Yesterday dear, supportive, creative blogpal Debbie gave me a suggestion for Christmas decor. Since I was enjoying my first full day at home with just two dogs and much less chaos, I decided to implement it. The dogs and I went for a walk in the upper pasture, where I cut some small branches from our Douglasfir, tied them together, propped them up in a festive miniature orchard basket on the piano bench, wound on a wee strand of LED lights, and hung a few of the porcelain angels my mom brought me last month. Voilá – Christmas spirit flowed into a hole I hadn't even noticed! On a roll, I placed the gifts others had sent/left with us on the piano bench, lit my red 'knitted' candles on the piano, turned on my glass globe (a Christmas gift from years ago), and finally put the jingle bell collar on Poppy for her Christmas portrait. (I'd like to do the same with Leo, but he's just getting "sit" down; "sit stay" is not on the horizon yet.) Then I made a double batch of white chocolate cranberry cookies and four loaves of my whole wheat flax meal bread with walnuts and cranberries added while watching a Hallmark Christmas movie.
This morning is sunny and bright (a rather nasty-looking front arrives tomorrow), so I'm going to make holiday deliveries to neighbors and friends. I've already met the neighbor on our north at our mutual fence line with a loaf of that bread, and have four-five more deliveries to make, along with a grocery run ahead of the weather and holiday meals. I also need to get in a ride on Stella while I can, so I'd better keep moving!
Fa-la-la-la-la from . . .
9 comments:
I think your Christmas "tree" is lovely. Just the thing to bring cheer to the house every time you look at it. And so much easier (and less time-consuming) than putting up your usual BIG tree. Some years we just have to do what's possible and believe it's okay. There will be lots of holidays in the future when you can do more of what you may wish. Happy Holidays!
Thank you, Mama Pea! It was so easy (I can put it up and take it down all by myself) – and free! – that a "branch tree" may be my new go-to!
Merry Christmas !!
Testing the waters to see if Blogger will let me comment. I love the last shot of Poppy. That look is exactly what I see on Annie's face when I put her in a position that is contrived. "Tim...this is not real," she seems to say.
What is real is a cheery and warm Christmas wish for you and all from the crew out here at Oakdale Farm.
Thanks, Marlane – and to you, as well!
Your comment came through, Tim – hurrah! I fiddled with the settings but I don't know if that helped or if Blogger just hiccuped. Merry Christmas to all at Oakdale Farm!
Very Festive!! :-)
Michellle, I love the little tree you made! It looks quite real, and I wouldn't blame you if you want that to be your "go to" tree after this. You and the woofies got exercise, too, when you went out to cut those branches!
I love the picture of Poppy in front of the tree, and your snow globe is really lovely. Your whole display is beautiful!
Your white chocolate cranberry cookies sound really yummy, but I suppose they call for butter as one of the ingredients.
I'm so stealing your tree idea.. thank you so much for posting the information about it. Maybe I'll make an Easter tree since it's too late for Christmas.
I took it down today, A. SO much faster to put up and take down than a big – or even medium – tree!
Jeanne, I did like the little "tree" very much for this year and may well do it again, but I have SO many more ornaments and it would be nice to get them out and enjoy them again. Yes, the cookies have butter, but I'm sure you could use dairy-free oleo.
I'll be looking for pictures of your Easter tree on your blog, Mokihana!
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