It's just me in my apartment so I questioned whether to get a tree this year. But, I gave into holiday temptation and got a Charlie Brown Christmas tree. Isn't it so cute and small? Plus, it's real (I love the smell!) and was only 10 bucks...how could I resist? I covered my CB tree in sequined, white doves my grandmother hand stitched and created throughout the years. I think a dove tree will be my new tradition...I love their special touch. My other ornaments were used in open bowls and plants just begging for holiday attention.My small tree reminds me of a Christmas when my family had very little money, but my Mom still managed to get a real tree. The tree was small, missing limps, and downright pitiful...it was a true Charlie Brown tree. Yet, that is the one I remember the most. Even though times were tough we still celebrated and had an amazing Christmas. Isn't it funny how we remember those kind of moments versus the big, over-the-top ones? In many cases it's not the size or price that matters, but the love and thought.
That is why this is such a special time of year. Even smells bring back memories.
ReplyDeleteJust the other day I was thinking about the year we cut down a tree on our property to use as an xmas tree. My parents probably wanted to take the tree down anyway and we were not wealthy by any means so they killed two birds with a stone. I remember thinking it was such an incredible tree and when I mentioned it to my mom she said it was hideous, misshappen and she put as many things as she could on it to improve it. But it was beautiful to me and in my memories. I guess therein lies the magic of the holidays. Your grandmother's doves are simply exquisite and so special.
ReplyDeleteyou have officially inspired me to go out and get a little tree--i was wavering back and forth. thanks for this lovely post! xo
ReplyDeleteI also have a little tree, but kids love it anyway... it's all about christmas spirit, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteI love your Charlie Brown tree! I was just talking to my son about getting a little tree this year since we are moving, it just made more sense to me. He seemed bummed that we wouldn't get our regular big tree, so of course I felt like a failure for suggesting the Charlie Brown version. I think you make a great point and I want my son to see the reality of our life with all its ups and downs, and yet he will know that we did our best to make it special even when we can't do it up BIG every year. I am going to spend more TIME celebrating this year than money and I hope in the end, it is the Christmas he will remember the most.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your little tree!
xo
this is so sweet! thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteoh, diana, i love it! it's perfect. :)
ReplyDeleteI love your tree and your sentiments. I have a number of ornaments made by my mother and grandmother that are treasures to me.
ReplyDeleteYour tree is BEAUTIFUL and as TALL as any tree I have seen! I especially admire the love and memories circling your tree with the memories of the past and love of your grandmother touching each branch. The doves are priceless!
ReplyDeleteIt's fabulous! The fake one I paid $100 for is about the same size!
ReplyDeleteadorable! we look for a different size and shape every year - just to keep it interesting! holes are good!
ReplyDeleteThis tree is BEAUTIFUL! Love the star particularly.
ReplyDeleteThat will be the best $10 purchase for Christmas! Wonderful!!
ReplyDeleteALWAYS love a Charlie Brown Xmas tree! SO sweet and touching. Well done and nicely remembered. (See me...smiling.)
ReplyDeletethank you for sharing your beautiful memories and tree. the doves are so special and lovely. you are so right about the things that have the most meaning to us. i remember spending hours playing with the inexpensive toys that weren't included in my letter to santa and the boxes. nothing like a big box ;)!
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ReplyDeleteI love your tree - and especially the doves. How lovely.
ReplyDeleteOoooh you gave me the chills with this beautiful post.
ReplyDeleteOne year, we had an eerily similar Christmas to the one you described. I vividly remember us going to the tree lot with my mom on Christmas eve and picking up our own little Charlie Brown tree...I think it might have even been 50% off because it was so late in the season. It was one of the best and most memorable Christmases to date. Thank you for helping me to recall those cherished memories. I love your little tree.
Thanks for your amazing comments - so glad you enjoy my wee little tree and all the memories it brings to you!
ReplyDeleteAwwwww I adore your tree, and the ornaments are so lovely. I can see how much you love Christmas and I feel the same way!
ReplyDeletexoxox,
CC
Such a sweet little tree :)
ReplyDeletewhat a precious little tree. ours is the same size, but it's fake and it's white--like the old vintage ones. i almost like the simple small trees better. i love your sweet story about growing up. Christmas is just the best time for memories.
