You’ll never guess what I am doing >>> a week before Thanksgiving. I am actually putting up our Christmas decorations. (Of course, the graphic probably gives it away…)
In the past, when our children were young, I would never have thought of doing this “fun activity” without their little hands helping me strategically place their favorite ornaments on the tree. Those days are long gone.
My daughter is coming home next week for the Thanksgiving holiday, which is already upon us. I thought that if I gave myself a few days before she is due to come home, I would be finished and have the house back to normal. However, it is taking me more time to get this chore done. (Yes, I’m afraid that I now consider this all a chore to get done!)
Everything seems to be a lot more difficult to do. Either the tree has gotten lower to the floor, or I have gotten a little older! I used to be able to kneel down to arrange the lower branches. (Yes, I have an artificial tree >>> I don’t see the point of cutting down a beautiful pine just so that I can drag it out to the curb at the end of December. Besides, I use the pine scented candle/melts to make the house smell like perhaps the tree could be a real pine… perhaps…)
This marks the first year that I have used a chair to sit on while arranging the limbs and lights at the bottom of the tree. This way I don’t hear my knees making all-too-familiar creaking noises, and hopefully I won’t be sore tomorrow.
It is also taking me more time to go through all of the decorations that both my son and daughter made while they were growing up. I have toilet roll tubes painted up as toy soldiers, little ceramic cups made into pipe-cleaner poinsettia vases, toothpick stars, paper plate doves, pony bead streamers and candy canes, and other home-made and school-made treasures which I reserve to go on the most prominent limbs of our tree.
So, as you probably can guess, it’s not the actual decorating that is taking so much longer this year, it’s the memories that these wonderful heirlooms are triggering in my mind, of the days when decorating our house for Christmas was indeed a fun activity.
Karen says
I have two grown children and taught kindergarten for over 24 years. I have precious ornaments that my own children made plus many that were given to me over my years of teaching. Putting those ornaments on the tree is like taking a trip back in my past. I have retired from teaching and miss the children, especially around the holidays.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Karen, with two of your own, and 24 years of Kindergarten children, your house must be full of precious ornaments/memories.
Petie says
It’s my favorite time of year … Christmas. With the TV specials (Charlie Brown, “It’s a Wonderful Life”, etc), the handmade ornaments from my childhood, Billy’s, ornaments that friends & family have given us. Of course with the cats we can’t have a tree per se but we do decorate where they can’t reach! And that’s a challenge every year! I love the baking & the wonderful smells that go with it. I wish we could retain the same spirit all year long!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Petie, my “It’s a Wonderful Life” yearly fix is Barbara Stanwyck’s Christmas in Connecticut. I just can’t seem to get enough of that old, black and white movie. I’m glad you reminded me of the Christmas tree trouble with cats. Since Sprite (our dog) left us, I have been thinking about going with a cat this time. Christmas tree trouble is something to think about…
Speaking of Christmas television shows. I know you like Debbie Macomber’s Christmas movies. Saturday, Nov. 26 will be the premier of Debbie Macomber’s Trading Christmas movie on the Hallmark channel…
marja says
Oh, pshaw, do adopt a cat or two. If you go with older or sedate cats, they may not bother the tree.
If they do try to play with it, use wooden and other unbreakable ornaments on the lower limbs where they can reach, and secure your tree to the wall. You may need to paint or scent the lighting wires with scents that cats hate [such as orange], but there is plenty of advice out there on the Internet to help you.
Your cats may completely ignore the tree, you never know!
Oh I do hope you’ll adopt a cat or two. They are wonderful reading companions, and so many need homes. The cats three years of age and up are harder for adoption agencies to place, and are usually nice and calm, suitable for quieter households.
I have a story about a cat and a tree.
One Christmas season night, I was sleeping when I heard jingling bells. Oh, how sweet, I thought, I’m dreaming about Santa and his sleigh, just as I did when I was little.
But the noise continued, and I woke up fully, confirming to myself that I actually WAS hearing the sound …
… and it was coming from the living room, where the tree was. So I shuffled out there, the jingling continuing until I turned on the light …
… to behold my cat, Holmes, climbing the slender trunk at the inside of the tree, making all the decorative little bells jingle.
He was cautious about extracting himself, but a few glass ornaments hit the floor and broke; thus, my advice on wooden ornaments.
A precious Christmas memory of my big kitty, who has since gone to cat heaven.
Purrs …
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Marja, we are certainly thinking about adopting a cat… Sprite is going to be one hard act to follow!
Margaret says
Danna, we have always had Cats and never had a problem with any of them touching the Tree (or anything else for that matter). I always hear the horror stories but could never understand the problem. When we got our first Cat (when I was 8, we had her for 21 years) my Mother just taught her “no” at a young age and used it if she tried to do something she shouldn’t. I followed my Mother’s training techniques as I adopted my own Cats and never had problems. We also make sure they have plenty of toys and distractions to keep them busy. I think Cats are destructive when they are bored or ignored.
karen says
At our house we love the old black and white movie “The Bishop’s Wife” starring Cary Grant, Loretta Young, and David Niven. This was the original movie that the newer version “The Preacher’s Wife” was based on. (I prefer the original, thank you!)
