On Favorite Ornaments

Every year as people take out their ornaments and put them on the tree, there are those special few that bring greater delight as they hang among the others. For some, these favorites are more traditional, while others choose those that stand out as being curious, unique, or one of a kind. Among personal favorites can be found…

A cuckoo clock

A little blue house  

A clown

An elf in a tiny box

 And a pine cone bird

(no salt on its tail--presumably it’s not a tattle tale)

Whatever they may be, though, one's favorites are sure to be looked upon fondly as they grace the branches of one’s tree. Merry Christmas! ♥

On Fruit Cake

Ever associated with the holiday season is the gift of the traditional fruit cake. While some fruit cakes are good, there are many that are not and it is due to them that the rest have gained their negative reputation. The ingredients are a primary, if not the most important, factor in determining whether or not the fruit cake can be deemed edible. If the fruits are not compatible when they are not baked into something, chances are that the recipient is not going to think much of them when they are baked into a cake. It is also dependant on these ingredients as to whether or not your fruit cake will last just a season or will last a decade or so.

Another factor is the appearance of the cake. There is great importance in one remembering that for an individual to have any desire to eat something that it absolutely must look edible. The look of a moldy sponge or that of an object having been coated in shellac is likely to bring neither admirers nor a wiliness to taste. Unfortunately, if these standards are not met the recipient often begins to look into other options for use of the cake as when deemed non-edible the purpose of the fruit cake can become numerous. Consider, as ever so many people have pointed out over the years, it can make a lovely door stop. And another option is a festive center piece to be used year after year in remembrance of jolly Christmas’ past. Or one might even turn it into a nice candle holder.

So, in conclusion, whether you are pretending to be some minor character with no name from a Dickens or Austen story while you eat your fruit cake or you have chosen to avoid it all together, have a very merry time as you celebrate this Christmas Eve! ♥

On Assembling an Artificial Tree

With Christmas drawing near, people everywhere are thinking about decorating and with thoughts of decorating come thoughts of Christmas trees. While some people purchase or chop down their own tree, those who are unable to do so or have chosen not to have a real tree have the task of assembling one.

Dependent on the tree, this process can go in several directions. For example, if it is a pre-lit tree, chance are all you have to do is take the multiple sections out of the box, assemble them in the stand and arrange the branches to your liking, completing the task with a minimal, and possibly less time consuming, work. If it is not a pre-lit tree, then the arduous job begins! First, one must locate the stand and the center poles, which have hopefully been placed somewhere near the top of the box to avoid the strewing of pieces hither and thither in search of them. At this time it is also a good idea to determine the location you will be placing the tree if this has not been decided already. By doing this early on in the assembly disastrous attempts to move the completely assembled tree can be averted. Then comes the sorting of the branches. Before sorting begins, however, it is often helpful to remind oneself or others who are assisting that while the branches may offer the perfect opportunity for pretending that you have a wand or provide something to poke or swat someone with, this is not their intended use and one should refrain from using them for these purposes. Failure to do so may result in injury to persons and/or objects within waving and poking distance. With that in mind, branches should be sorted as the directions direct, by letter, color, or whatever such thing they have decided to use. Once that is complete the placing of the branches in the slots may commence, in which great effort must be taken to avoid poking an eye out and eating fake pine needles. After this has been done, one should position and shape the branches. A few bruises and bandages later and if the assembler(s) have not given up halfway through, a beautiful fake tree should grace whatever room it was assembled in. And if one is not too exhausted, the tree is now ready to be dressed in decorations! For those who failed to make it to the end, some options consist of buying a small table top tree, finding a tinsel tree, or using a Christmas cake tree, such as that used by R. Godden's Plantaganet family. ♥