Tree accomplished!

[rorqual]

Yes indeed, my First Xmas Tree (tm) is sitting on the porch in a bucket of water, letting the limbs drop down a bit. It was a bit of an adventure, putting a tree in a Jetta (especially with the carpet I'd already bought in there), and I somehow ended up with like a handful of pine needles down my shirt, but all that matters is - tree! I have the box of Special Ornaments in the basement (the ones my mom has been collecting for me for my First Xmas Tree), but I need a bunch of the generic Filler Ornaments so the Tree doesn't look sad. Also, I have been peering in windows in my neighborhood (what?), and noticed that a lot of the trees are all-white lights. Are colored lights on trees No Longer Done? Because I like colored lights, but as we all know, I am a slave to convention.

Anyway, I put the carpet down too, and cleaned the ferrets' room, as well as shopped and got a tree - not bad for an Unexpected Day Off (I parked a little...enthusiastically...last night, and when I came out this morning, the tire was flat. Given that I usually am at work by 7, and I didn't think I could possibly get my tire dealt with and be at work before noon, and I was going to take tomorrow afternoon off for tree and shopping anyway....I just called out today and will work tomorrow). And now? TV, tea, and if I am very good I will write Xmas cards. Or, I will read books, which is more likely.

Comments

Tree Tips

[(Anonymous)]

Thought I'd pass along a few tree tips gained from years of tree trial and error.

1 - Cut about 2 or 3 inches off the bottom of the tree before you put it in its stand. Much like flowers, a fresh surface to drink water from is best.

2 - The tree will drink *alot* of water during the first few days in the house. Check it once a day for the first few and then water every other day. Dry trees are unhappy and cause fires, plus the needles will all fall out and get everywhere when its time to take it out.

3 - If you put the tree near a heat source, it will continue to dry out. If you put a tree over a heat vent, close it. If you put the tree near a radiator, turn that one down.

4 - Lights - lots and lots of lights. The monochrome trees are trendy. Go for the multi-colors! Layer the lights from bottom to top and deep into the tree.

5 - Tree topper. Angel, star... so many choices. If your tree topper is electric be sure to leave a plug from one of the light sets up there with easy access. I usually wrap one around the top of the tree before I forget.

6 - To bag or not to bag, that is the question... You can buy those nifty tree bags to put under the tree to save some cleanup mess. Mostly they don't work that great because the plastic is cheap and tears. Last year's experiment with the "professional tree" worked pretty well. Big tarp, lay on the floor, lay the tree on the tarp, wrap up, tape and carry.

7 - Collections. Start collecting special ornaments each year. Many decades from now it is nice to pull out those special ornaments and remember each year and what was special.

8 - Most importantly!!! At least once a day, turn all the lights off in your house and sit under your tree and enjoy. A bottle of wine and someone to snuggle with makes this even better.

Your trusty tree consultant,
J

[ex-domestic.livejournal.com]

Coloured lights go for it. White lights (and blue lights here for some odd reason) are trendy but Christmas isn't about being trendy. Buy something new for your tree every year - collect ornaments in other words. This year I bought some really unusual ones from Chatsworth to add to my collection. What else - will ferrets rob trees? Cats do - put the ornaments etc that you really love out of reach. *grin*

Re: Tree Tips

[rorqual.livejournal.com]

1 - I made them cut it off at the Home Depot, because me, hacksaw - not so much.
2 - I have watered faithfully! Though I suspect it will die quickly anyway...
3 - other side of room from radiator - though right in front of thermostat.
4 - lights lights!
5 - my mom, who gave me all the ornaments she's been collecting for My First Tree throughout the years, included a tree topper (a sort-of spire, not angel or star). No plug; we're traditionalists.
6 - god I don't even want to think about that part.
7 - All I have is a collection - but I do need to get a new one...maybe a house...:)
8 - Have you met my boyfriend? Not so much with sitting under the tree. But Ihave been turning the room lights off and basking in the light of the tree myself, while he surfs the internet in the next room....:)

thank you, tree consultant!

[rorqual.livejournal.com]

Oooh, blue lights.... well, we went for the multi, and I for one am happy. I will upload some pics soonish.

So far the ferrets have only stuck their faces in the tree's water, and then dried them off on my new carpet. Thanks, ferrets!

(soon an email, I swear!)