Tuesday, December 18, 2018

Once Upon a Christmas Tree


Hello all you lovelies, oh my goodness it's been a while since I last chatted. I don't know why; I enjoyed the most wonderful time away with my family and upon returning home I suppose the days just slipped by. Anyway, before Christmas comes aknocking on my bright pink, front door I thought I might pop by quickly.

It's that time of the year again. Unless you have been living on a deserted island with no telecommunication connection......it's Christmas time. Yes indeedy everyone everywhere is busily preparing for the season of goodwill to all men (and ladies). Even here in my humble abode there is an air of sparkling and twinkling Christmas cheer.

Do you remember my Christmas tree of old?? I wrote about my oh-so-beautifully-elegant tree waxing lyrically about it here, if indeed you are interested in a rollicking Christmas tree tale of  my rather idiosyncratic tendencies of 'must-having' the perfect tree. Well, my oh-so-beautifully-elegant Christmas tree is no more. No it hasn't been banished to some dark, hidey hole......it is standing tall and ever so elegantly in some other family's home. Last Christmas I sold it together with all the decorations that bedecked it. I know, I know, 'tis a demented gal that I am........but you know what, for the last few years I had become weary of clambering up and down the 9ft tree over and over; and over again, precariously teetering on a ladder with garlands and lights in hand, risking life and limb. For the last forty years or so my tree decorations were red, green, white, silver and gold so I decided now is the time for a different look, a different aesthetic. My home is oozing with all things coloured pastel, so I threw caution to the winds and at the risk of my daughters never talking to me ever again, I just did it! Yes indeedy, I posted the whole kit and kaboodle on one of the local selling sites here and before I could change my mind somebody bought it. As soon as I posted the advertisement a big and bold SOLD sign appeared in less than a minute!!


"Oh dear, what have I done!!!" It was the quickest sale ever in the annals of the 'Sharman's Wares to Flog'. I must say I was shocked, even a little depressed that my beautiful tree with the ethereal angel looking down upon me from on high was never going to grace the parlour ever, ever again. Sorry for the histrionics........but I was rather attached to my tree. But you need not worry, I am okay, I am rather loving the parlour's new pastel Christmassy look.

Over the last few years I have searched high and low for a lovely white, elegant tree but could not find one to suit my persnickety sensibilities.....at least one that would not require a mortgage on my very little humble abode. Last week, quite by accident I happened upon a tree that I love. Believe it or not there is not a leaf nor a pine needle to be seen, clinging to the naked branches.....it is actually a bare tree with LED lights. Shock!! Horror!! Quite a change for me but you know what I love it! I love this new look of simplicity and it is more suited to my white and silver and pastel aesthetic. No ladders needed, no moving furniture around the entire house to fit the tree and the new tree decorated within a couple of hours....I can't tell you how deliriously happy I am about that!! AND.....I might say my good husband is beside himself with great joy at the prospect of never, never having to help me unwind blasted lights and garlands and wind them around and around the tree, ever, ever again! Why, me thinks our happy marital union might just well last for a few more Christmases!





Quite a change from the the heavily decorated, BIG tree. BUT.....I am rather enamoured with my little 'bare' tree.







Starry, starry night.




Though the sprinkling of Christmas lustre throughout my humble abode is definitely less this year, nevertheless it is always joyous to sprinkle some shimmer and sparkles here and there.








As my pretty, embroidered curtains draw closed on yet another year, I would love to say thank you to each one of you whom has visited my little place throughout the year. Thank you for the gift of your visits and for blessing me with your sweet comments each time. I know I have said it before but you all truly make my heart sing! May your Christmas be filled with wonderful wonderment as you celebrate with your family and friends. May your Christmas shimmer and sparkle as your joy touches and brightens others' lives. I for one will be cherishing the peace I am blessed with as I reflect upon the real spirit of the joyousness of Christmas......Jesus'  'Birth'day, the miracle of Christmas.♥

Until the new year........



