I have three presents left to buy & those will be done this week as I have to ship a lot & those things need to be going by 12/15.

The tree is up in the living room. Nothing is on it yet, but it's up. Tomorrow is tree trimming day. The two little pre-lit trees are up & standing on either side of the front door & the wreaths are up on the outside front windows & that's the extent of the outdoor decorations for this year. The garlands et.al. that I usually put up inside the house will be staying in their boxes this year.

I'm not being a Scrooge, I'm just out of time & simplifying ther process seems like a good idea this year.

I hope one present counts, because that's where I'm at. DH and DD put up the tree on Saturday, and GS had a ball decorating it. Each year I buy or make one new ornament and he was fascinated with seeing the one bought when his mommy was his age, not to mention the glass ones with a scene inside. He found one box which contained a lovely gold wire angel... and I have no memory of getting it, although I think maybe it was during one of DD's college years. Whenever, it has been in the box for enough years that the white lid has turned slightly creamy.

Today will be a major shopping day; I'm taking the afternoon off with hopes of finding everything at one mall. If not, I may spend Friday evening with the bustling crowds. I don't like shopping ~~ I enjoy choosing something special for each person on my list, but it's the actual search among many stores that leaves me loving on-line stores.

I haven't made other plans, not even for special baking. At some point during the holiday week, we'll drive to the mountains to visit my favorite SIL... hopefully not in snow or ice. DH wants to spend Christmas Day with his sister and BIL, and that's okay but it means I'll have to shop for and cook a big *transportable* dinner. I'm tired just thinking about it.

(((Jan/Neil))), prayers for his ears.

My tree is finally up. I don't even know where the decorations are! LF's presents are done. I bought the baskets for my gifts, and half of the stuff to fill the baskets. I ordered my boss' gift and I am going over right now to get his wife's. I had a nurse crochet her a wrap. She likes wraps and Kris can make beautfiul things. I guess I am getting there, but I have loads to do! I still have to get/send cards and figure out what to do for my workmates. There are four nurses, four managers, 13 or so staff on the 5th floor, 10 or so lab personnel, and a couple of "other" workers. I'm thinking a card for everyone, but the managers, nurses, and lab get a little something more. What? I don't know. Candy I've made? Maybe. Sherry's peppermint bark is good and easy. So is Lar's toffee. Gets kinda pricey, but I'll look at the breakdown later today. Nothing is wrapped though as the paper is with the decorations. Final tonight, final tomorrow night, and then I'll drive to the boro if the stuff isn't in the attic. Kinda sounds relaxing now that I think about it. Hm.

Happy holidays!

No tree at Chez Karen. Little Miss Tabby (Portia) thinks everything in this house is hers and should be climbed, jumped on, sat on, played with, chewed/eaten and otherwise Portia-ized. Until somebody designs an electric fence for Christmas trees, there won't be a tree here.

I did however buy some big, lovely round, brightly colored ornaments to hang from some hooks in my living room. Close to the ceiling and no chance of being cat-destroyed.

I've got three gifts wrapped under the tree. I don't buy for anyone but family, so I only have... 15 more to go. Gah!

BTW, if anyone has a Dollar Tree store in their area, they should go in and check out the gift wrap and such. For a Dollar, they really have some cute stuff (that doesn't look like crud!)

Does anyone have pictures of their trees? I'd love to see!

I'll attach a link to mine, if anyone is interested in looking.

If you look through my photo stream (in the link) you can see a few other decorations I've done this year. I'm actually pretty happy with the house this year. I think everything turned out really pretty.

Here is a link that might be useful: Christmas Tree 2008

Years ago, when I was faced with picking out the tree, decorating the tree, taking the tree down, and putting the decorations away just as I had done all the years before, I announced that if anyone wanted a tree, they would be the ones to do the work. I was refusing to lift a finger. They did it that one year, but lost interest in ever doing it again.

So that ended the tree on Christmas in this family. I usually do some fancy stuff on the mantle and hang a wreath on the front door. And that's it!

Money is tighter than it used to be. A long time ago,we decided that if a child was still in school (college counts, Sunday School doesn't) he or she got money. If not, nothing. This way, no one has to worry about getting something for the seldom seen in-laws or getting gifts to the grandkids that already have every toy, electronic doo-dad known to man, and out grow clothes at an unbelievable rate.

At times, it's nice to be an only child with no siblings, nieces or nephews to think about. The Husband Guy still has a slew of relatives still walking this earth, but he avoids them as much as possible.

Yeah, I belong to the Bah Humbug club.

The tree sits outside in a bucket of water and waits for next week. No decorations up yet, only an advent wreath and I finally managed yesterday to get my overseas mail out. Ran out of cards and have to get some more. I usually have leftover cards and wondered how come I don't have enough this year. Well, I would have if I had bought some last year. The shipping gets done tomorrow and I got all the presents.

My overseas presents are sent, and I just have one more card for across the pond. There is still time.

I got my tree up early this year. It's a humble little artificial, but it replaces an even humbler, even smaller, artificial I married into with this husband. The ironic thing is, we are in the greenery business, and there is a lovely little tree in the g'house trailer I could have put up, had I wanted to. The ornaments are old wooden ones, and a garland of little wooden beads. No bulbs. But I did spring for two new strands of lights, and they're shaped like bulbs. I have an angel on the top, I made twenty years ago. The presents this year are modest, and only a couple are under the tree so far. Three of them are in transit (I hope). One recipient wants money (that works for me) and I have three people to buy 'things' for. I had better get inspired.

