Tuesday, December 9, 2008

My Charlie Brown Christmas

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.

54 comments:

Jan said...

That is why this is such a special time of year. Even smells bring back memories.

Anonymous said...

Just 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.

Megan @ Pink O'Clock said...

you have officially inspired me to go out and get a little tree--i was wavering back and forth. thanks for this lovely post! xo

Esti said...

I also have a little tree, but kids love it anyway... it's all about christmas spirit, isn't it?

Melissa @ The Inspired Room said...

I 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.

Enjoy your little tree!

xo

aimee said...

this is so sweet! thanks for sharing :)

Unknown said...

oh, diana, i love it! it's perfect. :)

Leciawp said...

I love your tree and your sentiments. I have a number of ornaments made by my mother and grandmother that are treasures to me.

Joyce said...

Your 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!

Simple Answer said...

It's fabulous! The fake one I paid $100 for is about the same size!

Jan said...

adorable! we look for a different size and shape every year - just to keep it interesting! holes are good!

Anonymous said...

This tree is BEAUTIFUL! Love the star particularly.

Anonymous said...

That will be the best $10 purchase for Christmas! Wonderful!!

Uncle Beefy said...

ALWAYS love a Charlie Brown Xmas tree! SO sweet and touching. Well done and nicely remembered. (See me...smiling.)

Cindy said...

thank 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 ;)!

Lynne said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Lynne said...

I love your tree - and especially the doves. How lovely.

Suzanne : : S.HOPtalk said...

Ooooh you gave me the chills with this beautiful post.
One 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.

please sir said...

Thanks for your amazing comments - so glad you enjoy my wee little tree and all the memories it brings to you!

Couture Carrie said...

Awwwww I adore your tree, and the ornaments are so lovely. I can see how much you love Christmas and I feel the same way!

xoxox,
CC

The Rotary said...

Such a sweet little tree :)

georgia b. said...

what 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.

Anonymous said...

Diana, 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!

summer said...

yay! how exciting. and for only $10? that's amazing, and the doves give it the perfect touch.

Blair Friedeman said...

oh, 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:)

Unknown said...

A 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!

Ann Marie said...

It 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.

Joanna said...

I 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!

Jessie Cacciola said...

Aww, 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. ;)

Rachel said...

Love 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.

Tina { Luphia Loves... } said...

that's so cute! the handmade white droves are amazing too!

Julia said...

You saved it :) That darling Charlie Brown Christmas tree!

blue moss said...

your tree is absolutely fabulous....i love it

Michelle Parks McCourt said...

Love it!!

Krissy | Paper Schmaper said...

aw sweetie- what a lovely post! I love it :)

Anonymous said...

I 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.

Michelle Engel Bencsko said...

It's perfect!!

Anonymous said...

So cute! I love your hand stitched doves.

Laura @ the shorehouse. said...

Such a sweet post...and sweet tree! And you're so right...my best holiday memories are always the simplest ones.

Josephine said...

such a cute tree! i can hear the piano "peanuts" music already.

K said...

love 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.

and i adore the little dove ornaments - i like the idea of having a tree with all the same kind of ornament...

Michelle {lovely little things} said...

Love it! I'm still on the prowl for a Charlie Brown tree of my own.

Dianna said...

what a pretty little tree!

Milena said...

I love it! Bird ornaments are my favorite!

i.d. said...

Yay, how adorable! I think it's awesome you're getting in the festive spirit. :)

Two Tall Girls said...

We 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.

littlebyrd said...

It 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.

Courtney said...

Diana, 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!

And 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.

erin@designcrisis said...

Great story! Merry Christmas :)

Robin said...

We 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.

The doves are beautiful...the sentiment and the story behind them even more so.

Anonymous said...

I read about this post, and had to check it out. Your tree is absolutely beautiful!

Songy said...

That 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.

dee said...

I 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?

Design Scouting said...

I love your doves!! Thanks for the nice comments over at my blog!

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