As the name of my blog indicates, I spend a lot of time thinking about home. Of course, my Heavenly Home is the one that is eternal, so that’s where I need to lay up my treasures, and that’s the one I’m striving for. But in the meantime, I have been given this tiny piece of the here-and-now—this home on the edge of town, this family, this neighborhood—in which to serve Him. And, though this is in the earthly realm, I want the things that happen here to be investments in the Heavenly realm.




Thursday, December 10, 2020

A New Tradition | Our Tabletop Christmas Tree

 


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.)

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 had bought some faux cranberry garland last year at a local country store. Once upon a time (literally once) I strung cranberries to make my own garland, but it took for. ev. er. and the berries shrank on the string. Of course, they wouldn't keep from year to year and I couldn't see myself taking that much time every year so I gave up on that idea. I have had some red bead garland in the past, but I decided that I wanted some more realistic faux cranberries for my future tabletop tree (and then the "future" became this year!), so we went out after Christmas last year and found these. 

I have had the popcorn garland for probably thirty-five years! (You may remember seeing it on the kitchen tree at The Farmhouse.)


I dried some oranges to hang . . . 

. . . and tied strings on these pomanders.
~ Christmas 2019 ~




At Bekah's suggestion, we put our new tree in an old crown crock. Ron rigged up something to hold it steady . . . a big block of wood (corners trimmed to fit into the round container) with a hole drilled in the center (not too big or it won't sit straight, but not too small or the "trunk" won't go in). It's great to live with a handyman who finds solutions to our decor dilemmas! 


And there we have it! 


I may add some gingerbread cookies (or I may not). I may add some clip on candles (but I haven't even ordered them yet). Our punched tin star topper was too big for this tree and I haven't found another that I like. 

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! 



42 comments:

  1. 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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It definitely is easier! A big, real tree is certainly pretty, but a smaller one can also be pretty, so I'm going with easy. :)

      Delete
  2. Cheryl, 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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks 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!

      Delete
  3. We 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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I 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!

      Delete
  4. Love 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!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Ellen! I am really enjoying my tabletop tree . . . and the table, of course!

      It 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!

      Delete
  5. 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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sherry, 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...)

      Delete
  6. Oh, 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!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Becki! You are making me blush! 😊

      We 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!

      Delete
  7. Your tree is beautiful! We have gone to a tabletop tree as well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! Isn't it so easy to set it up? (And I'm sure it will be even easier to take it down!)

      Delete
  8. I adore it!!! Well done. We are officially old and perhaps will have to do this next Christmas in our new (to us) bungalow?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Rosella!

      New 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!

      Delete
  9. It’s darling, and the decorations are just right! That inspiration photo is wonderful. Yours is perfect in your home with your style!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank 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.

      Delete
  10. That's a beautiful table top tree. Your garlands and oranges and lights are just perfect. I love the crock you have it sitting in.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank 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!

      Delete
  11. It'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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank 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!

      Delete
  12. Love 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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Miss Dishywoo!

      That'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!

      Delete
  13. 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. 🎄

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank 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. 😊

      Delete
  14. Love 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!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Perfect! Everyone's happy and you're all decorated for Christmas!

      Thank you for stopping by and for your kind words!

      Delete
  15. LOVE THIS!!! You have a lovely tree. Merry Christmas,
    d

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Deanna! And a merry Christmas to you too!

      Delete
  16. I 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

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Lorraine! Pared down can still be festive and lovely! Merry Christmas to you too!

      Delete
  17. Oh 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.

    I 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

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wow, Sue! I am extremely flattered to think that my tree will be your inspiration! Thank you so much!

      To 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!

      Delete
  18. 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!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good 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!

      Delete
  19. Your tree is just beautiful. I love the popcorn garland and the cranberry garland. Where did you get them?? They look so real.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank 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!

      Delete
  20. Replies
    1. Thank you, Tammy! We have been enjoying it . . . we may never go back to full-sized!

      Delete
  21. I love this idea. I bet it smells wonderful!

    Do you have any snow yet?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 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.

      Our precipitation was more liquid. 😉

      Delete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...