The Trees of Christmas

avatar
(Edited)


It is so easy to get swept up in the mystery of it all - the sights, the sounds, the smells, and that enchanting ambiance. Let me just stand here just a moment longer. Maybe a little bit longer than that. I could say this over and over and, still I never tire of hearing it. Early last week, I visited the garden store that also had Christmas trees. They gave me some pieces of evergreen that they had trimmed from the trees, sending me inside to pick the brain of one of their floral arrnagers. I have learned so much from them, from making my own wreaths to arranging a scene. Everytime I go in there, I learn something new!


living room.jpg


I have decided that I will take one more pass at the store that holds my heart at this time of year, my beautiful Christmas store. In a slightly less glorious state. Every tree, ornament and Christmas bauble has been handled over and over and then again. But, in the blink of an eye, they shall put it all away again. Time has passed so quickly, has it not? I am still wandering around the Christmas Market, I just cannot help myself! Christmas trees, and candy canes with that peppermint twist. Decorations are everywhere, lights are shining bright and people are largely nice, if not downright huggable. Hark!!!Yes... I hear voices of angels. Do you hear what I hear?


I give you the Trees of Christmas, dedicated to #TreeTuesday by @Old-Guy-Photos!


den.jpg


The day after Christmas has notoriously been popular for shopping, especially for all things holiday. However, in the last few years, shopkeepers have gotten smarter! They cut the prices weekes before Christmas, getting the edge on the after Christmas bargain hunters! If you are looking for ornaments, lights, outdoor displays -anything Christmas, now is the time to buy it at a very reduced price! It is usually 50% -75% off the regular price! Woo-hoo! What a deal, yes??!


christmas tree 7.jpg


I looked out the window this early morning and to my surprise, sparkle and glitter were not where they should have been. I was promised snow and it warmed up too much. I moved on to the he porch, standing expectant.The outside decorations are all lit up, waiting for the early school kids, making their way to the bus, taking in the beauty before them. The magic of Christmas has touched the neighborhood. I close my eyes and hear the voices of angels sing. Again.


tree christmas.jpg


It is merely 16 days, 22 hours,10 minutes and 27 seconds before Christmas and people are really starting to pick up the pace, unlike me as I am strolling through, keeping time with my steps, but, slowing down enough to enjoy the season and all of its meaning and beauty. Even from the back of the store, the softest of songs drifts through the air. Hallelujah!— Angels we have heard on high.


glitter.jpg


All I have are my words, armed in my mind, written in pen, stand by stand. Oh, yes. Still by hand. It has a different feel. Altered not by keys, backspace, and delete, I write, erase, tear it to pieces and start all over again. And again.

It’s my way. I walk out to the deep end of the page and dive right in.


IMG_5203.JPG


There are flowers, as always, to color your world. #alwaysaflower I am so amazed at the different poinsettias that are on display. Growing up, there was the basic red and white, now, if you can dream it, they can probably make your wish come true. I want to thank you for stopping by, especially if you left me some words and just like that, this post is over, come back tomorrow and we will do it again and again until we get it right or until the world is right, whichever comes first. Have a most fabulous night!

Love to all, Denise ❤️


It is such a wonderful time of year to celebrate, letting go of any ill feelings. I say this in particular for a family that is separated by words. Peace be with your heart.

26uUsAjKTsXCDw7zixZR182JbFKvgzJ9YwsFpTVcRaGCmsqhA1unTgpqWqBbFsdaqqwsC5kPFxt7AkgvQ3xancpi2Pi9H2FDsLjr1GH9W3d2q3ok2oTzBt3UodgNPt184R5wTXnSZ2DoQm7CPJdautz3BFMVgkGCLxEiPG.jpg



Facebook

Twitter

Instagram




Man at His Finest

A man is at his finest
towards the finish of the year;
He is almost what he should be
when the Christmas season is here;
Then he's thinking more of others
than he's thought the months before,
And the laughter of his children
is a joy worth toiling for.
He is less a selfish creature than
at any other time;
When the Christmas spirit rules him
he comes close to the sublime.

Edgar Albert Guest


#TeamUSA is a growing community of quality-content people from the United States or those living here. Check us out on Discord!

TEAMUSAhive_dswigle 1.jpg




0
0
0.000
67 comments
avatar

The Christmas trees look really awesome. Very nicely decorated. In fact, it is impossible to say when we learn from whom. However, you can learn something new from there. It's something really good.

0
0
0.000
avatar

Thank you. I love the decorated Christmas trees. There is something magical and special in their look.

Thank you.

0
0
0.000
avatar

I am always so jealous when I see how they arrange their scenes. Then again I think of the cost, well lets not think about it. Lets just think of how comfy I would be sitting in the midst of all that grandeur!

Oh remember Tree Tuesday loves you. Ok, I may have stole that part 😝

0
0
0.000
avatar

#TreeTuesday loves you! LOL You totally stole that, mister!

I do love the way scenes are set up, even you our own houses, the special care that is put into making it look like a fantasy.

Le sigh.

