November 28, 2010

The Great Tree Fiasco . . .

Bright and early Friday morning I decided to tackle the Christmas tree part of my Holiday decor.

For years I've used a fake tree, loving the convenience and cost effectiveness.  Sadly, two years ago our poor plastic tree stand broke and I haven't used the tree since.  A few weeks back and I was happy to discover a replacement tree stand at Walmart.  Yipeeee!

Armed with my newly purchased tree stand, I searched high and low into all my homes nooks and crannies only to discover I was missing a tree!

What!

Where in the heck did I stash it!

Then it hit me . . .

Last spring during one of my crazed get-all-this-junk-out-of-my-house moments, I carried that poor tree to the curb for the nice dump truck to pick up!

Ummm, O.K, time for plan "B".

The girls and I jumped into the trusty mini-van and headed out to find a place to buy a real tree!

An hour later, we had one picked out and the nice Tree Farm Guys had it all ready to load up for me.

Problem was, they only took cash or check. 
I had neither with me! 

Back to the mini-van to search for an ATM.

Forty-five minutes later the girls and I arrive home with the tree. 

Suddenly,
 my 7 foot tree seems more like 25 feet as I try to wrestle it off the roof of the mini-van and up a flight of stairs into the living room.

I thought that would be the hard part - - but Oh No,  next came attaching the tree stand. 

Trying to balance a now seemingly 50 foot frozen tree in a stand with one hand, while desperately trying to screw the little things into the tree stump with the other hand is not a task for the faint hearted.

A good half hour later with frozen, sap covered hands the tree was up - -  slightly leaning but still standing.

LUNCH TIME!
Back to the mini-van.  This time in search of some food.  Along the way we took bets on whether the tree would still be standing when we arrived back home!

It was, I lost that bet but I did a little happy dance anyway.

Next up, ornaments and lights!  Yippee, the fun part.

After digging all the boxes out and sorting through everything I discovered I didn't have any working tree lights!

C O M E    O N!!!!!!!!

It's now 8:30 at night and were headed to the store for tree lights.

By 10:30 the tree decorated and I was exhausted!

What a Fiasco!

Can you see why I like fake trees!


Want to see my poor tree?  Here she is.


The girls have free reign on the tree decorating.  I let them go crazy.  Plus we have little ones at our house during the week who are fascinated with the ornaments.  That is why every things hanging way up high!

For tree lights I pick up some large scaled LED lights in cool white.  I have to say I'm not liking them AT ALL.  Maybe I would like them better if I had picked up the warm white color or if I had chosen the smaller size.

The bulbs themselves are very pretty, they look like cut crystal.

I was hoping I would like them.  Oh well, it was worth a shot.

Sorry this was such a long post.  I sure hope I didn't bore you to tears.  But I have to say I feel much better now that I've talked about that darn tree.  Hope you understand...

Robin

12 comments:

  1. i *completely* understand!! i am glad that it's up and decorated... for your sake! :) you definitely get an A for tenacity... way to go, robin!! :)

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  2. Oh man, what a story! Last year I remember having to make a very late run to Walmart to get lights that work. Very annoying! Well now after alot of work your tree is up and gorgeous and get to enjoy it! :)

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  3. The tree looks great and you did it with your girls, a story they will remember forever. I still remember the year my brother, sister and I went in search of a tree, we were teenagers and we were doing the task without mom and dad. We pulled into what we thought was the parking for the tree shop. OH NO, someone's yard and boy did we get yelled at. In our defense it was a really snowy day and it was right next to the shop parking. We had a big laugh and we will always remember that year. Isn't that the best part of Christmas, spending time with family and making memories.

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  4. So will you be out the day after buying yourself a new fake tree?! :)
    It looks lovely and the memory of the day is what matters. That will be a story you can retell every Christmas.
    Hope you are enjoying the season so far ~

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  5. That is quite a story! I am so sorry it was a hassle but if you look back at it now, you can laugh.....hopefully! :) The tree is really beautiful and it sounds like the girls had fun and what a great memory to have spending some time with them! I do feel your pain, last year my tree and I did not see eye to eye, that is why there is new one this year! :)

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  6. I get you...I really do that's why I LOVE my wonderful fake tree!!!...

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  7. You all had quite a day! I feel so badly about the first tree~ but let me assure you, that is totally something I would do...and have done! :) I think that your tree now looks amazing, by the way! You did a great job setting it up, and your girls decorated it so cute! :)

    I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! :)

    Blessings,
    Jenni
    {Beautiful Nest}

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  8. I do not like the light from LED lights. it's way too bright & cold. i just said to my husband yesterday "What if a day comes when that's all you can buy?" I know they are energy efficient but I prefer the warm ambient light from the old style.

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  9. Oh my gosh. What a bummer! I have totally thrown something away and then gone looking for it. It's so annoying.

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  10. Wow, what a day, sounds like our household! I think your tree looks great- perfectly shaped and everything! :)

    Thanks for your comment on my gumdrop wreath, it is fun to make and yes, I had to eat some too; the red ones. :)

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  11. Wow! What a tree fiasco! I know that it wasn't funny at the time, but your description is hysterical. However, in the end, you really do have a very pretty tree. I have to put my nicest ornaments at the top too...not for children but naughty dogs!

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  12. OH MY! That was a lot of work for a tree but I'm sure the girls are so glad you did it! It really does look like a nice tree! Now you are making me nervous about the lights, I bought the same ones for our tree and maybe should return them for the warm white. I thought the cool would look good with all our grey and blue but maybe not. I'll keep you posted! :)
    ~Michelle

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