Christmastime is Here

Merry Christmas!  My Christmas (and late Chanukkah) gift to you is six straight days of new posts!  They're all scheduled and ready to go, so enjoy! See ya next year!

We are a multi-holiday household

 I’ve already talked about the Chanukkah side of this holiday season, so now it’s time for a little Christmas.  Since it's Christmas Day. Because we have nice, high ceilings in our new place, we could get a large tree this year.  Totally awesome.

Our tree is 7 feet tall, and we purchased it at Whole Foods (yeah, ok, but we heard the trees were better than the ones at the lot, and they smelled great, and Whole Foods is 4 blocks from apartment which meant less distance to drive with a tree tied to the roof of my car). 

I recently bought a remote control for the lights, so now we don’t have to crawl around behind the tree to turn the lights off at night, which means no more knocking ornaments and tinsel off the tree.  It also means I can turn the lights on and off from the couch.  Not that I’ve done that.  That would be silly.  Of course.

We also hung stockings (by the chimney with care), though I don’t know if St. Nicholas will be coming by our place this year, since we’ll be in Washington.  They look festive, anyway.

As I’ve done for the last two years, I got out the materials to make a wreath and didn’t make one.  Once I get out the wreath frame and the wire, I realize how much work it will take to turn the spare branches (discarded from the bottom of the tree when putting it in the stand) into a wreath.  Also, what do you do about the branches drying out?  Do you spray them with water occasionally? Do they just last without water?  So many questions!  Perhaps next year I’ll make one out of fabric scraps or felt or something.  That seems like it could be fun (and long-lasting).  Maybe I should have a wreath-making party...oooh, crafty ideas!

I love the warm and coziness of this time of year.  Making a fire, cuddling up on the couch, drinking hot cider.  Turning off all the lights and looking at the tree as it shimmers and twinkles.  Unwrapping the ornaments and remembering where they came from and smelling the tree.  Oh yes, I am a tree-smeller.  And I do love Christmas music.  Even the ones about Jesus and all that – I’m not big on the religious aspect (the whole “I’m Jewish” thing), but the music is so pretty.  And there’s nothing like a little Bing Crosby to fill a girl with holiday cheer.

Here's a slideshow of our Christmas decorations...it’s all so delightful, isn’t it?

PS: here's a picture of the tree at Will's parents' house. I think it's 9 feet tall.