I have had the idea of a tabletop tree in the back of my mind ever since I saw this inspiration photo many years ago. (You may remember me talking about it last year.)
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| Country Living magazine ~ December 2008 |
My thought was that we would down-size our tree after our last child left the nest. Until then we'd continue to put up the full-size tree with our family ornaments and the children's own personal collection. (We have given each child an ornament every year, and as they leave the nest, they take their ornament collection to their own homes.)
But, my last child at home (19-year-old Bekah) loves house-y things as much as I do, and she said, "You don't have to wait for me! Go for it!"
So we did!
It was the year to make a change.
This was the year that my mom gave me this Shaker style table, a beautiful piece that has been in our family for generations. It seemed the perfect place to set the tree, in front of our big picture window.
I dried some oranges to hang . . .
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| ~ Christmas 2019 ~ |
But the most likely scenario is that the tree is finished for this year. It will look even better when there are some more packages on the table and under it!
Are we officially "old" now that we have a tabletop tree? Maybe so, but we are quite happy with our little tree!
Beautiful! We must be old too as we have a tabletop tree. I used to love a big real tree when we had a big house, but now its easier to have a small pretend tree.
ReplyDeleteIt definitely is easier! A big, real tree is certainly pretty, but a smaller one can also be pretty, so I'm going with easy. :)
DeleteCheryl, you are far from old! I love your tabletop tree in the crock. The dried fruit along with your popcorn and cranberry garlands are perfect! And that Shaker table is gorgeous. It's always exciting when I see a house-y-things post here.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Martha Ellen! We are enjoying our tree. I am thrilled with the Shaker table. I have known for many years that it would one day be mine, although I didn't expect it so soon. (But I didn't say no!) Thank you for sharing my house-y enthusiasm!
DeleteWe have gone to a tabletop tree this year too. I love it. To be honest, I never really liked decorating (and un-decorating) a big tree. But I didn't mind doing this one at all. We have a small home so this fits in very well.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you love your tabletop tree! I think that people should decorate in the way that fits their house, their style, and their "want to." There are so many ways to make it pretty!
DeleteLove your little tree and the decorations. I like the idea of a tabletop tree. We are officially old because we bought an artificial tree this year with lights. We'll see how that evolves over the next years. That table you were gifted is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ellen! I am really enjoying my tabletop tree . . . and the table, of course!
DeleteIt really is an evolution as we decide what pleases us and change our expectations. My inspiration photo gave the a vision for what a tabletop tree could be, so when the time came, I was ready!
golly it's beautiful. every bit of decoration brings it to new festive heights. love it. our little trees, for there are two, sit on our antique jelly cupboard. simple simon.
ReplyDeleteSherry, you are so kind! And, for the record, I think simple simon is a fine idea! (Maybe I'm not old . . . maybe I'm lazy. Hmmm...)
DeleteOh, I think it's a beautiful table-top tree. And I think it's perfect as is. I took a tour through your farmhouse Christmas photos (via the link you provided above) and I just love your style. And your photography. Honestly, your pictures could have come straight out of a magazine. I am also inspired to look for some pretty popcorn garland and maybe faux cranberry garland. And maybe even make some faux pomander balls one of these years!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Becki! You are making me blush! 😊
DeleteWe loved our Farmhouse. Since you are a new friend, you may not know that we lived there for 35 years, taking it from very rough shape to a much-loved home over many of those years, doing almost everything ourselves (mostly Ron). So it was fun to photograph, maybe because I knew it so well . . . maybe because there was lots of color . . . maybe because I loved it.
(I hope I'm not making it sound as if we don't love our present home. We do! Very much! But we've only been here 4.5 years and I just don't know it as well yet. 😊)
Have fun with your tree! It takes a while to gather all the things to make a change!
Your tree is beautiful! We have gone to a tabletop tree as well.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Isn't it so easy to set it up? (And I'm sure it will be even easier to take it down!)
DeleteI adore it!!! Well done. We are officially old and perhaps will have to do this next Christmas in our new (to us) bungalow?
ReplyDeleteThank you, Rosella!
DeleteNew home . . . new decor plans! I think you will love this fresh start! It's fun to slowly make changes and begin to feel at home. (That is, after you get past the actual move. Ugh.) I am excited for you!
