Beekissed
Mountain Sage
Tell about your Christmas tree plans, if any? Why you choose what you choose? Do you do it the same each year or try to switch it up a little? New themes each year or the old and familiar?
I cabbaged a great old full-sized nativity scene out of the trash at the local nursing home this summer. You know the kind? Mellow aged prints decoupaged on plywood and coated with heavy varnish. Full-sized camel, cow, burro, chickens, Wise Men, etc. Some idiot (me) let them get buried behind the wood pile in the garage!
Last year, I harvested one of the thousands of scrub cedars in this area and had my son drill a hole in a block of wood and used it for a stand. I placed it on a table on the front porch and used mini white lights and just gold and silver stars ($.99 at Family Dollar) on it. Also used the stars on living swags on the porch, fence, and lightpost in the yard, along with some deep red, velvet bows. Came out looking simple and very pretty.
I do something different each year and usually use live boughs of some kind of evergreen for garland, wreaths and hearth swags. Minimal white lights and touches of garnet and gold or silver for accent pieces. I like to use as much cheap or free materials as possible.
And always....my old nativity scene I bought for Joel's first Christmas 22 years ago takes center stage in the living room and the presents get tucked under where it is displayed. That's a tradition we started and have stayed with all these years.
How bout you all?
I cabbaged a great old full-sized nativity scene out of the trash at the local nursing home this summer. You know the kind? Mellow aged prints decoupaged on plywood and coated with heavy varnish. Full-sized camel, cow, burro, chickens, Wise Men, etc. Some idiot (me) let them get buried behind the wood pile in the garage!
Last year, I harvested one of the thousands of scrub cedars in this area and had my son drill a hole in a block of wood and used it for a stand. I placed it on a table on the front porch and used mini white lights and just gold and silver stars ($.99 at Family Dollar) on it. Also used the stars on living swags on the porch, fence, and lightpost in the yard, along with some deep red, velvet bows. Came out looking simple and very pretty.
I do something different each year and usually use live boughs of some kind of evergreen for garland, wreaths and hearth swags. Minimal white lights and touches of garnet and gold or silver for accent pieces. I like to use as much cheap or free materials as possible.
And always....my old nativity scene I bought for Joel's first Christmas 22 years ago takes center stage in the living room and the presents get tucked under where it is displayed. That's a tradition we started and have stayed with all these years.
How bout you all?
I love looking at all the glitter and shine in the aisles but rarely ever buy anything! I recycle and present old things in a new way, with effort towards color, form and utility.
I was having other life issues. Even then all I did was carry it to the basement where it still lays, fully decorated. 
