Baubles

Today's the day ........................ to get creative

I've decorated the tree today - one of my most favourite Christmas things to do.  And it just looks beautiful with the twinkly lights and all the baubles that we have collected over the years, each one bringing back a memory or two.  That dangling white cherub, for example on the right, is actually more than seventy years old - given to me apparently by my Grannie when I was a babe-in-arms.

Readers of this journal will know that for many years our Christmas tree was a Scots pine that I came across as a seedling when I was weeding.  I put it in a pot and grew it on until it was big enough to come inside.  It's too big now and so we planted it properly in the garden.  This year we've put outside lights on it and it looks very fine.  The one above, that we have now, is also a homegrown one in a pot - a Chinese chestnut tree.  And when its Christmas duties are done, it will be back outside to delight us with its flowers and leaves through the spring and summer.

It annoys me so much that the commercial powers that be have persuaded people that expensive, specially-grown conifers (or worse still, artificial ones) are the must-have for a 'proper' Christmas.  I think you can use anything that comes to hand - including just a twiggy branch if that's all there is.

Be creative, I say .........................!