Christmas Tree Atbp

I have to say this - I'm glad I didn't put up and decorate our tree. But really, it served lazy and not artistic me everyone well that I didn't do the decorating. At least, everyone is spared from my folly. Trust me, I just have the ability to make a Christmas tree that looks like it's lifted from your nightmare.

(outside our main door)

My sister did all the hardwork and I, having no artistic bone in me, actually didn't do anything -well, except one. Okay, make that two. First was to look hands akimbo, nod and say that's beautiful - bossy me. Second, you just have to see down below - just promise not to laugh and pretend not to be appalled.

But there was a time - so long ago, long before blogging came to being- that I was in charge of the tree. It's horrible, my work and I'm glad there's no photo to show how not artistic I am. On the second thought, maybe there's one in our baul. No, no digging.

(Left- outside my room; Right- a favorite plate/decor from my sister)

Actually, in my family, there's a crown and a sash with the title "Miss You-Do-It-This-Time" that are passed around. My mother was the first recipient to these and she held on to them with the dignity and generosity of a mother. Despite budget constraint (I can just imagine), my mother made sure there was a tree in our house every December. Sometimes, there were cards and balls hanging;

sometimes, flowers; other times, fake candies. For quite sometime she did the decorating until the time came when against her better judgment she passed everything to someone whom she thought might be able to do the task -but really could not.

I'm not sure how many years I did that but I was so glad when I had to relinquish the responsibility to my sister. When this sister went to work away from home, she turned over the whole thing to our youngest.

And so our youngest wants to have a verrrry red Christmas tree this year, hence the red balls, red ribbons with gold trimmings and the poinsettias.

So here's our tree - the reflection, anyway. It's taken last week.

I could have been contented with a smaller tree but my mother, who had weathered the years of having the smaller (and smallest) ones with plastic leaves or trees made of sticks and with no leaves at all, like to have this one so... if it makes her happy, then so be it.

So what about my contribution? It's this.

Yes just those balls -old ones from past years which I put in a clump. Horrible? Pretend you didn't see them.

Anyway, here's the picture of our tree this morning. Even the gifts are in red - but that's just sheer luck because we had most of the gifts wrapped for free (one of the malls offered gift-wrapping for free). See the chain at the bottom- it came loose because my son loves to play with it.

Merry Christmas!

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