As for dogs vs. cats– Have you ever considered a dog that acts like a cat? I have raised Japanese Chins for quite some time and they definitely have cat-like qualities. They clean their faces with their paws, like to sleep in high places (the top of the couch is a favorite place), some pick their food out of the bowl with their paws. Most of them don’t bark at all. They will make a soft wooo-ing sound sometimes. All this and they are a toy breed that is actually very people-friendly and obedient. Mine love to sit under the piano while I’m giving piano lessons! Most books describe them as “happy”-and they are just that!!—-Plus-they don’t climb trees!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Love it, Karen! The Bishop’s Wife is a real classic!
I also enjoy The Preacher’s Wife… but not as much.
Andie says
The memories of past holidays are always wonderful, I always think about the times when I was a child in the midst of a large extended family. Decorating for Christmas was a major undertaking.
I’m not decorating my house this year because I am going to my daughter’s for Christmas week, however I am doing a lot of preparation that involves cooking, baking, candying and etc. They all prefer homemade goodies.
Today I am candying ten pounds of sliced ginger and my dehydrators are full of various fruits to be used in cakes and pastries.
My joints complain at the prolonged standing but I have some stools placed in strategic spots around the kitchen so I can rest when needed.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Andie, your Christmas gifts sound phenomenal. I wish someone in my family baked, candied, or cooked Christmas gifts. Candied ginger sounds deliciously exotic to me!
(By the way, I love your strategically places kitchen stools idea!)
Maria (BearMountainBooks) says
Aw, what a great post. (Except the part about the knees. I’m sure that the limbs are drooping and it IS lower to the floor!!!)
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Maria, I am happy to report that I finally got those drooping limbs decorated!
Shawn says
Christmas is my favorite holiday. I love decorating this time of year. We have so many ornaments. I have some from when I was a child and then there are those that we have collected throughout the years with my family and our daughter. It is always fun to remember the memories behind each ornament placed on the tree.
I always start to decorate the day after thanksgiving. I will also be preparing my list to start my holiday baking.
Oh I love this time of year!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Shawn, I usually try to start my Christmas decorating right after Thanksgiving, also. But the last couple of years my daughter has been coming home for such a short time at Christmas, I decided to try to get everything up by the time she comes home for Thanksgiving. (Her school has a mandatory Winter session during the traditional Christmas vacation time.) Next year she will be living in Austin, so she will (hopefully!) be able to visit us more frequently on the weekends.
Regina says
This Christmas this year will be a super special one for us. My daughter and her family will be coming home to us for Christmas from Colorado. IT has been 10 years since they have been back here for the holidays. We tried to go there every other year and be with rest of the family the other years, but old age is catching up with us and air travel is not fun. I will put on the tree the ornament from my parents’ first tree when they married in 1923. Regina
Alfred says
Regina did you get your booklights yet? What did you think of them curious.
Regina says
Alfred, yes, they came on Friday. I put the batteries in today and it looks as if they will be most successful. Thank you for the tip.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Regina, I hope you have a terrific time with your daughter & Co. this Christmas. Since it has been ten years since they came home for the holidays, you will just have to make sure they have ten times the fun!
Merideth says
We have two special trees that mean so much to our family. The ” big” tree in the living room is full of lights and all the decorations the children, and now grandchildren, have made over the years, plus some old family favorites. The second tree, also quite big, is filled with silly souvenirs that we have gathered from our many travels. Both take a long time to trim as I love to hold all those wonderful memories in my hands once again. We also have a wonderful collection of Nativities from all over the world, but my favorite is the one my mother set up each year as a child. I remember how proud I was when she felt I was old enough to place it on the mantel.
Christmas is such an amazing time, all the memories from the past and all the memories in the making! Merideth
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Merideth, I have enough trouble getting just our one tree up!
I used to set up my grandmother’s Lenox Nativity set, but these days I only put up the one our daughter made for us when she was nine. The little characters are all made out of felt, ribbon trim, special buttons (gifts from the Three Kings), and cotton stuffing. Not quite as fancy, but terrific all the same!
linda says
Danna, It is a really nice cool weekend here in my part of Ohio so I would imagine quite a few people will be out putting up Christmas decorations. I don’t do my own until after Thanksgiving but that’s because I have decorations for that holiday up. My sister is having a BIG Thanksgiving dinner today and I know she will have Christmas up. But she has such a big house that it takes a long time for her to do that. She loves it.
My sister has her Thanksgiving dinner the Sat. before that special day so that there is never conflict with her married kids going to the other sides family. This really works out very well for her.
Groceries are so high and expensive this year that my “family members are going to combine our meal on Thanksgiving meal. Each person brings something. My granddaughter calls people to let them know what to bring. It sure is a lot easier that way–not having to decide what to bring then having too many bringing the same things.
At my sister’s today everyone just brings whatever they want, makes quite a lot of the same things. Oh well, it is still all good. There will be enough food for everyone to bring home stuff for tomorrow!
Aren’t Thanksgiving leftovers GREAT!
