decoration — 2011 — The 21st Century Matriarch

The Christmas decorations in the Garden Center at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden were well done and prompted me to think about decorations more broadly. The first group of pictures are non-tree decorations....there were carolers, a Santa in green rather than a red, pots of poinsettias, wrapped packages and an elf that looked a bit like a 'nut cracker' without teeth. There were green wreaths above it all with red magic hats/rabbits/white gloves/wands. What kind of things to you do for Christmas decorations (other than the tree)? I do flags from the stair railings, a pine code wreath, Christmas cards from the last 15 years or so under plastic on the table, attached to all the metal doorways in the house and anywhere else I can display them. Cards are too beautiful to recycle after just one year!

The trees at the Garden are decorated with nature/outdoor themes: there was one with acorns and tendrils, another with birds and dragon flies, a stylized tree with flowers, and a tree decorated with golden deer with antlers and stars. I don't have a theme for my tree; my strategy has been more toward family history with some ornaments over 40 years old and others hand made by children (or me) documenting our talents over the years. It would be interesting to contemplate trees that are themed to match the interests of the people in the family. Some would be readily available - insects for an entomologist, stars for an astronomer or physicist, matchbox sized cars for anyone that worked in the automotive industry.

Enjoy the beauty of the season in your area!

Our tradition is to decorate for Christmas just after Thanksgiving. The activity signals the beginning of the happy flurry always associated with December. This year I find myself enthusiastic about our decorations other than the tree!

My favorite is the way we are using Christmas cards from years past:

Under the clear plastic on the table (picture at right)
Backed with thin magnets (attached to the card with 2 faced tape) and put on the refrigerator, the door to the garage, the frames of the French doors
Standing up on the mantle
Pinned to the giant scrunchies on the pantry and coat closet doors (picture of the scrunchies before the cards were attached below)

The flags on the stair railing are festive as well. The first flags we bought were used outdoors and faded after a year or two. It’s better to pick out favorites and use them year and after year – making them part of the tradition rather than a short-term glitz.

The same can be said for the pine cone wreath hanging in the den. I did use it outdoors on the front door one year but decided thereafter to decorate it with more fragile ribbons, bells, and artificial birds to hang somewhere inside. It is about 15 years old now. The wreath started out with more sentimental value than the purchased flags since my sister made it from pine cones collected from the yard of another sister.

What are your favorite ‘everything but the tree’ decorations this year?