I thought I’d come up with a great idea – only to discover that others were there before me. Taking online house tours and such I found that many people were doing the same thing. What is it? Giving up the big tree in exchange for the a bunch of smaller trees that had a specific theme.

It took me awhile to come to this realization. Last year I went out and purchased a great six foot tree – but didn’t get my son to put it up until the 30 return policy was over. Sure enough, the center part of the tree didn’t light up. We did put some other lights on that section, but it was such a hassle to put up the big tree and then take it down. The year before this I was living with my son while my condo was remodeled and he got a real tree. It was beautiful, but he didn’t get to enjoy it very much since he was in California on business most of the month. I was in bed most of the month recovering from a serious fall I’d taken just after moving in. The year before I was quite sick and didn’t get a tree up. I was beginning to wonder if I’d ever see a tree in my hom again.

This year I got a very nice 4′ white tree at JoAnn’s and it’s in my bedroom and is decorated with some pink ornaments that I will add to each year. I’ll be posting pictures of it this Saturday.

The other night we were sorting through decorations – going over the ones we wanted to keep, some we felt would be good to donate, some for Dave, and some for my special pink tree. We were discussing putting up the big tree and I just wasn’t up to it. It takes up so much room in my living room. I said I’d like to put up a small one, like my tree in the bedroom – which lead to the decision to donate the big tree and replace it with a smaller tree. To be honest, part of the reason for this is then I can do them by myself and don’t have to bug my son to put up the big tree. lol Plus, with the smaller trees I can take a day or two, get it set up and then move on to the next.

The tree in the living room will be the “traditions” tree – with the ornaments we’ve accumulated over the last 30 or so years. This will be a green tree. In front of the small entry way landing I’m going to put a white tree and just might make that a “tree of the year” with new ornaments – or preferably with ones I make myself. Then in the corner of the kitchen I’ll have one that will be decorated with tea chps and silverware (thanks to Debi at My Romantic Home for that idea.) In my studio I’m going to have a tree with ornaments that are based on the things I do in there – doll making, embroidery, and sewing. And I’m even thinking of putting a tree in the bathtub in the front bathroom. lol

All of these trees will be something I can do on my own and will give me something to work on throughout the year.

As I said, I thought I’d had an original idea – but even my Chiropractor who I saw yesterday said that they had given up their big tree and had small trees spread out through their home.

Oh, and now I’ll have a place to put each of my nativities – and an excuse to buy one or two more. lol

Hmm, do you think it would be going overboard to put a small tree in the laundry room?