Christmas tree | River's world…..

I have absolutely no idea what this is.

Nope. That’s a 10 on my creepy doll scale.

A pink flamingo Christmas tree for Mark. The ultimate in flocking.

This sounds entirely too easy. Has anyone ever tried it?

Another Spam abomination for my taste bud addled blog friend.

Porktastic? I beg to differ.

Meanwhile back at the ranch..

The good news? Lord Dudley Mountcatten has not knocked down the tree.

The bad news? My husband broke the we don’t need any more stuff so let’s not exchange gifts paradigm we’ve been clinging to for the past 6 years and put something big under the tree. Since my beloved has two gift giving modes… expensive jewelry I rarely like and wish he wouldn’t buy or appliances I neither want nor need… I’m going to guess the latter.

I’ve been married 38 years and no matter how many times I tell my husband appliances are not a welcome Christmas gift, to date I’ve received an upright freezer, a toaster, a washer and dryer, a blender, a convection oven and oh yes, let’s not forget that ever so thoughtful dehumidifier.

I have yet to receive a vacuum, but there’s always next year.

Since 2014, I haven’t done much holiday decorating. My mother adored our house when it was decked out in red, green and gold, but the year she died my heart just wasn’t in it. The following year we started traveling for Christmas… a different destination each time… and there didn’t seem to be any reason to decorate an empty house.

It doesn’t look like we’ll be hitting the road in 2022 and after hearing how much the neighbors missed our displays, I caved and decided to put out a few things to get into the spirit. Wreaths on the windows and doors, white candles and snowflake lights, a lighted deer and tree on the front lawn.

Outdoor finished, I only planned on dressing up the tables. Dining room with Charlie Brown Christmas tree….

And kitchen with mini tree and snowmen salt and pepper shakers.

I thought I was done, but I bought a poinsettia.

And then I thought why not put that garland with the pinecone lights on the kitchen shelf? And while you’re at it add a few reindeer.

And if I dragged that garland out, I might as well decorate the mantle too.

And if I did the mantle, I should probably do the hearth.

So much for just a little decorating.

A snowman Christmas card box, a few randomly scattered reindeer, tea towels in the guest bathroom, a red jingle bell heart wreath on the kitchen door and I was finished. Yes. Definitely.

Well, except for my line of rampaging, pitchfork wielding snowmen.

But that was it, really… I was done. Until the husband walked in, looked around and said now we need a tree.

Lord Dudley Mountcatten was ready.

But once the tree was in the house … I began to worry.

Please note the little devil is literally licking his lips. That can’t be good.

Shiny colored balls? Please mom, hang them now!

Alternating white, red and green lights. Alternating garlands of gold leaves and weeds. Red, green and gold ornaments, a star on the top and it was done.