Time to decorate the tree . . . at last!
The annual dressing of the tree is taking place in the Cooke household. There is a tradition in place, which we never wish to repeat, but somehow always do. Every year, without fail, there is a small drama around the Christmas tree lights. Each Twelfth Night, when I strip the tree, I carefully wrap the lights round tubes so that they won’t tangle when I get them out. Then I put them ‘somewhere safe,’ along with the tree and the decorations.
There is quite a lot of toing and froing in our house, with people coming and going, and ‘things’ are moved around. So, this year, we cannot find them. We know they’re somewhere in the house . . . or possibly the garage, which is another disaster area, with absolutely no room for a car.
Rather than tear our hair out in a probably fruitless search, we have decided to buy another set. Again, this is quite a familiar task, for if we do ever manage to track down the missing illuminations, we often discover that they don’t work/bulbs are missing/wires are frayed. I am full of puzzled admiration for those families who manage to keep their lights for years and never have a problem with locating them and/or getting them to work. That is never going to be our fortune.
Meanwhile, until the new lights arrive, our tree sits in quiet understated splendour.
🎶 O Christmas Tree, O Christmas tree,
ReplyDeleteOf all the trees most lovely.
Each year you bring to us delight
With brightly shining Christmas light! 🎶
... or perhaps not!
It sometimes has to compete with blue air!
DeleteLights! I remember the ones that if one burnt out, nothing lit. What a chore let alone the tangled wires. LED sure has saved me a bit. And this year I am using the new artificial pre-wired tree. Colored lights, which I am loving. Your multi-color glass one looks fun and cheerful.
ReplyDeleteWe had a real tree one year and planted it in the garden, intending to use it the next year. Of course, it grew crookedly and was no use. 🎄
DeletePerhaps someone will someday unearth countless strands of forlorn lights. We have had the same tiny prelit tree for almost nineteen years. It looks nice and flashes in its little space in our little place.
ReplyDeleteIs there a place where old lights go to die . . . or just retire?
DeleteI try not to buy battery run things for that very reason. my lights are usb rechargeable now. the tree is lovely just like it is, hope the lights get there soon.
ReplyDeleteWe have battery candles and it's a constant task to keep the batteries charged. They do look nice, but I don't know where I'm going to put them this year.
DeleteI've misplaced all my ornaments one year and figured I must have somehow thrown out the box the year before. I had to get all new ornaments.
ReplyDeleteWe've done that, too. It was fun buying new ones.
DeleteI have one of those tiny trees that change colour & I love mine. You realise that once the new lights arrive ... your misplaced ones will suddenly re-appear!? Your tree is just lovely even in its naked glory. xx
ReplyDeleteIt's a given that the lost lights will suddenly be found . . .
DeleteYour tree looks lovely even in its naked glory, and I like the coloured lights one, very cheerful :)
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
It's quite a respectable artificial tree and at least we're not picking up needles for months.
DeleteYour house, with its constant toing and froing, adds to the mystery of the missing lights. The garage, being a disaster area with no room for a car, is a prime suspect for hiding the decorations. Rather than succumbing to the frustration of a fruitless search, buying a new set of lights is a practical solution. It’s a familiar task for many, and even when the lights are found, they often come with their own set of problems like missing bulbs or frayed wires.
ReplyDeleteEverybody else's lives seem so well-organised. I can't think where we went wrong!
DeleteChristmas traditions are so much fun 😺
ReplyDeleteAren't they just?
DeleteMaybe this year the tree needs ornaments and no lights?
ReplyDeleteWe considered that, but I do like lights at Christmas.
DeleteSounds like a tradition in itself! We did the live tree for a while and the big thing was working out when and where to plant the thing. We finally ran out of space so went to the artificial one. We had one of those older ones that you had to put the bits in the corresponding slot. What a mess that used to be! We just used to 'let' husband put it up lol and we'd decorate it.
ReplyDeleteWe had one of those 'build it yourself' trees, too. What a faff! At least this one is ready-made and quite respectable.
DeleteAlways start looking for replacement bulbs as soon as you buy something like your little tree. And keep the packaging which has the type and size of bulb printed on it. I don't do lights, just ornaments, but haven't decorated a tree for many years until the tiny wooden one I showed last week.
ReplyDeleteA tiny wooden tree this year, a bigger one next year?? 🎄
DeleteWe've decorated ours last Sunday and managed to find and untangle the lights :-) We did have to fork out for a new, slimmer tree though as with Jos's hospital bed in the dining room we've got no space for our usual one. Nevertheless, Bess has already tried to climb it! xxx
ReplyDeleteI don't think any of our cats have climbed the Christmas trees. They do like playing with the ornaments, though.
DeleteIt's a pity about the lights going missing after you so carefully rolled them up. Some people here are professional Christmas light untanglers. It can be very time consuming for non professionals like myself. I know from years past.
ReplyDeleteHow long is the apprenticeship?
DeleteYou never have the right size battery! Yes, go buy new ones. Saves a lot of stress.
ReplyDeleteJust make sure you buy the right size!
Delete