Tuesday, January 5, 2010

The BIG Tree



The "Grands" and my handsome and handy Son In Law Andy..helped put up the big tree. The children were impressed with it's tallness and they all helped decorate it the evening before Christmas Eve. Andy is very TALL..he began by lifting the children in the air to hang ornaments..finally he just took the tree apart at the top and held onto it while the children decorated. Noah got to put the Angel on top, because he was the first one that asked me if he could do the honors. When I took out the ornaments I ran onto the Angel..I believe we purchased it in Florida in 1973 or Minnesota in 1974..whatever.. it has been around a long time. I thought the children did great..they kept me busy going through boxes and bags, attaching the little wire hangers until I ran out ..my entire collection never made it on the tree due to a hanger shortage..maybe next year! The antique bell ornaments seemed to be the children's favorites.. everyone wanted to hang a bell..luckily I had enough to go around. They held all the ornaments very gently and oohed and aahed the entire time. I believe that we made a memory.


It was interesting seeing these ornaments on the tree for the very first time. I have been collecting these ornaments since about 1987..one by one. Sometimes lucky enough to find an entire box! I need to purchase some ornament caps and wires..I will have to keep my eye out at garage sales.. I also discovered that I am heavy on the gold and silver, okay with red, purple, blue and pink. Very short of green and orange..I only have two each of those colors. I am particularly smitten with the orange for some reason... I don't quite know why, but I simply must find some more of those.

I did purchase one box of the new Radco Shiny Brites at Menards..I just got the small bulbs a set of twelve multicolor. They are interesting. I explained to the grands about them..they probably won't remember that they are reproductions..but someday they may be collectible in their own right.


What a great place to sort ornaments..on the bed upstairs. Chance came by once and rested his head on the edge of the bed.. but settled on the twin bed nearby for a nap whilst I sorted and thought..I need a Christmas Tree Skirt..and next year perhaps I should take off the huge tags that identify it as sections A, B, C and D. I should also buy more tissue paper to wrap my old shiny brites in..as I stuffed the last three boxes full of ornaments all touching each other..those boxes are an improvement from the old bread sacks that most of them were in previously.

When Far Guy had this huge tree in sections in his cart I should have had him go right over to the huge fifty gallon totes..instead I just walked right by them. When I went back to Menards in DL the other day they were all sold out. I purchased two smaller totes that will have to be returned..but that's okay..I can go by the antique shop! The Tall tree is down, one of it's sections measures 48 inches..so we will have to build a wooden box for it next summer.. I am thinking something out of pine..on casters..that might possibly go someplace upstairs....maybe it could be a coffee table..or a bench with a cushion on top.. shh..no one tell Far Guy that I have another vision:)

18 comments:

Sunny said...

Wow that is a tall tree! Very pretty. We de-Christmased over the weekend.
Sunny :)

Rae said...

It is a lot of work decorating and then un-decorating a large tree like that, but the sentimental journey that happens each time you unpack those ornaments makes the effort all worth it. I am sure your grands will remember with fondness this past tree decorating event for the rest of their lives.

L. D. said...

What a lot of fun!!! And to get the grands interested is great too. My two guys always want to see the tree be up in the alcove but they never really got into the putting on the ornaments. I guess we weren't large enough family. It is a beautiful tree and a great shiny brite collection. I ended up buying the Target set of 12 days of Christmas for five bucks. It was way marked down. I would love to go to Menards today after my wife's Dr. appointment.
Thanks for sharing about the tree and kids, I thought something would be coming from you about it.

Anonymous said...

I finally broke down and bought three stackable totes for my Christmas decorations.....sure made it easier this year that's for sure.

Golden To Silver Val said...

I loved this post....it brought back some fond memories. We had such a great assortment of Christmas ornaments....some of them from the 40's when my mom started her collection. It was always a trip down memory lane when we got them out to lovingly put them on the tree. I added my own ornaments to the collection and turned them over to my daughter a few years ago. I knew she would take good care of them and her children loved them. Unfortunately, she had a break-in and the thieves took pure delight in taking down the boxes that contained them and they smashed them all by stomping on them. Not a single one survived. Every Christmas I'm reminded of this cruel act even though it happened 10 years ago and I bet you can guess what kind of new year I wish for these people each year. (they were never caught).
Your tree is gorgeous, as is your home. (oh I am CRAZY about your dog!!) May this new year bring you everything that makes you and yours happy. I'm so thankful I found your blog....its a pure delight.

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

Ahhhh, I get the picture....a 'tree coffin.' Your new tree is beautifully massive. I'm lovin' your shinnies.

Have a super blessed day!!!

DayPhoto said...

WOW! Double WOW! What a neat tree and to have a room BIG enough to have it in!

Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com

Jenny said...

Wow, that is a huge and gorgeous tree. I forget how I got here but it's a neat blog!

RURAL said...

Such a tall tale, that tale of your tall tree.

Good thing that you have enough room to store it in. I love, LOVE limey green anything, any time of year, but at Christmas, all my limey green ornaments come out.

Jen

Gail said...

Not only did your decorate a tree together, you have made some wonderful memories.

lisa said...

Pretty awesome tree, wish I had the ceilings for one like that. I love the post one the weaving with a wheel. That was pretty awesome!

Cedar Hill Chronicles said...

Hi - been here before but not for quite sometime. Ahh..you must be from the northland of Minnesota. Being you mentioned Menard's in Duluth. We no longer live up that way but are from the Iron Range Towns (Eveleth for me) and we just spent 2 weeks in Duluth and the Range this past Fall. Still call Minnesota my native state and stomping grounds.
Thanks for sharing all about your lovely ornaments. Gorgeous tree and ?? Knotty Pine ?? walls. I spied your orange ornament in one of the pics. I can see why your smitten with it...it's beautiful.

Leah said...

Wow that is a big tree - beautiful! And the grandkids did make a memory -- they will remember grandma maybe not right now or next year but they will remember...

Joanna Jenkins said...

I'm stopping by from Nezzy to say hello!

Your tree is beautiful and so are your vintage ornaments. It sounds like you had a wonderful time decorating and enjoying your family.

Happy new year!

Emma Rose said...

Love the tree. We are so glad you finally got your tall tree. We are also looking forward to seeing your vision when Far Guy finishes it :)

Kisses,
Emma Rose

Far Side of Fifty said...

Thank you everyone for your comments!
Nezzy..a tree coffin..LOL..I love it! I never thought of it that way..but it is exactly what I need.
Pamela at Seeds of Nutrition, DL is short for Detroit Lakes..central Minnesota... half way between Duluth and Fargo, North Dakota. The entire house is knotty pine..we like wood! I am glad you stopped by..we like the Duluth area also! :)

Cedar Hill Chronicles said...

Ahh, I know where Detroit Lakes is. Been through there many times.

Pamela said...

tree coffin... ha ha. and a yearly resurrection