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Archive for Around the House

Christmas Tree Follies from Years Past…..

Posted on December 18, 2012 by Renee Spindle

So in Southern California we occasionally experience Santa Ana winds. These can be very strong like they were this past week, with the winds up to 100 miles per hour. The winds are either very hot or cold. Now if your asking yourself what this has to do with our Christmas tree just keep reading. This past week was a very, cold Santa Ana wind, but it reminded me that in December we always seem to have some kind of wind event.

Three or four years ago I decided we should get a live tree for Christmas. Up until this point we had gotten a few live trees, bought an artificial tree, and this particular year (I think it was 2007) we opted for a live tree again. Now, what you need to understand is that the Santa Ana winds are extremely, extremely dry. There is not enough Chap Stick or lotion on the globe to keep a person from feeling dried out.

So, we headed out for a live tree, found a suitable specimen, and brought it home. Travel Man graciously got it in the tree stand for me and brought it in the house. He doesn’t really like to do the decorating, but he does like it when the finished product makes the house look all festive and merry.

Before the Winds Tree

So the tree got decorated with the usual lights and ornaments, and we proceeded with our merry, festive Christmas activities. A few days later, here come the Santa Ana winds, dry yucky winds. So our lovely, live tree starts to become a fire hazard. After two or three days in the house Travel Man and I notice the tree feels like a kindling stick. The tree cannot drink enough water to keep up with the dryness.

So, we made a bold decision. We had to replace this tree. We did not want to have such a fire hazard in the already too dry house. So off we trudged to pick out a new live tree, and once we got to the store we decided to look at the artificial trees, and “just see what they had”. You all know how those decisions go, you’re just going to look around, see what’s available, and have no intention of buying. So after a few minutes of browsing the artificial trees I found “the one”. It was a great tree, it came in the box pre-lit, all we had to do was assemble and decorate. I was in for this decision. It didn’t take much to convince Travel Man, and off we went with a new artificial tree for our Christmas celebration.

After the Winds Tree

After the Winds Tree at Night

So, for all of you Southern California folks who long for the aroma of a real tree, just keep it simple and buy yourself a wreath. Our Christmas tree follies since 2007 have been fairly calm. I’m just glad Travel Man took pictures of this event for history’s sake. Happy decorating everyone!

No comments Posted in Around the House, Blogging, Family, Holidays

Our Christmas Tree Revamp

Posted on December 13, 2012 by Renee Spindle

Yes we have an artificial tree. Yes, I can put up my tree whenever I choose. Provided I have someone here to help me get it out of the rafters (thanks boys!). My artificial tree has (had) white lights Pre-wired to the branches. Lots of white lights. It’s a really pretty tree even of you don’t put any other decorations on it.

It would normally look like this-

Last Christmas I was having some issues with the lights on the tree shorting out. We bumbled along and made the lights work through the holiday time. When the tree came out for its annual decorating this year Travel Man helped me check the lights as we were assembling the tree. We figured out where there was a bad plug, got it repaired and thought we were golden. All of the lights were working, we were off to a good start.

Until……. the next morning. The entire middle section of lights on the tree had shorted out-again! Problem is once the tree is completely assembled , the branches are fluffed, and the tree is generally looking good it’s a total pain in the toukas to take it apart, and fix anything.

So, we made the executive decision to bypass the white lights all together. The white lights were not going to co-operate, and I had no patience for them. We were not going to take the tree apart, and we had two strings of colored lights to starts us off on the tree re-vamp. That meant we only had to buy three more strings to finish off all of the lights, and my budget could handle that expense. The white lights were unplugged and we put colored led lights on the tree, our collection of ornaments, and last but not least- the tinsel! Yes that’s right we have tinsel on our tree. I’m calling this our retro tree because the tinsel totally brings back childhood memories for myself and Travel Man.

Of course ours kids are divided on the appearance of the tree.

1-IMG_0067

What happened to the white lights? We changed them up decided to do something different.
Tinsel? Really who uses tinsel? We do. Another change to our traditional Christmas.

Grandson Evan tells me last night, “Grandma, I like the tree this way. It’s really pretty.” Melt my heart. I’ll put colored lights and tinsel on the tree every year just for Evan!

I have to admit I’m a huge fan of the all white lights on the tree. I think it’s because it reminds me of snowy winters in Illinois in a strange round about way. But going retro with this tree has been fun. Colorful, tinsselly fun. Is tinsselly really a word?

So for Christmas 2012, the decorations are complete, and my annual tree revamp is done, and I am happy. Maybe I’ll start doing a different theme for the tree every year. All Santa’s on the tree, or all angels on the tree. Maybe next year we’ll add garland, or the kids favorite garland – colored strings of beads!!

What your favorite Christmas tree theme? And was that a real tree or an artificial tree you put up?

2 comments Posted in Around the House, DIY Projects, Family, Holidays, Travel Man

How can it be December 3rd already?

Posted on December 3, 2012 by Renee Spindle

Hello dear friends and fellow bloggers. It’s been awhile since my last post, and I felt the need to just say hi, and get back into a good writing groove. My writing was definitely sidetracked in the month of November. I have a few stories to catch up on with you all.