44 comments:

  1. I was reading, and feeling kinda sad and sorry for you over someone snatching up your beautiful tree before you even had time to change your mind. But then I saw the new tree! Oh, it is all so beautiful! So white and silvery, and Christmasy! It's like a winter wonderland. Absolutely beautiful! Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas! Wish you could stop by and help me get a new look! :)

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  2. Beautiful...I especially love the chandelier. I hope you and your family have a lovely Christmas, my friend.

    p.s. your home is so elegant, smiles.

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  3. I understand about the climbing up and down the ladders to decorate a tall tree. With this fairly new house to us; we have a very tall ceiling. We went and purchased a very tall tree. The tree was a foot too tall and we had to return it. But, lesson learned! It scared the heck out of me to stand on the ladder to decorate. We still have a tall tree; but much shorter...and I am not certain that this tree will last long either. I think I like my feet planted safely on the floor when I decorate! LOL Your tree is perfect for your space; it fits right in! Merry Christmas to you and your family and wishing you all the best for 2019.

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  4. Lovely decorations ! The colors are perfect ! Peaceful, cozy colors for a welcome home !
    I buy a new Christmas tree this year...after 25 year of good job, the oldest was banned...
    Beautiful flowers and pictures !
    Have a Merry Christmas !
    Big Hug !
    Anna

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  5. My mom got rid of her colorful tree and replaced it with all pastels and florals some years ago. She has never regretted it and it looks just perfect in her home. Decorating those big ones with tipsy ladders, etc. becomes a bigger job each year. Your home looks so festive and pretty. I love your sweet nativity set too. Merry Christmas.

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  6. Awwww Kim, I always enjoy my visits here, with you!! We gave up our large tree many years ago, I gave up all the Santa decorations and went with a more mature theme. I love it but I also miss my big tree with alll it’s special ornaments!! Your home looks so beautiful, perfect in every way!!

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    1. another go around today, i am reminded how much i love those stockings!!!

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  7. I love your bare little tree. I want one! It would be perfect for my ornaments. I dug through my ornaments to lend some to my sister and alas, some of my salt-dough ones had disintegrated.

    Those stockings of yours are far out! I love your decorations. And I had to laugh at how fast your old stuff sold. Figures!

    Merry Christmas!

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  8. How beautiful Kim,very different than you used to be.
    You have created a real white winterworld!
    Have a Merry Christmas and a very Happy and creative 2019!
    Hugs.♥

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    1. Yes, very different this year, Loes. A real white winterworld in Summery Tassie. =) May you have the most beautiful Christmas, lovely lady. I look forward to visiting your lovely place in 2019 to see what delicious baking you have baked, what amazing crochet pretties you have fashioned......and all the other wonderful projects you imagine. KimXx

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  9. How beautiful! Exquisite!diana

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    1. How lovely of you, Diana, to visit my little Christmas world. Thank you so much for your beautiful comments. Kim Xx

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  10. Wow! The Christmas-y scene you created is absolutely mind-boggling Kim! I love the shabby-chicness your room breathes with - it is a pure delight to see it! You've used so many decorations and each and every one has a perfect place and contributes to the general visual effect!

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  11. Oh yes Kim...the tree is SO YOU! It is absolutely lovely and although a change from the usual, it suits your style and adorns your beautiful room gloriously. And those "stockings" are beyond gorgeous! Getting that "perfect" tree can really a challenging and I have been there a few times myself! Someone I knew who had a farm told me to come to his farm and let the boys pick out a tree. Well, we rode all over this field in a pick-up truck and all of his trees were growing on the fence-line....SO...the fronts were beautiful but the backs were flatter than a flitter! What did we do? We picked out 2 and tied them together, back to back! They would barely fit into the holder and had to be tied to with wall to keep from falling over! Another time, my hubby was invited to his friends to cut a "free" Christmas tree. Well see, no one knew that the tree was laced with poison ivy...and my hubby is terribly allergic! He had oozy poison ivy blisters all over his body (and I do mean everywhere). Needless to say, the "free tree" wasn't too free after a visit to the doctor and a prescription for Prednisone! LOL! May you have an absolutely magical Christmas, dear friend! See you next year! ♥♥♥

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  12. Hi Kim wow and double wow this is my sort of decorating,you have a special talent my friend your home looks amazing decorated for xmas.
    Wishing you a Merry Xmas and a happy and safe New Year Kim xx

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  13. Gorgeous decorating and love all the pictures.

