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11.05.2014

The Holiday Tree: for Every Season

Let me tell you a story...

Monday, I was trying to come up with an idea for a post for today.
I had NUTHIN' - no how, no where. The well was DRY, my friends.
I was, frankly, 'too tired to be inspired'!!!
I posted on my facebook page and asked my HOMEees there to chime in, 
sharing their best tips for getting their creative MoJo back... and I got some great replies!

Carol took a very practical and restful tact:
'Take a day off from being creative... 
I find house cleaning to be very therapeutic and lets my brain rest.'
 
I joke that I only clean so I can decorate, 
but the truth is that cleaning is for me a bit like 'priming the canvas' is for a painter. 
It starts the creative engine running so ideas can flow!

Emily offered a virtual hug and a wide perspective:
'
Awww... we've all been there! I usually just take a break and/or head outside.'
 
Great advice - because, really, is it ever possible to head outside into the beauty of nature
(where ever you are) 
and NOT be inspired?! I don't think so. 

Lilliam spoke words of a sage:
'
Take a moment to just sit still, in silence and the inspiration for the right Idea will come to you. 
.Still.'

Oh, Lil, I try. I really DO. I'm just not a 'still' girl. 
I can walk on the beach for hours/miles. I can sit and read for hours.
But just sitting.... doing nothing.... waiting..... I just can't do it.
I hear the Jeopardy theme song every time I try!! 
(I CAN lie still for a massage, though!!)

So, after I read these words of wisdom, I decided to take a break.
I headed downstairs to the kitchen, to grab a fresh glass of ice water and then head outdoors...
and on the way into the kitchen, I walked past something.
I see it every day - in my peripheral vision.
I KNOW it's there, but it never really 'registers', if you know what I mean. It's just.... there.

But at THAT moment, I stopped.
I backed up a few steps and looked at it. For a good long while.
And while I did, I remembered something important.
That's when I KNEW that I had the content for this blog post!
So I ran upstairs, grabbed the camera, and went back down lickety-split
to snap a few images.

Aaaaaaand here we are.... today.

Do you want to know what I remembered?
That this small, inexpensive, simple decor element is something that I grew up with.
I remember it well from throughout my childhood.
And when I had my own children, I replicated it for them.
Now that THEY have children, they have replicated it, as well!

It's what we call 'The HOLIDAY Tree'.
(And it's not a Christmas tree by another name!)

It's a little tree that is decorated every season, for every holiday.

The idea is SO simple: It's a branch.
 As in, a branch off the tree in the yard or the nearby forest
or even purchased at the local craft store.
Not a BIG branch, just a lil' branch. Two feet tall or so.
It sits in a pot or planter or tin or box...
held in place by rocks or plaster of paris.

And there's pretty 'stuff' on the branches... 
little stuff, not heavy stuff:

We've used silly things like happy meal toys and action figures for Halloween,
vintage ornaments and mini candy canes at Christmas, 
bright plastic eggs for Easter, woven paper hearts for Valentine's Day, miniature flags in Summer,
everyone's favorite personal treasures for their birthday week, 
and some multi-colored plastic mini lights that look like the M&M characters.
 

Small things all, but the important thing was that every month there was a day 
when we all worked together to create & find fun things to decorate the Holiday Tree with.

I still have those colored plastic M&M light covers, BTW ;)

Mom uses Dollar Tree garlands and tiny ornaments 
and in this photo, she even used a felt coaster owl!
Anything goes.

The tree always sat somewhere we'd pass by it every day, 
so that the enjoyment was constant...

When I was a kid, the Holiday Tree sat on the HiFi (yes, I am OLD!) in the living room.
When my kids were young, our Holiday Tree sat on top of a cabinet on the stair landing or in the family room.

Right now, my Mom's Holiday tree is sitting on her buffet,  next to the kitchen door - which is where I saw it on Monday.
It's been in the room all along, decorated differently each season... but until Monday, 
I had completely forgotten about how much this tradition is a part of me. A part of my family.
A huge part of why decorating for every season is what I do. 


Now that I remember, I am so thankful for the simple ways 
that my Mom taught me about creativity. 
They've stayed with me... and my kids and grandkids. It's 'Generational Creativity'!


shared online:


Practically Functional | Creativity Unleashed

1 comment:

  1. That is just darling. I have a similar one but only use it for Easter/Spring. I think I need to dig that baby out! xo Diana

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