DH has been up in his workshop like St. Nick and I hear the saw ripping and the hammer banging. And my sewing machine has been whirring. The gifts for the g'kids are done, but not wrapped. The kitchen needs to be fired up for the baskets of breads/pudding/candies and cookies and jams. I would also like to churn up a run of good, homemade butter, and press them out in my antique molds and freeze it. That's not something you can buy everyday.

There shall be no tree at Casa Lilo, the four felines are the reason for that. I have a nice, big Norfolk Island pine in the living room, and it shall stand there unadorned.
I am making a wreath of redwood branches and coyote brush to hang on the door and will sneak out a few figurines, little by little, but even the old little tree is going to be staying in the closet, Maximus has discovered that the top of the book-case, where it resided last year, is a good place to have a peaceful snooze.
There are so many pines around the place, and frosted spider-webs glitter in the sun, if there is sun, and maybe we shall have more snow-days, so I shall settle for that.

We, well Missy mostly, are still working on our outdoor lights. They have been used for quite a few years and some need repair or replace. The deer have to be totally redone and white strings are hard to find.

We have 3 fake trees and have set them all up as a small forest in the past. Will likely be just one this year. Have tons of decorations from way back and have had exchanges of decorations with friends. Wish I had the old bubble lights we had as kids, I liked them a lot. Link below to past decorations and trees.

Here is a link that might be useful: Lights etc.

Here is another link that show some of the out side lights.

Here is a link that might be useful: lights

Beautiful Don! Thanks for sharing!

I love the dead tree in July... that's a hoot!

Don, your trees and the outside lights are so festive. I assume that Max don't climb the tree. My jetblack Midnight behaves herself too, but thinks she is part of the display and resides on the red tree skirt.

My tree is up and decorated..YAY FOR ME..and so far Miss Cassie is leaving it alone (at least when I'm home)and Casper could not possibly care less. The mantel is as complete as it's going to get, with lighted garland across the front and Christmas cards and candles on top. Looks nice, even if it is me saying so.

This year is a complete departure for me..a glittery tree with shiny colored ornaments and LOTS of lights. I'm usually a home-made, nature-theme person. But this year all my Christmas decs are in a trunk which is under a pile of stuff which had to move to get out of the way. Something new, and I rather like it!

As far as presents, I took care of that today. Prepaid VISA cards for my newlywed GD and much younger GS. I only see them every couple of years or so, and have no idea what they might want that the parents won't buy, and shipping costs are ridiculous! I will send the whole bunch a small box of homemade candy, though. Got to get going on that!

Many years ago, before I started up my own business, I worked in a large nursery with a Christmas shop. We actually had trees we designed to hang up-side down from the ceiling, LOL, for people with curious cats.

Anneliese, my little tabby sleeps under my tree on the red tree skirt too. When you mentioned that, I got a big smile. She has always slept in the Christmas decorations. She used to curl up inside the advent wreath. We were careful not to light it with the cat in position. She also liked to climb up to the mantle, laden with fresh pine boughs and the creche, and curl up next to baby Jesus.

Don, I want to come and live with you for a year just to experience Halloween and Christmas with you and Missy.

My decorations are all up, the house is clean and I still have only one present bought.

The miracle shot in the hip did not work and now I'm walking with the assistance of a cane. I'm not having fun I can tell you that. I still squeak like a mouse frog combo.

It has rained buckets here for a couple of days and if anyone mentions drought to me I'll be glad to show them the
lake in my backyard and most likely underneath part of my house. I could've used my paddle boat to go shopping in today.

We finally got a new dentist and we both really like him a lot. He finds us amusing, I'm sure. Neil is going back on monday for a crown removal. I get to just go back for a cleaning. It's good to have a real dentist again. The old one skipped town with the denture money and hasn't been seen in almost two years.:0( Shame on him.

Sassi, has decided that every decoration in this house belongs to her along with any shoes and socks she finds.
She certainly keeps us on our toes. It's rather like having
a little 2 year old toddling about getting into all kinds of mischief.

We have our tree up, but that's about it. Hubby's mom sent gifts directly to us (then she doesn't have to wrap them..) and we have set the Amazon boxes as is under the tree. More ecologically sound than a bunch of wrapping paper, but I must say it isn't very festive. We can't do ribbon bows though. The cat eats them. I'm hoping the corgi doesn't chew the corners off the boxes.

Janis, hug that little dog for me. :)

The lights went on the tree and around the front windows (LF's wish) Monday, and yesterday we finally decorated the tree. A couple of small vignettes. LF wants to string popcorn. Anyone have pointers on stringing popcorn? Seems like they always crumble.

Note for stringing popcorn: pop it, and let it sit for a day. Stale popcorn is not tasty, but it strings a whole lot easier.

Use a very sharp long needle. I always poke the needle from the stiff hull section through and out the fluffy back. If you can find cotton darning thread, it's thin enough to be easy to work with, and soft and sturdy enough to last (and it composts). If you are stringing popcorn to decorate outside [for the birds], add fresh cranberries here and there. They're a bit messy so wear plastic gloves.