Sorry, kind of windy today, aren’t I? This is my favorite holiday!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Linda, that is such a good idea for your family to celebrate Thanksgiving on different days. We don’t have extended family in the area, so it is up to me to prepare everything. I would love to “potluck-it” as you all are doing.
Lucky you on having a cool weekend. Ours has been hot and humid… not very November-ish.
Denise says
Getting in the Christmas spirit I went to Christmas in the South in Savannah. Lots a great Christmas themed items to look at and food to sample ( Colin Cowie’s chocolate covered toffee was my favorite.) I picked up a a jar of raspberry jalpaneo(not a speller) jelly – yum. I was really looking for some peach chutney but this is just as good. I keep Christmas decoratng simple as it is just myself and the cats. I don’t do a tree for the obvious reason I decorate front door area dining room and kitchen tables. I fill a couple of huge jars with my favorite ornaments and it takes awhile to choose which ones go in them because of the memories. Enjoy decorating!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Denise, I agree with your “yum” on chocolate covered toffee. YUM! Raspberry Jalapeno jelly is probably too adventurous for me!
I remember a friend of mine telling me about her cats and her Christmas tree years ago. They actually put a hook of some sort in their ceiling so that they could attach the tree to the hook using some wire. I haven’t thought about the Christmas tree/Cats problem in a while, but since you and Petie mentioned it this year, I am rethinking getting a cat some time in the future.
I like your idea about the huge jars with favorite ornaments… especially the memories part!
Carrie says
I don’t put up my Christmas decorations until mid-December. I buy a real tree (I love the real smell of pine) and if I put it up too early it can look very sad by Christmas.
When I left home and could buy my own tree, I used to buy one or two really special and beautiful ornaments each year for the tree. I now have an amazing mix if gorgeous ornaments mixed with ones that have been made by my nieces and nephews over the years. I have twelve nieces and nephews (plus one due next May!) so I have no shortage of ornaments to choose from.
I don’t have a cat, but my sister has three and she puts up a tree every year. She puts a couple of small hooks in her skirting board and then winds some green twine around the tree trunk and secures it to the hooks. So far, it has worked every year and there haven’t been any cat related tree accidents.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Carrie, what a great idea you had regarding buying an ornament or two each year. Between those special yearly ornaments and all of your nieces and nephews treasures, you must have a beautiful collection for your tree.
I’m going to have to share your sister’s ideas about the small hooks with my husband. We loved Sprite (our dog) so much, and miss her dearly, but think that perhaps we might be better suited for a cat IF and WHEN we decide to open our hearts to a new member of our family.
I had a cat years ago, and have sort of forgotten about the added “complications” of having a little one who can climb up things and who enjoys exploring – even when that is prohibited. Sprite, once she learned the rules of our home, was such a good girl and would never have thought to climb our Christmas tree because of a beckoning ornament…
Regina says
Danna, when you mentioned your Lenox Nativity Set reminded me of my Hummel Nativity set. My sister bought it right after WW2 with her Christmas Club check. A few years ago she gave it to me because I have a family and she did not. When my younger daughter moved to CO, I gave it to her as a remembrance of home. I miss it but I am glad her family can now enjoy it.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Regina, your sisters WW2 Hummel Nativity set is definitely an heirloom. How wonderful that your Colorado daughter can enjoy it while living so far from home.
Ricky says
While the Strawberry Shortcake Murder by Joanne Fluke does not have a Christmas theme, it does have some great cookie and dessert recipes perfect for the holidays. I also noticed she has a cookbook out.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Yes, Ricky, it’s Joanne Fluke’s Lake Eden Cookbook: Hannah Swensen’s Recipes from the Cookie Jar >>> Have you tried any of her recipes?
Margaret says
I will put my outside decorations up next week. I still have my Thanks Giving Decorations up. Time goes by way too quickly and I hate adding to it. I really enjoy Thanks Giving and it upsets me that it seems it is starting to be ignored. All the Christmas Movies have been on for days. Stores have had Decorations up since Halloween. I understand there is not alot of money to be made of Thanks Giving but it is an important day to me as an American. We have a lot to be thankful for as Americans (especially with some many Service Men and Women still in harms way). I do enjoy Christmas but by the time it gets here it seems like we have already celebrated it.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Margaret, since my daughter won’t be able to enjoy our Christmas decorations until she is home right before Christmas, I go ahead and jump the gun on decorating by Thanksgiving. She has a job lined up for after her graduation that will allow her to come home some of the weekends, so next year I’ll probably go back to decorating after Thanksgiving…
We do have a lot to be grateful for, with a special emphasis on those who keep us safe!
Barbie says
We always spend the holiday with my in-laws. We have a big extended family and it’s always loud, fun and a happy time. My daughter got married in August and my son has a serious relationship so this is our first year to have to “share” our children. That is a little different. I’m going to start decorating this weekend and am hoping to start some new traditions that include a son-in-law and possible daughter-in-law.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Barbie, when we first moved here, my brother and his wife lived right here in town, and my parents would travel down to see us. I miss those big extended family gatherings. And now you’ll be able to make those gatherings all the bigger, louder, happier, and more fun!