I was on a roll with posts last week, wasn’t I? This week not so much. I’m working on putting together quality posts but sometimes after staring at a screen for 8 hours a day I don’t really feel like working at home, I don’t know….
Category: Uncategorized
Double Trees
Double Trees. Not to be confused with DoubleTree hotels, which I am much too thrifty to stay at. This year I have two Christmas trees! You’ve seen the main one in our house in this adorable picture (featuring Mosey) but I want to show you more pictures and details!
Did I mention that the tree had been left here (standing up, fully assembled) in the basement when we moved in?? Talk about a bargain! At first I was really creeped out by the concept of a Christmas tree that had been abandoned in a cold clammy basement, but since we’d had the whole house fumigated before moving in, I figured it wasn’t harboring any pests. Except for the pesky silver aluminum tinsel (the individual pieces, not the garland) that we meticulously picked off by hand before adding our ornaments.
Well, here she is:
We had some teeny tiny bronze and white balls, as well as some handmade paper ornaments left over from last year’s 3-foot tall tree, so one day (in October!!) while at Hobby Lobby, we picked up a tall tube of assorted bronze ornaments and one box of six red ones for added pizzaz. We stashed them with our other Christmas decor until it was time to pull it all out (the weekend before Thanksgiving, as it happened, and we’re not ashamed).
Here’s a sweet pheasant perched near the top, purchased at Target (along with the twig-and-berry star topper) Oh, and you can see one of the bronze ornaments–they came in light, dark, glitter, and “disco” as pictured below:
So much for tree number one! On to number two:
Above is my work tree. When I opened up the box that was brought down from the storage room, I was met with a gazillion gold bows and some broken gold and white ornaments. Since the lights are colored (what a new concept for me!) I went with simply tying bows onto the branches, fairly far apart from each other and calling it a day. I actually really love it this way! It’s so simple, short and sweet.
So there are my trees! I want to see yours! Link to it in the comments!!
To-Do List Revisited
With only 8 days until my parents’ arrival, and this weekend approaching, it’s time to re-visit that ole to do list. Picking out the most important items and conquering this weekend will make me a happy little clam. Wait, I don’t think they have clams in Kansas….
Well, I crossed off the “done” and made the 5 most important items bold, for some self-guidance.
Put up the Christmas tree(did it this weekend!)- Do “something else” with the fireplace (paint or replace items inside)
Purchase a rug pad for diamond jute rug in living roomPurchase a rug pad for zebra rug in guest room- Clean off the guest bed so it’s sleep-able
- Generally make guest room ready for guests
- Do a little more festive Christmas decorating
Decide yes or no on outdoor Christmas lights (we have no outdoor plug so improvisation will be necessary)- Get a shower curtain (right now we just have a liner)
Curtain clips for the dining room (so the curtains won’t look so much like high-waters)- Hang higher curtain rod in guest room
- Do a little kitchen re-organizing
- Buy groceries (so they don’t starve while they’re here! Our fridge is usually a big cold empty box…)
- Liven up the white wasteland that is the hallway (halfway there!)
- Hang pictures in guest room and master bedroom
- Frost window on kitchen door and in bathroom (I want to try this)
- Paint front-door dresser and move cold-weather accessories into its drawers
It looks like I’m about one-third one. Breaking the list into thirds is not a bad strategy, I guess. Some of these will probably not happen, but the guest room MUST be prepared. I’m trying to avoid the cop-out solution of “stick everything in a box and move it to the basement,” which is an option but I’d rather go through, organize, and put stuff away in appropriate places instead of hiding it downstairs where it won’t be seen for the next 5 years.
What I wish I could do is get a proper curtain bar for the guest room. Proper fixtures really can transform a room! Currently the curtain rod is a flimsy light metal that sags in the middle and does not cooperate with the fabric of the curtains. I don’t think they’ve been opened since I put them up. It’s a shame because I love the way the guest room’s color pallet is coming along–much more than the master bedroom! I may have to move down the hall!
My Friend Staci 