    Hugs Diane

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    1. Thank you so much, Diane, for your beautiful comments. Kim Xx

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  14. Wonderful! You are a clever girl! I love your romantic Christmas decorations!

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  15. Your new tree & your parlour look just beautiful Kim. Love, love everything about it all & it seems really restful. Yes our tree is quite a mission to put up too & I often threaten to do away with it. Have a wonderful festive season my dear friend Xx

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  16. Your home looks like a magical fairyland, Kim, and your new, sparkly tree looks perfect in your parlor. I'm thinking that you should leave it there permanently, and decorate it for the seasons. Your mantle, the chandelier, your cherubs, pic of your daughters, and your sweet nativity all touched my heart. Merry Christmas to you, Kim, and a Happy 2019.

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  17. Your Christmas decor is so elegant Kim; everything looks stunning. What treasures you have scattered around too! This year I entered a blog swap for knitted/crocheted decorations and I learned about the different styles of decorating. The person I was making for prefers the ‘Modern’ style so I had to learn about that. I’m traditional apparently by deffinition and the other style mentioned was Nordic...all very white etc. and I think I might be leaning towards Nordic in the future. Have a lovely Christmas xx

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  18. Oh so beautiful Kim. I love your new tree - I could see myself with one like that although I would need to add all the decorations I have collected over the years that remind me of my travels - I could never part with them. Your decoration does look gorgeous - the boots are stunning. I am glad that you enjoyed the time with your family. We are now in UK catching up with ours and friends. I am so glad to have found your blog this year - well I think you found me first! I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and a peaceful and Happy New Year. xx

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  19. Your parlor has taken my breath away! Your new gorgeous tree suits your pretty room so well. I can see why it makes you happy. Your embellished stockings are gorgeous....I just know they are the work of your hands. I love the idea of a pastel Christmas!

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  20. Beautiful post Kim and wonderful decorations. Love the little birdies and I think you did well to sell your tree. I haven´t even put mine up this year with the same old decorations. Need to renew everything. Gorgeous candles and little houses. Wishing you a very Happy Christmas.

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  21. Oh my, I've had to take a break before writing my comment, dear Kim. O' I am enamored of Christmas trees all bedecked in buckets of colored lights and tons of family ornaments. So...for me to wrap my mind around a tree that looks different...well it's just too much! I do love the fact of down-sizing-the 9 foot behemoth was a wonder! Our faux tree was bought in 1995 and is definitely showing it's wear with branches that are getting skinnier and skinnier. Each branch must be inserted into the base pole/trunk after fluffing them out. I really don't mind the decorating except for putting on the lights. Enough said, one of these days, I do need to go smaller. Your shimmery white tree with all the little white lights has been growing on me and it does goes with your 'white and silver and pastel aesthetic'. I read your posting on the old tree and can't help but smile and cringe at the same time. Certainly, there is some family that is loving your 9 foot beauty. I do have such regard for your ability to 'let go'. Me?...I'm still working on that admirable trait. My oldest ornament is nearly 100 and was bought by my Dad in his teens. BTW, I have that same white ornament with the deer and the frosty trees. It came from my folks' tree and certainly isn't as pretty as yours but it's still a treasure. Merry Christmas. May the good Lord watch over you and your family.

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  22. Gosh Kim, I could spend hours here every time I visit! Your tree is just unique and I love it. My tree is very traditional with traditional colors. You are a brave soul to do what you did but I like what you ended up with. We all have to unique and be daring some times. Have a blessed Christmas!

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  23. Well, I must admit I'm hugely relieved to hear that your marriage is likely to last a few more Christmases. The best thing we ever did was get a pre-lit tree and Jack just puts the 'trunk' into the holder and hook the top of the tree in place, plug it in and his job is done. Mine, however, takes a whole lot longer! I have been admiring those pretty little white twig trees and would probably get one if it weren't for the fact that Jack likes the traditional type. It looks exactly right with your decor though - and it must give you such pleasure to sit of an evening and enjoy the ambiance. Merry Christmas my friend - to you and yours!

