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I love our Christmas tree! Imperfect, too tall, too wide, too sparse, it’s a “wild” tree. Chopped from the woods, it was free, which totally works with my budget. I’ve been posting (and will be continuing to post) some of my homemade Christmas gift ideas–because everyone on my gift list is getting something homemade. Living way out in the boonies, an hour from a mall, tends to distance a person from the commercialism of the holiday season. Having little money widens the gap even further, and in fact, makes the gap into a friend. And decorating my tree with store-bought decorations suddenly seems completely undesirable. (Even ones I already own.) Shiny balls from Wal-Mart and yes, even lovely Hallmark ornaments are out of place and out of my sync with my Christmas.
There is no commercialism in my Christmas. No store-bought gifts, no store-bought decorations, no store-bought tree. I could call it a big fat bummer and be depressed. Or I could call it a blessing and, with the temptation of spending money removed, make the most of the opportunity to fully experience Christmas in a more organic way. What is most amazing to me about this immersion in an organic Christmas is that my kids aren’t even asking for anything. Which isn’t to say they won’t get any Christmas presents–they will. Family will send gifts, and at the last minute I’ll count up my available cash and give them what I can so they can do what teenagers enjoy most–their own shopping. And they will have filled stockings with their favorite candies and fresh decks of playing cards. But they are so removed from the hullabaloo of Christmas lights and store displays that they don’t expect anything. They aren’t caught up in the holiday madness because they just aren’t exposed to it. I think it’s one of the most amazing things about moving out into the country. The materialistic atmosphere just evaporates somewhere about halfway down our rock-dirt road and something else, something freeing, seeps into your soul. We don’t need all that stuff here. And that feels good.
So I’m decorating my Christmas tree in sugar cookie cutouts, gingerbread men, dried oranges, garlands of popcorn and cranberries, mixed only with what ornaments I have that are handmade and/or vintage family hand-me-downs. Combined with the scent of the white pine tree, my house smells incredible.
I’ve been keeping busy this week, a little at a time between work and life, prepping ornaments. It’s quite a production.
I like things to be simple, so for the home-baked ornaments, I’m using only sugar cookie stars and gingerbread men. Simple makes a statement when it’s in quantity, and boy am I making quantity.
The sugar cookie stars are sprinkled in a variety of colors (everything I had on hand).
You can see my sugar cookie recipe here.
To use sugar cookie cutouts and gingerbread men as ornaments (and gift tags), poke a hole with a toothpick into the cookies while they’re still fresh from the oven. Then use a needle to poke ribbon through the hole to make an ornament hanger.
I love gingerbread men. They are so much fun! (I still have a lot of gingerbread men decorating to do.)
You can see my gingerbread cookie recipe here.
To prepare the fruit, I slice oranges thinly and bake at a low temperature (about 200-degrees) for three to four hours, then let sit a few days to finish drying. I stick cloves in the oranges (before drying) to make them pretty and it also adds to the fragrance.
Popcorn garlands take a long time to make. It’s a good thing to do late at night while you’re watching TV or talking. Stringing popcorn is kind of like snapping beans. It seems like it takes forever but it’s worth it. I love the look of popcorn garlands.
I strung about ten pieces of popcorn then one cranberry as my pattern. Not that I was really counting…..
I’m still working on my tree, but I’ll post a pic when it’s all decorated, along with some closeups of some of the handmade and vintage ornaments that are going up as well. Now tell me about your tree! What do you like to put on that’s home-baked or handmade?
Posted by Suzanne McMinn on December 16, 2008
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We are still using the artificial tree we bought over 10 years ago that’s missing at least one branch. We have low ceilings, so it’s short enough and my husband is allergic to the real thing. I don’t bake anything to put on my tree, but it is covered in the ornaments my kids have made over the years. It seems like every year they each (I have 4 kids) bring home at least one new ornament they made in Kindergarten or Art class or whatever. As for the non-home made ornaments, they are mostly ones I got to take from Mom’s tree, and other ornaments that mean a lot to us. For a long time my husband’s grandparents would get each kid an ornament with their name on it each year, but as we had more and more kids and they got older they’ve had to stop sending those, but we treasure the ones we have, and the kids always love putting on “their ornaments”. We never did like that fuzzy garland stuff, so we use strings of wooden beads. I remember one year we did string popcorn, but the girls were too impatient to make it again. We used to have one of those big fancy light-up angels on the top.. we’d gotten it as a wedding gift. But this year the girls said they felt it wasn’t right for our tree and they got out an old tarnished spikey star topper that looks just right. So our humble tree is kind of like Charlie Brown’s tree. It looks shabby until all the love is put into it, and then I think it ends up looking pretty special.