Did you have as wonderful a Thanksgiving as my family did? We were fortunate to have my sister here from Montana for Thanksgiving dinner. That does not happen very often, so we were especially happy to have her smiling face as the table. My Mom was beside herself with emotion that day.

We also celebrated the birth day of our second grandchild, a baby girl. This is Evan’s baby sister, Miss Madison. Welcome to your Grandma’s blog, Madison. It was a special day, I’ll give you all of the details in another story.

And the past few weeks have been a rare treat for Travel Man and myself. He has been working from his home office for a few weeks, and it looks like we’ll have him home through Christmas. Everyone keep your fingers crossed please!

Now could someone, anyone explain to me how it got to be December 3rd already? My son will be celebrating his birthday this weekend. How did that date come up so fast? It’s the age-old adage, “Time just flies when you are having fun!”. Or in Renee’s terms, when you’ve been so busy the past few weeks that you finally look at the calendar and it’s time to turn the page to December.

So if your busy getting ready for Christmas, or baking, or making your list and checking it twice make sure you stop and have a latte, or maybe a nap. Happy Monday to you all.

*Photo credits to Hilary and Zachary Juedes.

4 comments Posted in Around the House, Blogging, Family, Travel Man

Top Ten Things I am Thankful for in 2012

Posted on November 21, 2012 by Renee Spindle

This year has been a busy and amazing year

for myself and my family. Since it’s

Thanksgiving, and since my family will be

together celebrating, I wanted to take the

time to share my thankful thoughts for this year.

1) My Dad’s continued improvement with his cancer treatments. He never, never, never gives up. The word perseverance has a whole new meaning for me.

2) Our family tree has expanded. We welcomed our granddaughter into the family almost two weeks ago. She is a beautiful, bouncing baby girl with a proud big brother.

3) The family members that are cancer survivors, and continue to remain in good health. My Grandpa, my Mom, and my baby boy.

4) So glad I got to escape to New York City with Travel Man for our vacation this year. We had a great time. I got to see the Statue of Liberty!! Crossed that one-off of my bucket list.

5) Getting to spend quality time with Evan this past summer. We had a great times at Camp Grandma. Lots of fun times, and good memories.

6) Seeing my sister three times this year. That’s really a great treat as she’s a mountain girl from Montana. Love spending time with her and chatting for hours on end.

7) Ever so thankful that my grandparents are on Skype. I love getting to see them and chat with them. My brother has graciously arranged a few group family calls. These are the treasured family times.

8) So glad that my Travel Man survived his boogie boarding accident with no serious injuries. Seeing him hurt made my stomach churn, and I don’t want to have any repeats. No more boogie boarding for that guy!

9) Watching all of my kids become responsible, hard-working, compassionate, and caring adults. This makes you feel so great as a parent.

10) There is a great amount of thankfulness that we are “The Party House” for our family. We love hosting the birthdays, summer cookouts, holiday dinners. It is such a treat to have everyone gathered for fun times, and good memories. No better place to be.

Wishing you and yours an absolutely wonderful Thanksgiving together. If you are cooking and bustling about the kitchen tomorrow be sure and stop, and listen and take in the sights and sounds of your family and friends all around you. It’s a wonderful thing.

4 comments Posted in Around the House, Family, Holidays, Travel Man

We had a Lovely, Positively Pink Day

Posted on November 1, 2012 by Renee Spindle

A few weeks ago, on a Saturday, my daughter, Hilary and I hosted a baby shower for Hilary’s big sister, Naomi. We were surrounded by family and friends, all of them ladies at this shin-dig, except for Evan and his cousin. It was a wonderful, sunny Saturday, and the planning paid off tremendously. Of course, all of us Grandma’s, Grammie’s, and Nana’s in the crowd were especially excited. For me there is nothing more heart-warming or meaningful than knowing that the family tree will soon be expanding.

We had lovely tissue paper flowers, a diaper cake, lots of pink tulle and ribbons, and even a crown for the guest of honor.

And we had the food! Deli sandwiches, chips, dips, watermelon salad (more on this later), pink lemonade punch, and a beautiful coconut cake.

We passed around a journal for everyone to write their thoughts and good wishes to Naomi and her family. It was a lot of fun, and will be a great keepsake for the new arrival.

Hilary headed up the game co-ordination, and I think we had the most fun with “The Purse Game”. In our game, we used a points system which made it a lot of fun to find out what treasures all of the ladies had in their purses.

One of the highlights of the day was Evan opening his “Diaper Dude Junior” tool belt. I saw this idea on Pinterest, and had to make them for Evan and his Dad. Both of the tool belts had a diaper, baby wipes, goggles, plastic gloves. All set for diaper duty. Evan was a great sport and thought this was a very fun gift. I’m sure once his baby sister has arrived he will try to put his diaper tools to good use.

My daughter and her family received a plethora of wonderful, amazing gifts. They will be ready for anything when the baby sister arrives.

This is all of the grandma’s that live in the area with the “mom-to-be”. We are blessed to have so many family members close by. The only thing that would have made this a positively more perfectly, pink day is if my Sister and my Grandma could have joined us.

We had a wonderful afternoon together, and are counting the days/hours Until Evan’s baby sister arrives. Travel Man and I are sponsoring a guess the baby date prize for the family. It’s turning out to be a lot of fun. We’ll keep you all posted on the arrival.

What’s your most recent and favorite family moment?