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Christmas Tree Traditions (please add your link if you participate)

Posted on Thursday, November 6, 2008 at 03:46 in Holidays

I wanted to post a reminder for the Christmas Tree Traditions post.  You can find it here:

http://www.homesteadblogger.com/OklahomaJamie/116492/

I added a Mr. Linky for those who have posted about your Christmas Tree Traditions.  I hope you'll all go add your link!!

Country Blessings,
Jamie

Christmas Tree Traditions

Posted on Thursday, November 6, 2008 at 09:53 in Holidays

I hope to read about your trees too - see THIS POST for more information.

What kind of tree does your family use?
We started out using a cedar tree that we would chop down from the fields, but soon discovered that we were allergic to cedar, so we started using fake trees.  This year, we are going to the Christmas tree farm to choose a real pine tree.

When do you put your Christmas tree up each year?
It varys some years, but we really like to put it up shortly after Thanksgiving.  My son's birthday is always right around Thanksgiving, so we want him to be the focus.

What kind of traditions do you have when putting up the tree (if any)?
My Grandma knew how I loved decorating her Christmas tree, so every year she would let me decorate it.  I got to be quite good at it.  My husband doesn't seem interested, and my daughter is now a wife and mother, so she does her own tree.  So that leaves the decorating to my 8 year old son and me.  If the weather is the least bit chilly, we like to have some hot cocoa or warm apple cider to drink.  We play either a Christmas CD or turn the satellite TV Christmas music station on.  I put the lights on, then my son and I both put the decorations on.  Last, the tree is scooted into place, and the tree skirt is placed beneath.  Then, we turn out the lights and sit and admire it.

How do you like to decorate your tree?
I've had so many themed trees.  For several years, quite a few years back, I had all mauve, sage, maroon and cream decorations.  I think that was my most gorgeous decorated tree.  The year my son was born, I used only our tree top (fake tree) and put cinnamon applesauce ornaments on it with pieces of gingham fabric strips and raffia tied to the branches.  It was really quite cute.  I love to snow ski, so I have been collecting snow skiing type ornaments for years and I have quite a few of those that I put on our tree, along with lots of homemade ornaments made by the kiddos.  Last year, in an attempt to make our fake tree look more Christmas-y, I purchased all new red, green, silver and gold ornaments.  They're really pretty, but the fake tree didn't do them justice.  I think they will look alot better this year on our real tree. 

Do you have any other interesting things that you would like to share about your Christmas tree?
hmmm, I think I got it pretty much covered in the last question.  I love homemade ornaments and think it would be nice to have a tree full of them.  I would also like to have some themed trees, like one specifically for my snow skiing ornaments, one for John Deere ornaments, etc.  But that's just too much work, so I'll stick to putting them all on one tree.

I hope to read about your trees too - see THIS POST for more information.

Christmas Tree Traditions (invitation to participate)

Posted on Thursday, November 6, 2008 at 09:37 in Holidays

When I got married, some 23 years ago, my husband and I would go cut down a cedar tree somewhere in the field for our Christmas tree.  I'd decorate it so pretty, then shortly after, my arms would break out in red welps all over.  I was allergic, and so is my husband.  So we started using a fake tree.  We've had some beautiful fake trees over the years, but they never seem to be as pretty as real trees.  They sure don't smell as good.  We got a wood burning stove this year and I'm anxious for the smell of it this winter.  I have also decided that we are going to the local Christmas tree farm to choose a real tree this year.  It will be pine though, no more cedar for us.

If you'd like to, use my post title: Christmas Tree Traditions, then copy and paste the questions below into your own blog post, then add your name and the link to your post below.

********************************************

What kind of tree does your family use?

When do you put your Christmas tree up each year?

What kind of traditions do you have when putting up the tree (if any)?

How do you like to decorate your tree?

Do you have any other interesting things that you would like to share about your Christmas tree?

********************************************

We want to read about your traditions too!
If you posted your Christmas Tree Traditions, please put the link to your post here:

Trimming Your Holiday Tree

Posted on Monday, March 10, 2008 at 02:10 in Holidays

HOW MANY LIGHTS?

Tree Height                 Light Count Needed
3 feet                                      100
4 feet                                      200
5 feet                                      300
6 feet                                      500
7 feet                                      700
9 feet                                    1,000
10 feet                                  1,200
12 feet                                  1,400
15 feet                                  1,800


GARLAND: Plan on 9 feet of gardland per foot of tree height
ORNAMENTS: Use 20 solid colored bulbs for every two feet of tree height.  (Collectibles: Ten for every 2 feet of tree)

(I realize I'm posting this in March, but I wanted to have it here for my own reference come next Christmas)



Jamie's Country Soaps Blog

2008 Homestead Goals

- Finish Husband's Barn
- Build Goat Shed & Pen
- Build Bigger Chicken Coop
-
Level/Landscape Front Yard

From the Farm
 

Potatoes

Veggies Planted in 2008
Zuchinni Squash: 2
Yellow Squash: 2
Tomatoes: 2
Bell Peppers: 3
Fooled Ya Jalapenos: 3


Veggies Picked in 2008
Zuchinni: 39
Yellow Squash: 20
Fooled Ya Jalapenos: 35
Bell Peppers: 10
Tomatoes: 10


Preserved During 2008
Canned:
8 pints Sand Plum Jelly
5 pints Peach Jelly
7 pints Zuchinni Relish
10 pints Cinnamon Pickles

Frozen:
2 jars Freezer Pickles
 

Eggs

From the Chickens
Eggs: 4

Links

- OnePlace.com (free MP3's for Ipod)
- BroomHuggers.com (Healthy Homekeepers)

Coupon Savings

- so far this year : $182.06

Last updated 12/02/08