Thanks for sharing yours. I can’t wait to see pics of the whole tree. I’m so excited! I’ll bet your whole house is gorgeous!
-Patty
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Barbara
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This year is tight financially. A move, hospital bills, new water heater, plumbing bills and chosing to help a family member in need have given us the opportunity to bring out our old “stand by” tree. It’s 3 feet tall and plastic. The kids have thoroughly enjoyed decking it with paper chains. (We do have store bought ornaments, but they just didn’t feel right.) DH and I enjoyed watching them. This year and for this moment, our little tree and paper chains are the best tree, ever.
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This year, we have a big puppy to contend with and money is a little tight, so we didn’t buy a big tree. Instead, our little house will have 3 big Norfolk pines that we put on tables. We’ll hang only the most special ornaments on them. The hard part is going to be deciding which are the “most special” ones.
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You are an inspiration in what the real meaning of Christmas is – its about spending time together and enjoying life.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
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My cats would have a field day with that tree though.
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We were very poor newlyweds when my husband was in the military. Christmas was spent a thousand miles away from our families and we actually cashed in some pop bottles to be able to buy small gifts. I remember getting small makeup bag. It was simple and I didn’t feel deprived of “things”. Being so far from the love of family I realized what was really important.
- Suzanne, the Farmer’s Wife
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See it here:
http://chickensintheroad.com/forum/primitive-crafts-country-style/cinnamon-applesauce-ornaments/page-1/post-5069/#p5069
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Your tree with its homemade finery is very inspiring. I have done the same old thing for years now and my kids just weren’t very excited about decorating this year. I think a Homemade Christmas is just what we need to make next year the most memorable holiday ever. Thanks for the ideas!
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I was lucky enough to be on a yahoo group that suggested to check out your blog and included the link only a few weeks ago. I have become a daily reader. I truly look forward to having a cup of coffee with you and your family early every morning.
You embody the essence of what I believe are the desires of more people than you know.
I finally get Christmas. Reading what you write echos the voices in my head and heart. Simple and abundant love is all that we need. No video games, no electronic doodads,
no chia pets. Finding what is in your heart and living the life that you know is what is right for you is the best Christmas anyone can experience. I am certain that most every day of your life is a kind of Christmas.
I don’t know if I will even decorate this year, I just lost my Mom and the shiny, happy, garish and beautiful ornaments dont entice me at all. But seeing your homemade tree and reading your thoughts and feelings makes me feel connected to it anyway. I know next year will be different. I just wanted to convey to you what you have done for me this year
I wish you peace and happiness this and every season.
Esther in SC
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My decorations are totally commercial, because time is the commodity I have the least of at the moment. But, that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t LOVE to have a homemade Christmas…if the rest of the world would just slow down and let me do it!
I can almost smell your tree from here.
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I can remember when I was young we did the popcorn, cranberries and my mom would take oranges – tie ribbons around them and stick cloves in them.
we have no tree, once again, this year, but this year (other than DH being scrooge – only with decorating – LOL) we have no room, we have 6-month-old twin granddaughters and always spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with my sister and her family – she has four children.
I absolutely love your way of living – the kids not asking for anything – how amazing. You are truly blessed in so much more than money could every buy.
I enjoy your blog so much, first place I go when I am able to take a break from work (or before).