It’s darling, and the decorations are just right! That inspiration photo is wonderful. Yours is perfect in your home with your style!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Deanna! The inspiration photo gave me a vision for how fun a tabletop tree could be. Mulling over it for many years made it easy when the time came for a change.
DeleteThat's a beautiful table top tree. Your garlands and oranges and lights are just perfect. I love the crock you have it sitting in.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Lorrie! It all came together pretty quickly once we had the tree. It is helpful to have an enthusiastic decorating partner too!
DeleteIt's beautiful. I would even go so far as to say it's prettier than your inspirational tree. From the outside I would think that it looks like a full size tree. And no, you're not "old" just realistic about how much work comes with a full size tree. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! It was so "doable" and feels like it will be for years to come. Merry Christmas to you and yours too! Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteLove your tree. I have been thinking of doing this very thing and you may have given me the final push. I already have my full-size tree up for this Christmas, but I can spend the new year planning and looking for the "just-right" tree and decorations for it.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Miss Dishywoo!
DeleteThat's the way to do it, I think. It takes a bit of thinking and planning before you're ready to make the change. Have fun!
It is perfectly wonderful in size, placement, and decorations. Now do let us know if the grandchildren love it, too. As you know, mine were quite vocal when I went small and they felt "sorry." It was the pity that was particularly rough to take. 😉 Next year, if I do a tree at all, it will be in the trunk again. 🎄
ReplyDeleteThank you, Vee! Yes, I do remember that your grands were not fans of your tree in a trunk, although I thought it was perfectly lovely. I never did ask mine what they would think. I am hoping that as long as there are presents underneath with their names on them, they will be okay with it. 😊
DeleteLove the tree and new tradition! I changed to a tabletop tree 3 years ago (I'm 73) and love it. In fact, it stays decorated and lives in a guest closet during the year so that when it is time for Christmas decorating, my DH takes it out of the closet and sets it on a skirted table! Tree done! I thought my adult kids would be horrified---they weren't! The grands didn't care---they have big trees at their homes!
ReplyDeletePerfect! Everyone's happy and you're all decorated for Christmas!
DeleteThank you for stopping by and for your kind words!
LOVE THIS!!! You have a lovely tree. Merry Christmas,
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Thanks so much, Deanna! And a merry Christmas to you too!
DeleteI love your tree! I also have a table top tree and have pared my decorations down considerably, this year especially. Have a lovely Christmas ~ FlowerLady
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lorraine! Pared down can still be festive and lovely! Merry Christmas to you too!
DeleteOh my. This is the prettiest tree I've seen in a looooong time! Such simple elements, but they all work together so beautifully. It's way better than your inspiration tree! I'm going to use your tree for MY inspiration.
ReplyDeleteI do have a question, though--is the popcorn string real? Because it looks like it is, and yet...how could it have survived so many years?
Sue
Wow, Sue! I am extremely flattered to think that my tree will be your inspiration! Thank you so much!
DeleteTo answer your question . . . the popcorn garland is also faux. I am glad that you had to ask, because that means it is convincing, at least in photos. ;)
Thanks for visiting!
Yes, I do remember that conversation from last year! This does look lovely! But the story behind all of the pieces used here tells a wonderful tale. Good idea from your husband for the task of making it fit in the crock. Kudos for Bekah being a good sport about it all!
ReplyDeleteGood memory, Melissa . . . and thank you! Ron is good at coming up with these kinds of solutions. Bekah loves to decorate so she was on board with creating a theme tree this year!
DeleteYour tree is just beautiful. I love the popcorn garland and the cranberry garland. Where did you get them?? They look so real.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Michelle! I have had the popcorn garland for so long, the store (florist gift shop) where I purchased it is no longer in business. The cranberry garland I bought last year at a local country store. If you send me an email (thinkingabouthome at gmail dot com), I will pass along the info!
DeleteLove it!!!! ~tammy
ReplyDeleteThank you, Tammy! We have been enjoying it . . . we may never go back to full-sized!
DeleteI love this idea. I bet it smells wonderful!
ReplyDeleteDo you have any snow yet?
Thank you, Sandy! The pomanders (faux oranges, real cloves) smelled wonderful when I took them out of the storage bag! I must have become accustomed to the smell though, because I don't notice it anymore.
DeleteOur precipitation was more liquid. 😉