Taking Down the Tree

I have been pretty good this year at taking down the Christmas tree(s) within a reasonable time period. I have been known, in the past, to keep my tree up until the middle of January, but this year I plan to get them down and in storage by the end of today.

I had two trees this year - one small and one large. The small one was easy; just a few decorations, some garland and the lights, then the whole tree was put into a plastic bin.

The larger tree required more time and effort. I needed to pack the regular ornaments in their boxes, then carefully wrap all the various ornaments (many of them gifts from my guy) and put them in a box - which I then put into another box, just to be safe.

The garland for this tree was a bit more tricky, and I made sure to take it down with care. It has sentimental value for me, as it was the first garland I picked out myself. I know this sounds a bit silly, but it's true. My parents had their own tree, ornaments and garland, chosen before I was born.

My first husband determined how our tree was supposed to look, and, while I believe I may have had some (very little) say in which ornaments we chose, the garland was completely his choice. My input was not requested.

So for my first tree, (which I put up in the first apartment I lived in after the separation), I personally chose a garland that was as unique as I am. It is a holly garland; a garland not often used, and one that I have not been able to find in recent years.

The garland has seen better days. There are now many bare areas on the garland, where age and use has stripped it of it's shiny plastic holly leaves and berries.

And while I supplemented this bare and scraggly decoration with another garland of gold stars, I'm not ready just yet to throw it out. Not yet. As for next Christmas - well, we'll see.