This Sunday Was All About The Christmas Tree ..
We made the plan the day before to go on Sunday for our Christmas tree. Saturday was a wash with all of the rain, so we decided to set aside time on Sunday. I guess everyone else had the same idea, because the tree farm was packed. We arrived at the farm shortly after stopping for breakfast. The farm where we found this years tree was roughly a 15 minute drive from home.
We walked throughout the fields.. in search of the perfect tree. Not so much perfect, but more or less perfect for us. We like the soft needled trees that are not too fat, not too skinny, not too short and not too tall. It really doesn't matter it its a little thin in the back, because it's going in the corner anyhow. After about 20 to 30 minutes of looking, we found the tree for us!
MUD!!.. Because of all the rain on Saturday, the larger than normal crowds, and the unpaved parking in a field, there was MUD! Lot's of mud. Some people were getting stuck in their cars, while other like ourselves with the four wheel drive, made out just fine. I don't take my Jeep off road or into the mud, so this was nerve racking for me to say the least. We made it out alive with minimal mud caked to the underside of the Jeep. I took it slow for the first mile or so and we made it home as clean as possible.
I unloaded the tree.. Shook off the mud, dead twigs, dead needles, leaves, insects, and whatever else may be hanging out within the branches, that I didn't want taking a ride inside our home. I set it up in the tree stand, straightened it up, and set it aside. For the next 40 minutes I painstakingly removed and washed off all of the mud from on and under the Jeep. At the end of that task my hands were a bit frozen, but the mud was pretty much gone except from the driveway.
I was able to then get the tree inside the house and set up in the family room where we will be able to enjoy it the most. Molly was not liking all of the hustle and bustle associated with moving furniture, getting it through the door, and running the vacuum, but she lives to bark another day.
Now I need two things.. The star that goes on top of the tree and a stiff drink. I start with the drink so that my nerves are settled in order to put the 1200+/- lights onto the tree.
I start with placing the star on top (it has a light strand attached to it) and work the remaining lights on that strand, down the center of the tree. In our opinion, this is what makes our tree sparkle in the end.
Here I am very serious and concentrating at working all of those lights, carefully into and within the branches of the tree. I would of looked less serious, except I didn't know I was having my picture taken.. it may not appear like it, but I was actually enjoying the process. Obviously the drink helps with that.
Below is a progression picture of the lights..
The Ribbon.. And now it's time for the ribbon. One of my least favorite parts of this process. I have to admit that I DO LIKE the tree better with the ribbons, but putting them on the tree is a pain in the rump. I have devised a system over the past few years that cuts some of the pain out of the process, so I continue to use it. In the end, our tree looks happy with the ribbons. The intertwined, glittery, red and gold fabrics add a little extra interest and sparkle.
It's Time For The Ornaments!!.. I have to give FULL credit to my wife for this part. We were in dire need of groceries for the week and it was nearing 7PM, so I split with here blessing, and off to the grocery store I went. And before you ask, NO I didn't brink home any Orchids. I did look though.. haha. She did a fantastic job. By the time I got home, roughly an hour or so later, she was finished and relaxing with Molly.
Here is a snapshot of the variety we put onto the tree. We have others, but depending on our mood, the size of the tree and what not, they may all not make it onto the tree. Most of the ornaments are red, gold, or clear glass.
The Miller 2020 Christmas Tree has really come together nicely..
Only one thing left to do besides topping off the water inside the tree stand, and that is placing the tree skirt around the base; The small final touch that finishes this years tree decorating.
May I Present To You, Our Christmas Tree ..
The Meaning Of Christmas ..
No Christmas Tree is complete without a nativity. We like to keep the true meaning of Christmas, the birth of Jesus, close to our tree. We purchased this hand made, pottery, nativity from our friends shop (Eldreth Pottery) some time ago. It is one of our favorite nativities, so we really enjoy getting it out and setting it up every year.
That wraps up this years Christmas Tree post.. Our family room now looks and feels so much warmer. It's terrible of me to be thinking this already, but it will look so stark when the time comes to take it all down. We are glad that we have some time to enjoy our hard work before that time comes.
Thank you for swinging by my blog and checking out the post. Have a great day!
“I never knew that missin somebody could hurt, I says. But it does. Deep inside. Like it's in my bones. We ain't never bin apart till now. Never. I dunno how to be without him. It's like... I ain't nuthin.”
― Moira Young, Blood Red Road
I think this quote does a fine job of summing up how I am still feeling most days. Last Christmas, Pepper was just as curious as ever to know what Daddy and Mommy were doing with all those neat sparkly ornaments. He was always our curious one. I missed having him around today. I missed tripping over him and telling him to move. I missed taking his picture by the tree, and his puppy dog eyes asking me if he could move. I am missing him deeply this Christmas. I am really really missing my boy.
All words, pictures and art pieces are the sole property of B D Miller Gallery, unless otherwise noted and credited, and are not to be reproduced or copied without the prior written consent of B D Miller Gallery.
About Me ~ The Artist
My art work incorporates a wide variety of subject matter, including landscape, seascape, cityscape, and still life images. My works are the product of a continuing process of exploration through which I seek to portray personal and visionary interpretations of my surroundings. My paintings are impressions of places and events from everyday life, an interpretation of my imagination, and personal responses to what I see and feel on a daily basis. More recently I have invested generous amounts of time into my landscape painting. I am surrounded by natural and man made beauty, which inherently presents itself in the tri-state area, and almost demands that I paint it.
Not everything is art. Art is not everything, but it comes close. Art is everywhere and all the time. Art makes you experience the beauty of the world, the people in it, and the places we call home. Art itself is so influential that it can tell stories, show feelings, and express passion or fury. Art exists in addition to language; expression of sensations and thoughts, revealing a way of thinking too subtle and delicate for words.
For me art requires love, honesty and perseverance. In return, it reveals some personal, non-analyzable, and creative untamed passion. For the public, art with its magnificent beauty, improves mood and health and builds better human beings and communities. It engages the intellect, softens the heart, strengthens the soul and frees the spirit.
If Your Interested In Purchasing Any Of My Work:
They can be found for sale on
Saatchi Art
Or
Etsy
If you don't see the piece in either shop, It may still be drying. Let me know and I can upload it as soon as possible to be available. Or you can always make me an offer (in HBD, Hive or any other crypto) in the comments section of this post. If we agree on a price, I will then ship the painting to you. (shipping costs will be determined by your location).
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