Christmas Tour of Homes:

I'm excited to be a first time participant in the Christmas Tour. I must say that this year the decorations are lighter than usual, due to the fact that we just returned from a 10 day vacation. I love adding and changing decorations each year for a new and different look. I love variety, and I'm sure I've never decorated the same way twice. Here are just a few of my favorites this year.

We've always enjoyed an "eclectic" Christmas tree, filled with ornaments that remind us of special seasons and people in our past. This year the tree focuses on reds and crystal along with all sorts of metals-silver, gold, even rusty tin with a few dashes of other natural treasures sprinkled thru-out. The heart shaped ornament with the photo of Terry and I is from our 25th Anniversary. This year we just celebrated our 31st in Maui!

Our tree topper this year is a rusted metal star. I love the casual feel that it brings to the tree.

This collection of evergreens began with the trees that lived in my Christmas village. I haven't had the space or time to put up the whole village in the last few years, but I enjoy the trees and have even added more to the collection. The one in the center is made of metal with jingle bells hanging from the branches. It reminds me of the tree in Whoville. I found it at Big Lots for a steal. I also received the three tall white trees and another silver one (pictured behind the snacks) last year. I love the retro look of these.

This bare branch hangs in my living room all year long. These previous posts tell a little about the history of the branch, including how I decorated it thru-out last year. This year it's quite simple. Rusted metal and white crocheted snowflakes with a crystal garland. I may be adding my Christmas cards as well.

We've enjoyed this nativity for many years. It took me a long time to find it. I wanted one that was more realistic. Some nativities look too "holy" while others are too cutsie. I also wanted one where the baby Jesus isn't attached to the manger. Normally we don't put the baby out until Christmas morning (since that's his birthday after all).

Thank you so much for stopping by my home. Since we're just back in town, I haven't had a chance to make a homemade treat, but for anyone who knows me, we always have something tasty to share with friends who drop by.

In honor of our Maui vacation, I can offer you either a tasty cup of piping hot chocolate or a glass of wine from Maui's own winery. We also have delicious macadamia nuts as well as extra special Hershey's kisses with macadamia nuts inside, made only in Hawaii.

Enjoy your holiday season and may your days be filled with the love of family and friends.

Christmas tree shopping and gelato:

I know that I'm really behind on blogging and there are things that have happened before this, but I decided that this is what I want to blog right now. I'll go back and do other things, like our anniversary trip and other recent activities later.

Tuesday, Dec 12, Terry, Kevin, Erin and I finally found time in our busy schedules to go Christmas tree shopping. Since we've only been in the house for 2 Christmases we don't really have a favorite spot to buy trees. We visited a few places and finally ended up at the Home Depot tree lot. Since it was only 13 days before Christmas, the trees were pretty picked over. A lady at the lot told us that they were out of Noble firs and weren't expected to get more in at all...disappointing. We've bought Douglas and other types of trees in the past, but do like the look of the Noble, if the price is within reason.

We were persistent and stayed at the lot anyway, spread out and started to look at the trees. We checked out a few Douglas firs, all of which were very flat on at least one side and hard to picture what they would look like IF the branches fell back in place. Erin was poked in the eye by one of the needles, which REALLY hurts! You'll notice in the picture of the three of them that it made her eyes water until the lot guy gave her some eye drops.

After some searching, Terry saw what looked like a beautiful Noble fir! How could that be? Well, upon further examination we realized that it was TOPLESS! You can see from the picture that the top foot or 18 inches was chopped off. Besides that glaring flaw, it was fresh and beautiful. So we gathered around and laughed at it. For anyone who knows Kevin, you know that he has a tender heart for the underdogs and the helpless, hopeless ones of the world and this was no exception. Somewhat joking and somewhat serious we all stood there wondering how we could top it off and give this headless tree a home. Several ideas surfaced, but we were still laughing about it when the lot guy joined us.

Lot guy: "So you're looking at my topless tree huh?"

Us: "Yeah" (laughs all around)

Lot guy: "How about if I make you a deal? That tree would normally be $58. How about if I give it to you for $20."

Terry: (more laughs, but considering the money he'd save) "Hmmm...I don't know...it doesn't have a top. What do you think guys?"

Kevin & Erin: "I'm sure we could figure out something for the top. How about a bird and nest or something?"

Nancy: Are you kidding?

Lot Guy: "O.k. how about if I give it to you for FREE?"

Now he's talking Terry's language!

Terry's sold on the price, Kevin and Erin are sold on the Charlie Brown factor, so everyone looks at me...they know I get the final say because, after all, I'm in charge of the decorating and I'm not sure this tree is really salvageable.

Imagine the look your kids gave you the first time they asked for a kitten...

Long pause...

"...O.K. fine. We can get it. It'll make a great story for my blog and besides if it really doesn't work, we're not losing anything but our time."

So once we had our "special" tree secure in the car, we decided to head for The Gelato Spot, (the dessert lounge of Italy) my new favorite place, to celebrate our great find.

If you haven't been to one fo these places, you HAVE to go! It's amazing stuff! Much better than ice cream!

The funny thing is that when we were there, I was taking pictures and the girl behind the counter asked, "Are you from out of town?"

It was then that Kevin decided I should be called the "Tourist of Life". Blogging and Scrap-booking will do that to you. It's amazing how you look at things differently when your're thinking with the perspective of capturing memories. What fun!

So after we enjoyed our gelato, we headed home to set up the tree.

Check out the picture of Terry when we were decorating the tree. We don't remember what was wrong but there was obviously something that he didn't like. He got over it though.

Erin had a great idea to put silk poinsettias at the top of the tree to hide the missing piece. We also interspersed some others throughout to balance it out and I must say, with the lights and decorations, it looks beautiful! What an awesome find and fun, creative solution!