It's pure magic,

0
0
0.000
avatar

Yes it time for Christmas. It awesome seeing trees decorated with different color of light, without inform you'll know Christmas is at the corner.

0
0
0.000
avatar

It's great that shop is willing to teach you :) ... Do enjoy the season while it lasts - come New Year's, everyone will be back to their grumpy selves! Unless we can get this to sink in once and for all this year :) ???

0
0
0.000
avatar

I think we should go for the total immersion! Then we wouldn't have to drag out the niceness once a year. :)

0
0
0.000
avatar

The Christmas trees look so amazing...I love the spirit of Christmas..

0
0
0.000
avatar

Thank you. I love the spirit also. People are nicer, life is more pleasant. Cant we be like this all year long?

0
0
0.000
avatar

We can if we put our mind into it..

0
0
0.000
avatar

Congratulations @dswigle! You have completed the following achievement on the Hive blockchain and have been rewarded with new badge(s):

You received more than 180000 upvotes.
Your next target is to reach 190000 upvotes.

You can view your badges on your board and compare yourself to others in the Ranking
If you no longer want to receive notifications, reply to this comment with the word STOP

Check out the last post from @hivebuzz:

The Hive Gamification Proposal for 2022
Saint-Nicholas challenge for well-behaved girls and boys
Feedback from the December 1st Hive Power Up Day
0
0
0.000
avatar

Thanks for the notification @hivebuzz!

0
0
0.000
avatar

You're welcome @dswigle 🌹

BTW, your support for our proposal this year has been much appreciated but it will end in a few days!
Do you mind renewing your vote for 2022 on Peakd, ecency, Hive.blog or using HiveSigner so we can keep up the good work!
https://peakd.com/me/proposals/199
Thank you.

0
0
0.000
avatar

Words are great, pictures are heart touching and refreshing. Well done great women.

0
0
0.000
avatar

Haha! Thank you so much for your kind words. I am glad you like the pictures!

0
0
0.000
avatar
(Edited)

I walked through the market with you, enjoyed the whole tour, and even got to hear Hallelujah!

Beautiful thoughts and beautiful pictures!!!

0
0
0.000
avatar

Thank you for the beautiful music! I love it! I am glad you had a good time coming along!

Have a wonderful evening!

0
0
0.000
avatar

Countdown you do not wish to rush, finding yourself wrapped up in the warm glow of trees, children and possibly snow.

Oh the poinsettias do not like to live with me, every year given one over the last five years within a few months they decide to shrivel up, perhaps they prefer cooler climates.

Hugs and thanks for cheerful post spreading the joy Denise.

0
0
0.000
avatar

I also had this issue, the poinsettias not resisting after the holidays pass. I wonder what I might have done wrong, are they suppose to wilt ? I wonder if they could remain red throughout the year with proper care. It is one of the plants I did not manage to keep.

0
0
0.000
avatar

Oh my sister-in-law gets me one each year, hers survive and she still has the same one for about ten years. I suggested she not give them to me since the poinsettia is one that just wilts under my care, perhaps too much TLC 😌

0
0
0.000
avatar

0
0
0.000
avatar

Oh wow Denise, I have made the first mistake, of leaving it in the initial pot. I had no idea that it grows so fast. And yes it lost the leaves super fast therefore I declared it dead RIP lol .

The poor plant, the roots were indeed so crowded...

I did not defoliate either...mistake nr.2. Taking off the red part, the most interesting one....who would have thought?
Thanks so much for this!

0
0
0.000
avatar

You are welcome! I couldn't believe. I kept killing it, year after year. My mother told me that I had to put it in a closet to make it flower again and I finally looked it up and realized I had been doing everything wrong. So I felt like I needed to pass that along to people because it is not that obvious. Have a great day!

0
0
0.000
avatar

Me too, I "buried" a couple of these. I wonder how much they can grow if properly taken care of. You definetely busted the myth of the poinsettia

0
0
0.000
avatar

Oh yes! I have had to mulch more than a few of them!!

In their native environment they can grow 10 to 15 feet tall, which is roughly 304.8 cm to 457.2 cm. That is a big boy! UK you can always control their size by pinching them back. Start pinching the growing tips in summer and stopped about mid-august to allow them to bloom.

0
0
0.000
avatar

Uh they can be quite big! I did not imagine that! Thanks for all the tips Denise, you're a gem!🤗

0
0
0.000
avatar

I had them in warmer climates, Joan. After their season, they don't like as much water, but, they will usually not flower again without special care. Mine stay green all year, I even plant them in the garden, but, they are not nearly as pretty as when they are blooming. :)

I usually mulch them after the season, or months later and get a fresh one every December. I know that is so lazy, but, they are so very picky. :)

0
0
0.000
avatar

Young lad looks more enthusiastic about looking after them, perhaps get him to arrive then do the job of looking after the plant 😁 not a bad idea, right?

Big no, no this is one plant I have transplanted, watched water intake they grow for another month or two, all end up with same result...

Pretty while they last, other Christmas plants in the garden too...

