Edgy Mama

Our Christmas tree is up and decorated. Yes, I realize that it is still November. But I LOVE having a live, spicy-smelling, bedecked tree in my home. LOVE IT! The tree sits next to my desk in the front window of my living room, and gives me, for over a month, a special nooky hiding spot. It’s not much, but my 18 inches wide desk is really the only spot in the house that is ALL mine (now that my kids want to use my puter, it’s not even that). I adore sitting here, writing and working, while feeling all festive and holidayish and smelling like I’m in the forest.

I’m proud of this particular tree, because I worked hard on this one. I drove back from Atlanta on Sunday with the kids (E stayed there to work). Stopped in Franklin at a backwoods Xmas tree farm. Let the kids (with help) choose a tree. Drove it home in horrible traffic on I-40.

Got Paul (neighbor) to help me roll it off the van and onto the front lawn. Then realized the base was huge. Too huge to fit into my tree stand. Sawed three inches off the bottom of the tree. Clipped off several lower branches. Admired resultant blisters on my sap-heavy palms. Got tree upright in stand. Got Paul to help me carry it inside. Spent about an hour getting it straight and screwed into tree stand. Admired new prickly fir hair-do.

Next day, spent 500 hours untangling Xmas lights and wrapping tree in color. Ran out of lights. Had to visit the drug store for more. Forgot to plug lights at top of tree in. Found amazing cord that has multiple plugs and can run up the back of the tree. Had tear-jerking moment when all lights came on at once. Put on some Xmas music. Sang Feliz Navidad off-pitch with the kids. Sat on the sofa exhausted while the kids placed all the ornaments on a two-foot wide area of tree. Had friends over to help decorate who sat in the kitchen drinking beer instead.

Now admiring gorgeous addition to my office space and rearranging ornaments so my favorites are on my side of the tree. Photos to follow. Whenever I can get up the energy to move.