A Haven for Vee

Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Outdoor Decor and a Ten-Year Review of Christmas Trees

Please forgive me for showing Christmas decor all the time; I really do know that Christmas is about more than this, much more.

 
What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal...
~ Agnes M. Pahro


Saturday, I decided that time was running out for doing outdoor decor. Besides that, my wreath man had arrived and so I purchased a simple wreath for the door. That wreath is so fresh and aromatic. Hmmmmm...  My hometown niece and her friend went out tipping for me and gave me a huge bag of tips and berries for decorating. I went out a little after 9 a.m. and didn't get back inside until after 1 p.m. I really enjoyed being out in the fresh air puttering at arrangements for my deck, fence, and even my mother's grave.




First, I had to make room by moving the still happily blooming mums out back.













This next bit is for me. I thought it would prove helpful for future reference.  I see at a glance that I have three spots for a tree: in the corner, before the built-in bookcase, as a table-top, and only once in front of the patio door (2012). Wonder what I might do next year. I have had the tree as a table-top twice...my grands hate it that way, but I really like it. I have had it on Nan's trunk several times and even in it once. 


Once I used my grandfather's tool box to lift the tree (2008). And, of course, this year, it is in an old barrel. I especially love 2009 and 2011 because, as my friend Becky at Hospitality Lane says, "It is more interesting to have people in your photos." She says something like that anyway or maybe it was her husband Warren who said that. I'd link specifically, but it was awhile ago and I've forgotten exactly which post.

What a difference a day or two makes...


Merry on!


36 comments:

  1. We are suppose to get slammed with another storm as well, sometime later in the week. There was 3-4 inches on the ground yesterday morning--and the weatherman is calling for 3-4 inches today. Hey--its Dec!!! smiles

    I always enjoy your posts and your past posts as well...Merry On sweet friend...btw, I think I will borrow that...lol

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  2. Your tipping looks great (I've never heard the term "tipping" before but I like it). I might have to borrow your burlap idea for one of my outside containers that could use some filling. Seems the last 10 years our tree has been the same old same old - sigh! I LOVE the quote you shared - thanks!

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    1. Burlap works well for any open weave container. It works very well for my mother's old bicycle basket. Never heard of tipping? I learned that from my New Brunswick cousins who own a Christmas tree farm. They spend a lot of time "tipping" as it promotes growth and doesn't take an entire bough.

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  3. I so enjoyed your snowfall this morning. Here we are on our second day of gloomy rain. After our long dry spell, I shall not complain.
    Your wreath is a beauty and I can imagine it provides a lovely Christmasy scent for all who enter your home.
    Great idea for keeping track of your Christmas trees through the years. You are very creative. Mine don't change much from year to year.
    Your blog is looking so festive and the header photo is so sweet.

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  4. How nice to have a wreath man deliver a fresh smelling wreat for your door, and then tippings from your niece! Your home looks so festive for the Advent season, Vee. All the pics of your trees look beautiful to me, and I happen to love the tabletop ones! xo

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  5. Love the snowfall video! Yes, it did that here yesterday too.

    The quote you shared about Christmas is absolutely wonderful. Is it from a book, an essay, a Christmas card? I would be interested in reading more.

    Your outdoor decor is lovely and wasn't your niece thoughtful to share all that greenery and berries? Wonderful! I can almost smell that wreath from here. Need to get one.

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  6. I never tire seeing beautiful Christmas arrangements, Vee. I've not heard of tipping, but I like the sound--kinda tickles. I do love the fresh wreath on your front door. So welcoming. Christmas trees through the years at your Haven are lovely. Enjoy your preparations as snow gently falls. ♥

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  7. What a lovely full wreath! Your outdoor fluffing looks great Vee.

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  8. Love the 10 years of trees collage. My mother did not like to see travel photos without people in them. Good thing you went out and did some decorating before the snow came down. WE have some icy decks today and it's all the news here. Regional perspective is fun to hear. I'm beginning to sound like a broken weather but I got to get to decorating...oye.

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  9. Oh Vee,
    Look at that snow! I am a little jealous since we never get any here.. I love your collage of Christmas trees through the years. I just might have to use your idea if I get the notion .. boy, that is a true southern saying and I haven't used it in years. sounding like my grandmother this morning. LOL
    Love, Mona

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  10. Beautiful Christmas decorations, Vee. And I loved seeing your Christmas tree decorations over the years.

    We are supposed to get snow for the next week or so....we'll see if it comes :) Hugs!

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  11. Oh my goodness Vee, snow. It is a little dismal here foggy and damp but no snow. I loved your collage of trees over the past 10 years such a lovely idea, always nice to look back and see the differences.

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  12. I never grow weary of your photos and copy all your decorating ideas. I'm going to put lights in my cherry tree outside the back door because you put lights out in your yard. I've never heard of that kind of 'tipping' and I absolutely love red berries! In Texas some people practiced 'tipping' on cows which I heartily disapprove of. They don't do well in arrangements either! Yes...Merry On!!!

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  13. PS Remember the year we took pics of our decor through sifters?

