Rocky Mountain Cozy

Decking the Halls

 The Christmas tree is finally up!

Holiday Tree 2011

This year's Christmas tree is no small feat. No, it's not just finding the time to decorate. What is spectacular about this tree is that it comes in a 55-gallon bucket!!

Yes, in keeping with our landscaping overhaul that began late this Spring, my husband and I decided to purchase a living tree that will be added to our backyard following its indoor coronation. And while the nursery used a hydraulic lift to place the tree in our truck, my amazingly crazy husband carried the tree inside himself! (I've been put in charge of digging the hole for planting the tree.)

Forget the traditional treeskirt. I draped a simple khaki tablecloth at the tree's base and filled in with candy-cane striped poinsettias.

One of the challenges in decorating with a tree intended for outdoor planting is to use restraint in pruning and let the unevenness of nature just be.

For decorations, I used red and white gingham ribbon and pearl-shaped lights I purchased in New York City many years ago. I wish I had two or three more strings of these gorgeous lights! Ornaments are souvenirs from travel mixed in with some family treasures.

Three Wise Men

My favorite ornament since childhood is this post World War II painted glass sphere featuring the Three Wise Men. I feel ever so fortunate that my mother has entrusted me with its care. The glass is paper thin and the paint is extra shiny. I handle this ornament as little as possible in hopes of enjoying it for many more years to come.

The Dining Room

One of my favorite features about the tree placement in the dining room is that it can be seen from the kitchen, the hallway, the staircase and the living room. It feels like the new center of the home. Best of all, at night, the tree greets you as you turn up the front walk.

The Christmas Stockings Are Looking for a New Hallway Color

 

The last stop on this holiday tour brings us to the first decorating project of the new year. First, I must say that I love the stockings on the banister in this house. They provide a dose of instant cheer as you open the front door. This year, I went with simple garland and simple plaid bows.

What I'm not loving is the color of the hallway. When we purchased the home, the hallway was a salmon-mauve color combined with a deep billiard table teal. We picked a buttery yellow to bring some sunshine to the hall without being too sunny. The space still feels a little sad, though. We've considered gray, a pale green, smoky blue, tan grasscloth, wallpaper, hand stenciling . . . This "room" spans the first two floors of the house and connects to all but two rooms on both levels. It needs some personality.

If you've got some ideas for our center hall, post a comment on this blog for consideration. Results to be revealed in the New Year!