Just when you thought the holidays were over… check out my groovy Christmas tree

 

Y’know, it’s funny how the smallest things can inspire someone or motivate them.  Can I share a little secret here?  I’ve lived on my own since moving to Pittsburgh twenty plus years ago, and I’ve never hung a single holiday decoration, let alone put up a Christmas tree.  Oh, I’ve bought a few holiday odds & ends over the years—chili pepper lights, some ornaments, candles—but I just packed the stuff away or gave it to my mom.

And then a couple weeks ago, I saw something & decided that it was time for a change.  I know Christmas is over, but better late than never, right?

I had my reasons for not decorating; the first couple years I reasoned that I wasn’t going to be here anyway, I’d be spending the holidays back home.  And then for the last decade, it’s become my busiest time of year (work-wise).  I know what’s coming, so come December who has time for any holiday spirits when you’ve got 101 New Year deadlines?  I just told my sister Shawn a couple weeks ago that one of the first things I wanted to do when I retire was enjoy Christmas again.  (Gosh I know that sounds hammy but it’s the truth!)

Okay so a day or two after this past Christmas, my sister told me about her friend Randi & HER blog, and a recent one she’d written about her family’s ceramic Christmas tree.  Curious, I checked it out and enjoyed reading about this great green decoration from Christmas Past. 

(If you’re curious like I was, click HERE to read it.) 

Anyway, I don’t know what came over me but I couldn’t stop thinking about that ceramic tree.  My grandma owned one for many years, my mom did too & displayed it atop the tv.  I decided I had to have one!  

I inquired about them in a couple local stores that sold holiday decorations, but no luck.  The hardware store up the street from me becomes a Christmas Shop every year right after Halloween—but when I asked Joe (the owner) if he carried them, he said “Oh wow, I haven’t seen one of those in years.”  I began looking online (the ceramic shop Randi’s blog provided was too pricey for me).  Ebay was no better, I saw several listed—for several hundred dollars.  (I just wanted a ceramic tree, it didn’t have to be vintage!)

And then I found TeresasCeramics, who made them to order (and at a very reasonable price too).  I wrote her, told her about the ceramic trees I’d seen online & asked why hers were so much less in price.  She kindly responded that she couldn’t say, but assured me I wouldn’t be disappointed.  I said okay & ordered one.  She was right; I got mine a couple days ago & it looked so nice I couldn’t resist plugging it in.  (Well, just for one night!)

So Christmas may be over, and my new tree is going into storage, but I promise that it’s coming right back out next year; along with a jolly Santa cookie jar, some flickering window candles, a fresh pine wreath for my door and anything else I can get my hands on.  Thanks again everyone!