The Halls are Decked!

And it's about darn time! I've been pretty grumpy about the fact that it was already December and there wasn't so much as a jingle bell to be found in our house. Well, we are Scrooges no longer - Christmas has finally come to our little corner of the world.

The rain finally stopped on Sunday so we were able to venture out for a tree. I think I'm in the minority on this one, but for me, it has to be a real tree. I know they're messy but I wouldn't have it any other way. My theory on Christmas trees is that you do what you grew up with. If your family had a fake (or do you prefer "artificial"? fake sounds sort of derogatory...) tree growing up, you probably have an artificial tree now. If you had the real thing growing up, I bet you still go pick out the "perfect" tree at the tree farm every year. It's all about tradition.

Anyhow, our tree is up, lit and decorated. And, I'm happy to report, the lighting of the tree did not involve me being a type-A, control freak who yells at her husband "You're not doing it right!" and ruining the Christmas spirit...like last year. That, my friends, it what we call growth.

Here he is: (Christmas trees are male to me. Not sure why, considering the amount of glitter adorning ours. Just go with it.)

Boy, have I learned alot about Christmas trees from the blogging world. You people have A LOT of trees! Many of you have multiple trees - some have seven or EIGHT!?! My word. I'm impressed. And exhausted just thinking about how much work that must be. Where do you find the time? And the storage space?

At our little old house, we have one tree. You see, our house is a 1925 bungalow. Charming, yes. Tight on space - an understatement. No flippin room to put anything? That's a bit more accurate. Believe me, if there were room for more than one tree in this house I would have already put a closet there.

So, we have one tree. And the ornaments don't match. I've collected a hodge-podge of ornaments throughout the years and they all go up on the tree. I love unwrapping each ornament and remembering who gave it to me or where I found it. It might not be fit for a Pottery Barn catalog, but I love our little tree of memories.

We were feeling pretty ambitious yesterday, so we got some lights up outside too.

It's hard to tell from the blurry, dark picture, but there is a row of little candy cane lights along the row of hedges. I think they're too cute. Some icicle lights would look awesome along the roof line and I'd love to wrap red and white lights around the two large cone shaped trees in the front of the house to make them look like candy canes. But, it's not going to happen for the want of two things: a tall ladder and a willing husband. Bah-humbug!


The stocking have been hung by the chimney with care ...and other Christmas crap is out and about....but I don't have pictures of any of that.

Merry Christmas to you from This Old House! Hope you all had a great weekend!