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  24. Well Kim your home looks downright magical!. I kept looking for a tree in the picture and then realized you really did have a bare tree. You are so creative and unique. How brave of you to give up your traditional tree and all your ornaments. That must have been a hard decision for you since we gals tend to get attached to our things. I love your new tree and how you decorated it. It fits right in. I love the way you decorated it and your whole room looks like a winter wonderland. At an antique mall I like to visit I saw they had a large limb hanging from the ceiling and they covered it with doilies. They just wrapped the doilies around the limb and maybe sewed them together or glued them on but it looks so pretty. They hung some pretties from it too. All you creative minds always impress me. Merry Christmas Kim!
    xx Beca

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  25. I absolutely love you new tree, Kim.
    And it’s surrounded by the most marvellous wonderland. So pretty!
    Many thanks for the lovely posts. So beautiful and uplifting.
    My Best Wishes to you and your family for a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year too!

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  26. I love your tree and Christmas decorations! Your home is so pretty

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  27. Thank you so much, lovely Dixie♥ May your Christmas be a wonderful one. I look forward to visiting your beautiful place in the new year, to see what sublime artwork you are imagining. Kim Xx

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  28. Everything is just beautiful, Kim. Your new colour scheme is so elegant and sophisticated and all the flowers just add to the loveliness. I hope you and Mr Kim have a most wonderful Christmas. Thank you for another year of delightful and inspiring posts :) xxx

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  29. Your new tree is so enchanting, dear Kim, especially so in your lovely, ethereal room! Your ornaments are so pretty, too. I wish you and your loved ones a lovely, peaceful Christmas and a new year full of sweet blessings. Hugs xo Karen

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    1. Thank you for your sweet visit and beautiful comments, lovely Karen♥ I wish for you and your beautiful family much love and joy this Christmas time and that the new year will be a blessed one. Kim Xx

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  30. Kim, your new tree is truly perfect for your lovely home! Where ever did you find it? I can see you bringing it back out again at Eastertime. It would be lovely decorated with bunnies, colorful eggs and doves. We’ve been busy keeping our little Jack and preparing for holiday entertaining. I’m wishing you the happiest Christmas and a very happy and healthy new year!

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  31. I think change is rejuvenating...and the beautiful wonderland your created is just stunning!! Happy holidays my friend and thank you for continueing to share your creative home decorating with us.

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  32. Kim, what a magical Christmas scene you have created! I love all the whites and pastels. Simply beautiful! Merry Christmas! xo

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  33. Wow! What a change! Oh yes, I hear you about the work etc of putting up the old tree. It's so nice to have something fresh and new. I do love all the little birds you put on it too. I did love seeing all the picture. Yes, it is about Christ -and he's birth and resurrection. Merry Christmas (belated)

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  34. I'm loving your decorations and all the touches of whimsy, dear Kim. I like the white tree but the stockings are my favorite - they are so YOU. I hope you all had a lovely Christmas.
    Amalia
    xo

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  35. Hello Kim, moving on to wish you
    a good year-round.

    The photos are beautiful.
    Abraços
    janicce.

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  36. Change is good...and it looks so beautiful in your home. I hope you had the merriest of Christmases and are still enjoying your beautiful tree.

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  37. Just magical Kim, as always. I look forward to all that 2019 brings to us all. Sending love. Mimi xxx

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  38. Kim, I don't know how it happened but I missed this beautiful post you did at Christmas, oh my you have done a beautiful job replacing your tree and it looks perfect with the rest of your Gorgeous decorating, The ornaments are so pretty and wow those stockings are stunning, you have made a wonderful magical Christmas, and making Hubby happy in the same time is a good thing :)

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  39. Truly delightful. First time visiting in a while but you came into my thoughts and so here I am. Looking forward to many more visits. Xxx

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