ReplyDeleteDiana, what a special tree you've created for yourself! I love the doves, and I'm so charmed by the memories you've shared with us. We weren't going to get one this year---but I think you've inspired me to pick up a CB tree of my own!
ReplyDeleteyay! how exciting. and for only $10? that's amazing, and the doves give it the perfect touch.
ReplyDeleteoh, it is adorable! I love those doves and how special that they are handmade by your grandmother. I love putting ornaments in bowls too- i think more end up in bowls and vases than they do on the tree:)
ReplyDeleteA true christmas tree is a table top christmas tree, that's the origin of the tradition anyways. (Until families got wealthier and their presents got bigger and could not fit under neath a small tree anymore!) I think your tree is charming, especially with those sequined birds!
ReplyDeleteIt is perfect! Reminds me of a tree story I'll share later on my blog. I think most of us have a tree story that we remember year after year.
ReplyDeleteI am all for Charlie Brown Christmas trees. I think more people should embrace these charming little trees. I think I may just get one myself!
ReplyDeleteAww, this is so cute! I have a teeny, tiny table-top one right now, and my friends are going to help decorate before we see the nutcracker this weekend -- it should take all of five minutes. ;)
ReplyDeleteLove it. I'm thinking of imitating you this year. I want a tree, but I don't want the hassle of a huge tree in our apartment.
ReplyDeletethat's so cute! the handmade white droves are amazing too!
ReplyDeleteYou saved it :) That darling Charlie Brown Christmas tree!
ReplyDeleteyour tree is absolutely fabulous....i love it
ReplyDeleteLove it!!
ReplyDeleteaw sweetie- what a lovely post! I love it :)
ReplyDeleteI hope that's true. My last post is a reflection of something similar but from the parents' point of view. We have decorations on our tree that tell a story of years past and some of those years were tight, or people were absent, or we had not much to spend so made everything. We keep it all, chaff and grain together.
ReplyDeleteIt's perfect!!
ReplyDeleteSo cute! I love your hand stitched doves.
ReplyDeleteSuch a sweet post...and sweet tree! And you're so right...my best holiday memories are always the simplest ones.
ReplyDeletesuch a cute tree! i can hear the piano "peanuts" music already.
ReplyDeletelove the tree! glad you gave in and got one - who cares if it's "just you" in your apartment? you're the most important one.
ReplyDeleteand i adore the little dove ornaments - i like the idea of having a tree with all the same kind of ornament...
Love it! I'm still on the prowl for a Charlie Brown tree of my own.
ReplyDeletewhat a pretty little tree!
ReplyDeleteI love it! Bird ornaments are my favorite!
ReplyDeleteYay, how adorable! I think it's awesome you're getting in the festive spirit. :)
ReplyDeleteWe have 5 artificial trees that go up here. It's been 9 years since I had a real tree so this year I've decided to get a real, little table top tree. I can't wait.
ReplyDeleteIt is perfect! Those ornaments your grandmother made are precious - how cool that you have those. We always get a charlie brown tree here too. Our living room is not large and a big tree is just too imposing.
ReplyDeleteDiana, your Charlie Brown tree is so lovely; my husband and I have a "Charlie Brown" tree from UO lending holiday cheer to our hotel room at the moment!
ReplyDeleteAnd your words- your memory- are beautiful; far more than I remember the gifts given, I remember the love and laughter of time spent with my family from Christmas' past.
Great story! Merry Christmas :)
ReplyDeleteWe will get a real tree, otherwise there would be anarchy. But we buy them from a neighbor, and I think this year we'll get a little juniper. Juniper smells nice, right? Always disappointing to accidentally get a non-smelly tree. My daughter has a little lit Charlie Brown that serves as her holiday nightlight.
ReplyDeleteThe doves are beautiful...the sentiment and the story behind them even more so.
I read about this post, and had to check it out. Your tree is absolutely beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThat was really lovely, the last line of the post. We are so into spending, buying and glitzy. We forget people. Love and thought.. they should come first.
ReplyDeleteI love everything about this:) Paul and I always got a Charlie Brown tree. This year we got a big one and wanted to get a Charlie Brown, too, but they didn't have any at the tree yard. Isn't that weird? In Manhattan the Charlie Browns are everywhere. We're decorating ours tomorrow. My mom and I had many times like the tale you told, and you're right--those moments are always the most special, aren't they?
ReplyDeleteI love your doves!! Thanks for the nice comments over at my blog!
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