Comments on: All the Trimmings

By: Robert Polk

Robert Polk — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 04:04:44 +0000

And now, with all the authority vested in me from decades of open-minded Christian upbringing, I pronounce your tree “The Best Christmas Tree Ever.” It is so obviously full of love, and that’s what good living is actually all about. Have a blessed holiday season.

By: Michelle Martinez

Michelle Martinez — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 22:57:01 +0000

Beautiful piece! All of our handmade ornaments are front and center, at eye-level on the tree. The older they are, the higher up they go. All of the indestructible stuff goes along the lower half of the tree, where their durability will get tested by sticky toddler hands. The fragile stuff either is up near the top or not at all. As for the back, I use it for overflow.

There were many years I did not bother with the back. Each year we all make at least one new ornament and accumulate at least one more, resulting in too many to fit on the front. The back is never decorated as heavily in front, which may explain why our tree also tilted.

This will be the second year we use a fake, pre-lit tree. It is still packed in its box in my aunt’s garage at the moment, but soon it will be assembled and adorned and adored. The kids will think it is beautiful, and I won’t have to continuously forget to water it and sweep underneath.

So many families we know celebrate both Christmas and Hannukah, we attend events for both each year as well. I have to say I certainly enjoy celebrating both, and I love watching my kids ask their friends about their traditions and then answer similar questions about their own. It is an extra Holiday treat to witness the kids become themselves amidst the sugar, plastic toys, and crumpled paper.

By: Kim

Kim — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 19:36:30 +0000

Your tree made me smile, while your blog made me suspiciously teary. A friend of mine recently turned me onto GIAPH, and I’m glad she did. You share a nice slice of your life with the rest of us, opening eyes and hearts simultaneously. Thank you, and Merry Christmas to you and your family.

By: Lora Nastase

Lora Nastase — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 19:28:20 +0000

I love this piece, Amy! I voted for decorate the whole tree, that’s what we do. Your tree is beautiful, I’m envious! P.s. I have a recipe for “Christmas tree food” if you’d like it. You just pour it in the reservoir like you’d normally water.

By: Karen

Karen — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 18:45:59 +0000

Does it mean that my conversion is complete because I say decorate the back? I would use ones where there were duplicates like gneric ball types.

By: kathymonkman

kathymonkman — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:39:50 +0000

What a brilliant, poignant piece Amy. <3

By: Terry Greene Sterling

Terry Greene Sterling — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:09:56 +0000

We always do the back. It’s like editing. No holes.
After my kids left home, I could not bring myself to buy a fresh tree because the memories of my little girls in the Christmas tree lot only bolstered my seasonal holiday blues.
We bought a fake tree about three years ago. Now many of the pre-strung lights don’t work. And the thing smells funky.