights. We had to use some icicle lights on the bottom, but it just made the tree sparkle more. I had some sparkly bead garland that we draped on the tree. Willa thought my carefully untangled garland was hers to play with.
Once we had the lights and beads up, we threw a few light ornaments on the top of the tree and Aunt Katie made a star out of construction paper so the tree wouldn’t topple over. Then we carefully pushed the tree back to its rightful place in front of the window and set the kids lose with the decorating.
We didn’t need evergreen smell and sticky needles to make it magical.
The result? I really do think it’s my favorite Christmas tree ever. It suits us. It’s quirky. A bit pitiful in a Charlie Brown sense. And still really beautiful. Every ornament is highlighted, even the branches we didn’t have lights for are lovely and natural. And I can’t take a picture to do it justice. But I tried. Just for you.
And at night? It’s a shiny beacon of naked beauty. (We’re pretty sure it’s visible from space.)
I really don’t think we’ll ever get a green tree again.
I’m waxing even more poetical about our tree over at Christmas Change this Tuesday. Come join the discussion and give me some more ideas for how to have a Very Naked Christmas.
11.23.2009
You’re right, that’s definitely not the average Christmas tree. But it’s unique and beautiful…and you won’t have to worry about vacuuming up the pine needles. Enjoy your tree and the celebration of the greatest gift in the world….JESUS!
Eternally His,
Stephanie Shott
Phil 3:7-14
11.23.2009
That is simply brilliant! Love it!
11.23.2009
How Fun and Creative!!! Cant wait to see it! Love to all~ Grace
11.23.2009
Great tree! My dad had a rosebush one year, pre-decorated with rosehips, it was gorgeous.
11.23.2009
It’s beautiful and it’s yours- what fun memories for your kids!
11.24.2009
Not the least bit pitiful! Quite the opposite, I absolutely love it. Tried to wander and see it tonight but the hubs didn’t respond. =o) Thrice love it. Can’t wait to see it in person!
11.24.2009
It’s beautiful and full of memories! And a big bonus, you don’t have to clean up pine needles or encourage Willa to not eat it 100 times!
11.24.2009
That turned out really pretty!
11.24.2009
I’m officially in love with your tree! It makes me wish I hadn’t spent $100 on a new prelit tree last year.
When this one breaks, I’m getting my own Charlie Brown tree!
11.24.2009
It’s really beautiful! I love it.
BTW- isn’t Miss Willa having a birthday in a few days?
11.24.2009
I think they’d say it was gorgeous!
11.24.2009
I absolutely LOVE that tree. It’s perfect. Like I said on CC, I love this idea. Thank you!
11.24.2009
I looooooooooooooooooooooove this. Love, love, LOVE. My heart is so happy when I see this tree.
11.24.2009
Mary Craig - And you guys tease me about my random memory! Impressive! Yes, after all the Thanksgiving festivities, somewhere in there I have to make a cake! Party on Saturday, birthday on the 30th. Can’t even fathom this day is upon us.
11.24.2009
SO beautiful, and meaningful, and full of life and love
11.25.2009
That bare “hardwood” tree turned out looking REALLY COOL!!
11.25.2009
You know what, I do think that is a beautiful tree. Now I’m curious what it all means. Hopping over to read…and I write posts that are probably too long too. But I read every word of yours!
11.25.2009
I love it!!
11.26.2009
it just doesn’t get better than that.
12.5.2009
I LOVE it! LOVE IT! Your reasoning is spot on. And what a beautiful result.
So, we decided to go out into our own backyard and follow suit. And we found the same thing you did… it’s our favorite Christmas tree ever.
Thanks for the inspiration
12.8.2009
[...] Christmas tree this year did actually result. I’m working on the whole picture thing. But go here for a [...]
12.17.2009
I love the way you decorated your tree. elegantandchic
12.18.2009
How cool is that! I love it. I haven’t seen anything like it. It all looks so festive! Thanks for showing us around! I am stopping in from Nester’s place. To see my tour click on the ‘Christmas 2009′ tag on the left sidebar of my blog.
12.31.2009
[...] It suits the rest of our awkwardly tall living room and I’m thrilled to have “re-purposed” our naked Christmas tree. [...]
1.7.2010
[...] know some of you played along. Some of you even copied our naked Christmas tree. If you have “some thoughts on some things” or want to share how you changed [...]