0
0
0.000
avatar

Merry Christmas to you from me. May this Christmas bring you happiness. And have a good time this year too. And have a good start to the new year

0
0
0.000
avatar

Thank you so much for your kind thoughts and words. I certainly hope your holdiday is wonderful too!

0
0
0.000
avatar

I'm sure everyone who enjoys watching your article. so colorful ❤️
Beautiful decoration. Thanks. God bless. Merry christmas.

0
0
0.000
avatar

I think for all the Christmas lovers, maybe. :)

0
0
0.000
avatar

That beautiful. Your whole house decorated for Christmas. You can tell that you love it @dswigle. Greetings.

0
0
0.000
avatar

Thank you so much for your kind words! I love Christmas! It is true! :))

0
0
0.000
avatar

My wife and I used to go out shopping the day after Christmas all the time. We don't do it was much as we used to. We have tried to be more minimalist and we just don't need all the stuff we used to. There is a store down the road from where I live (okay like 40 minutes) that you would probably love. It is called Bronner's CHRISTmas wonderland or something like that. I have only been in there a couple of times. It is quite overwhelming.

0
0
0.000
avatar

I love that store! For years, I stopped there on my way up to our summer house in the Upper Peninsula ( Little Bay de Noc) I was going over the Mackinac Bridge when I saw the signs(actually before that, but wasn't paying strict attention to signs for shopping) I was overwhelmed the very first time I went! I actually bought nothing! But, I stopped every time on the way up and went through Canada to visit home by way of Niagra Falls. Who doesn't love that? It was a place I looked forward to seeing and I did buy an ornament from there once or twice, but, I rarely buy much as I have so many from my parents and grandparents. But, Oh! I love looking! Free for all, on the eyecandy!

That is such a pretty area up there.

Pure heaven.

Thanks for stopping by! I was thinking of you this morning with all the CHASOS going on!

0
0
0.000
avatar

That's right, I forgot that you had a place up there for a time. Really beautiful area. We took one of our nephews to visit Fayette this past summer and he loved it. Both the little bay and big bay are wonderful areas. I haven't been back to Bronner's in years. We got some ornaments from there as a gift for our wedding, but we don't often put them up because they don't really match the theme of our tree :)

0
0
0.000
avatar

Haha! That is exactly how I ended up with more than one tree!!! Well, that and kids. :)) I love Fayette!

Nothing like the company store! They own you. But, it was pretty cool and the ride all the way down to the entrance is beautiful. I cannot believe it is already two years since I sold the Michigan property. It was good for 25 years. I no longer wanted 80 acres and two barns and a sauna to care for.

Yikes. I actually had five properties at once and one by one, when the market was booming, I tossed them like a hot potato. Only the house on the Eastern Shore of Virginia and this one close to DC are left.

How were the cards today?

0
0
0.000
avatar

Wow, I wish I had been in the place I am at now, I would have made an offer! It sounds like it was a delightful place. Out house does have two living areas, but we only use the one. Putting up a second tree would get in the way of mut exercise equipment! Cards were pretty decent today. I added some good value to my deck!

0
0
0.000
avatar

Well, you should look up there! There is a lot for sale up there because there is no economy. I am glad I sold when I did because after I sold the prices went South. As a matter of fact if you look a lot of them are breaking basement right now.

0
0
0.000
avatar

The only problem with that is we like having our trailer so we can move around. I don't think my wife would like being tied down to one place. Too much of the US we haven't experienced together yet!

0
0
0.000
avatar

That is exactly where I am! (again!) Safe travels!

0
0
0.000
avatar

Wow @dswigle the Christmas trees are so captivating. Thank for sharing with us. God bless you great woman. Your future is bright. I love this spirit in you.

0
0
0.000
avatar

Thank you so much. Aren't those trees pretty? I love to see how beautiful I can make my tree! Seeing some decorated gives me good ideas!

Thanks for stopping by and leaving your words.

0
0
0.000
avatar

“ It is merely 16 days, 22 hours,10 minutes and 27 seconds before Christmas” haha I love your Xmas enthusiasm ! Makes me feel like a kid again and I’m excited and looking forward to Xmas eve !

0
0
0.000
avatar

Haha! But, I really love Christmas! :) It still makes me feel like a kid too. There is just something magical about it.

Le sigh.

0
0
0.000
avatar

Haha you are right there is definitely something magic about it !

0
0
0.000
avatar

Christmas shopping is enjoyable... going through different shops.
Christmas stores most especially. The scent of pine, the scent of cinnamon, some sweetness...
It gives me much pleasure, although at times... sadness.
But, I overcome it very quickly.
It's hard not to think of the homeless...

0
0
0.000
avatar

My family volunteers in some way at the shelters or soup kitchen during their time off at the holidays. It helps to know that you can make their day a little bit happier.

0
0
0.000
avatar

Let's all take time to slowly take in the moments and joys of this season and share them with the people we love

0
0
0.000
avatar

Those decorations and arrangements are pretty awesome. That'd be such a cozy place to spend an afternoon sipping coffee and listening to carols on the radio while lounging in one of those chairs.

0
0
0.000