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  14. Lovely to see your trees through the years. And to see the glimpses of Christmas going on in the various corners of your home. It's cozy and inviting. Thank you, Vee!

    Brenda xox

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  15. PS. I forgot to mention I love the poignant and precious photo in your header. xox

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  16. You sure got your money's worth out of those mums! I would love to smell all the fresh greenery you have! I love seeing your trees through the years. The snow is pretty falling. We have had rain for a few days and our fires along the Appalachian Trail are mostly contained now.

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    1. Didn't I?! Gotta say, it makes me grin to get my $ worth.

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  17. Everything looks so lovely... I just love this time of year! Love to decorate and love seeing how others decorate too! Have a wonderful evening!

    Blessings,
    Jill

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  18. Your front door looks lovely and I like all your outdoor decorations.
    Nice to see the years of Christmas trees. All of them are beautiful.
    Wish we were getting snow, better than the rain turning to ice we are getting.

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  19. Hi Vee!

    I love your outdoor decorations - tipping...who knew! My yard is full of pine trees, I should go tipping! What a fun look back on all of your Christmas trees. I really love 2010 and 2013...so pretty!! But, I love the idea of a barrel! How rustic and fun!!

    Fresh snow on Flowers...very lovely!

    Hugs,
    Barb

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  20. Vee, It is looking pretty at your house. I loved the collage of photos. It will feel nice for you when you look out the windows and see your wonderful decorating. Blessings, xoxo, Susie

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  21. One of the perks of blogging is being able to look back at how we decorated over a number of years. I would never document it the way I have if I weren't blogging! It looks like no matter where you put your tree, it is beautiful :) I'm amazed your mums are still going!

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  22. I love seeing the photos of your decor, and I do realize that Christmas is about more. But, somehow seeing how others decorate is so personal. Each person's taste and traditions are so different. But, I love getting to see visual examples of that. The 10 years of trees compilation is just wonderful. Wish I had thought to do that, but mine would all look so similar through the years. As always, love your posts.

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  23. What a nice idea to line up all your trees over the years. Seems you have several ways to fit it into your house. I tried a totally new place this year but it took rearranging the whole little living room. I enjoyed the snow!

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  24. I love all the trees but am partial to tabletops...I just love them...
    tipping...? never heard trimming off the tops of trees tipping...but I like it.
    I wish I had a man deliver a fresh wreath to my door...how nice.
    xoxo

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    1. Oh no! Trimming off the tops of trees is not tipping. Perhaps seeing the wee tree in the crock was confusing. That was just a little brush that was lopped off at ground level. Tips are actually the very tips (6–8 inches) of each frond of an evergreen tree. It promotes growth and does not harm the tree nor take too much.

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  25. How fun to have a Christmas tree pictorial diary! Nothing changes over here...so all the trees would look the same over the past ten years. :) Your home looks cozy and inviting every which way. And your yard is looking lovely...all decked out!

    A few days have made a big difference here as well! We went from quite warm and drizzly...to snow and a deep freeze. The wind is howling as I type.

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  26. Love that wreath and I think it's so cool that you can do 'tipping'. Never heard that term before. I used to pick up the evergreen scraps on the paths in the nursery where we bought our tree each year. Now we can buy bundles. Some places are very reasonable but I still feel it's a bit Grinchy...

    I never tire of seeing Christmas decor. I rely on my blog to see the decorations from year to year.

    20's here. Wrapped in a huge throw!

    Jane

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  27. Our house is just beginning to look like Christmas--we bought our tree today and put the lights on it. It is almost 8 feet tall but not too wide. This year we changed to LED lights--they are bigger and brighter. The old little twinkler lights might go outside if the snow that is falling tonight does not get too deep Tomorrow I decorate the tree (after my mammography and blood work--lousy timing to do doctor visits take place in December). Cut back those mums and plant them in your garden is spring and by the end of summer they will look beautiful again!

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  28. Isn't it great to have a photographic record so easy to access? I couldn't remember what I did with the mantel last year, but it didn't take long to find out. And I liked it so much that I replicated it, mostly, this year. Your wreath and greenery outside look so great.

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  29. So...did the mums survive the snowfall? I can't believe you still had a couple of them that were so fresh looking! I love the tips and berries. I used to go out and gather these myself when we had them. My holly bush has tons of berries this years and have decided to write a post after I get some good photos this weekend. I love the natural evergreen wreaths and garlands and your trees throughout the years are all so very lovely! :)

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  30. Wonderful photography! How clever to share ten year's worth of your Christmas trees with us!

    And I really like your green front door with the lush wreath and the planter box on the porch rail. I like your decorating style!

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  31. Well Vee, I learned something new today. I have never heard "tipping" before! Now I have heard of "Tipsy". LOL! Love the pictures and how neat that you have 10 years of Christmas tree pictures! I almost bought an evergreen wreath yesterday and didn't. Hugs and blessings, Cindy

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  32. I love your greenery outside Vee. It looks really pretty. I think its nice that you change up your Christmas tree every year and place it in different spots and in or on different things. Very creative of you!

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