The tree is up!

This morning was the house cleaning day. I have no idea what possessed me to do it, but I did. Usually, it is set of rooms per week, such that once a month each of the rooms gets 'touched'. This morning, I was enthusiastic, (perhaps it was the large cup of java from starbucks!), so the garage got swept, the living, dining and kitchen got a thorough sprucing, and whoa! so did one of the bedrooms. I must be loony-bins, but the good kind, because the outcome was a clean spring fresh house. I think I know what prompted this cleaning spree, it was the tree lighting day at my house, and well, we cannot really decorate and light up the tree in a messy house.

It took a while to lug the 20+lb. fake Imperial conifer, unfurl it, clean it, spray it, and get it standing on the 35lb plaster cast stand. But once done, Duke and Amber could not make heads or tails of it and wandered around the base. The base is overly ornate and sets the tree about a foot and half above the ground level. The tree itself is not very tall (perhaps I should have got a taller one), it is four and half feet tall. So, all in all, the tree sits at six feet. This is the second year for a tree in the house, so, I have very few ornaments. I like the red-gold-green-white and small items theme (just in case you are thinking of getting me an ornament, wink! wink!). I have a festive gold and white garland that goes around the tree, a few red shinny glass balls that hang on the tree and plenty of the little clear glass lights (I think it is 4 strands of 100 each, Yah! it is bright!). Duke loves to stretch up and pull the red glass balls down and play with them. If I catch him, he has this look on his face; what-are-they-not-meant-for-me-to-play-with? look. Amber (currently) is the sweet one, is not as naughty. The kitties got their holiday present early with a new scratch post....now hopefully they will leave my couch alone!

A trip to Mahoney's added to my holiday decorating collection. I dreamed and always wanted a lovely mantle piece with white runner and beautiful green garland, decorated with candles, and ornaments. I picked up a nice garland and some ornaments and spent some time setting it all up. hmmm, I love the holidays! Something so romantic about it all, a fireplace with logs burning, lighted candles, warm light reflecting on ornaments, snowing outside, and wine (or hot toddy) in the hand...hmmm, yum! Perhaps, I may make some more trips for little ornaments and a wreath or a garland for the dinning room. But for now, we are set.