Adventures of a Christmas Tree

The day before Thanksgiving, Harris and I embarked on an adventure to find our first live Christmas tree. It was pouring down rain and freezing, but we braved the conditions to go cut down to Lowe's and pick up a nice 7-foot Douglas (or was it Frasier? It was one of those old man names) fir tree, and matching wreath. Aside from having absolutely zero idea of how many lights to buy for the tree (I balked at my Mom when she told me I needed about 600 or so lights. I bought 500. I regretted that decision, but luckily my hubby is an excellent light draper. Sorry for doubting you, Mom, sorry for doubting you), I think the whole thing was a success. I flew around Lowe's like a bee looking for odds and ends, while the hubs worked with the guy in the garden center to get our tree trimmed and wrapped appropriately. We hoisted the tree into our SUV and made it home, up the elevator, and into the house with very minimal lost needles. Success, I tell you, success!

As I mentioned, Harris was the lighting pro, and then, after my Thanksgiving nap, we spent some time in the afternoon trimming the tree with our collection of ornaments, old and new, and I took some time to trim our wreath for the front door. Also, in case you were wondering, I decided upon meeting our lovely tree, that its name was clearly Mickey. I wasn't too sure if it was a boy Mickey or a girl Mickey upon first introduction, but that was its name, so who was I to judge?

Lucy was very interested in the tree at first (a little too interested, if you ask me), and I spent a good portion of the day redirecting her from the tree, and our grossly expensive beautiful new tree skirt. Both of us could just picture it in our mind's eye: Lucy walking on over to the tree, hoisting up her leg, and, well, bringing the outdoors in. Fortunately, ever since the decorations have gone on, and presents have gone underneath, she seems to have little to no interest in the tree whatsoever. Crisis averted. I actually had to force her over to the tree to get this shot the other day.

I love being at home during the day and keeping the lights on as much as possible. Everything just seems lovelier in the light of tiny Christmas lights, don't you think? That's one of my favorite things about the view of Downtown Norfolk out our windows at nights - the buildings outlined with twinklies. It makes me feel both bright and comfy in my soul, simultaneously.

I am also in love with our new 2013 ornaments, and new family stockings. The stockings are needlepoint stockings from Land's End, and we each picked out our own design (well, except Lucy, but, you know, I think she would approve of the reindeer).

Christmas 2013 is off to a successful start! Now to finish the Christmas shopping, and enjoy as much eggnog as possible before the 25th!