Thanks for the smiles
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Other than that, I truly don’t get into all the “I have to have the Tickle-Me-Elmo” or whatever is big this year. And we don’t buy electronic toys! I dislike the Leap Frog series – it’s another electronic substitute for overworked and overtired parents who can’t find the time to sit down and read to their kids. That’s not to say I haven’t used the electronic babysitter in my life (TV), because I have, but I am working towards using those crutches less and less…
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But we do make homemade ornaments. Well we did when the kids were younger. Not so much into it now. When Boo was younger, we always made enough for his class at school.
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About 3 years ago I thinly sliced up a few oranges and apples and dried them in the dehydrator. They made fantastic ornaments with a bit of ribbon to hang them. The light shines through the orange slices so nicely -but I like your idea of cloves stuck in them before drying. I may try that this year.
Unfortunately, both of our cats like popcorn so a cranberry/popcorn garland is out, but I have always wanted to do that.
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Merry Christmas!
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All the cookies and dried oranges are such a FUN idea – esp. for the children!!!!! I think the closest I ever got to having edibles on my tree was candy canes. LOL But, I do have vintage ornaments, and ornaments from our Disney trips, and dolls from Europe…meaningful things to me. I like trees like ours, that have sentimental meaning!!!! You are very creative and talented. Your tree will be valued by your children and 52, for EVER.
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Here is what we did this year:
Gather pinecones (free), outline the tips with glue and then roll in a mixture of cinnamon and ground cloves, let dry and then place in your tree or hang from twine for an ornament. You can even add a bit of glitter for shine.
OR – Have you made pomanders before? Wrap ribbon crosswise around an orange leaving enough to make a loop and bow. Push in whole cloves in the exposed part of the orange. The orange will dry out and the cloves act as a preserver so the fruit does not rot. As the fruit dries and shrinks you will have to readjust/tighten the ribbon. You can also eliminate the ribbon and just put in a pretty bowl for a centerpiece.These will last for years and smell WONDERFUL. Those cinnamon-applesauce ornaments are fabulous too and last for years.
Have a Merry, Blessed Christmas!
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I have felt something missing from Christmas for several years, and haven’t been able to get into the spirit.
I finally realized it was the fact that I was bombarded with commercialism and greed. The real meaning of Christmas has been lost in the stampeding crowds,Nativity scenes declared unconstitutional,Merry Christmas replaced with Happy Holidays, I could go on and on, but I won’t.
I love to watch The Walton’s Homecoming because of the simplicity of it. Family , home, love.
We’ve lost thousands of our brave young men and women in this senseless war and thousands more are scattered all over the world. I don’t think they are worried about how to get the latest electronic gadget or big screen t.v. All they want is to be home.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for writing your blog every day, and especially for today’s post. You wrote so eloquently about what I feel.
Your family is blessed to have you, and your extended family(readers) are blessed as well.
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Merry Christmas to you and yours
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http://rashvowsandbeautifulgrandchildren.blogspot.com/2008/12/christmas-on-compact.html
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http://williams-arena.blogspot.com/2008/12/homemade-christmas.html
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I’m trying very hard not to get sucked into the commercialism and I wish I could get my daughter to follow along. But she’s only 8 and she is IN LOVE with the Disney movie, Bolt, so I had to get her a stuffed Bolt toy. I keep trying to tell her that Christmas isn’t about getting, but giving. Maybe my words will eventually sink in.
Can’t wait to see what’s on your tree! I have a variety of ornaments on mine, most of them from my childhood or those that my daughter has made.
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We hear so much bad news about the economy, jobs are lost everyday and it seems that there is an apartment fire 2 or 3 times a week in my city. But when I come here, I feel so much better, love your blog and can’t live with out the forum and my Chicken friends.
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I don’t think the “true” meaning of Christmas had anything to do with fancy, shmancy, lite-up trees or hundreds of unwanted, unneeded gifts around the tree. I don’t celebrate Christmas, but IF I did, I would do it just like you do!
You have more of the true meaning than anyone I’ve met.
And I think you probably have more peace of mind.
Have a great time stringing that popcorn Girl!
Miss Lila in Atlanta
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Merry Christmas!!
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Thanks SO MUCH for the recipes. By the way…are your gingerbread men soft? I’m looking for a recipe for SOFT gingerbread men.
Blessings from Ohio…
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My tree is an artifical tree. A month a go we were going though some of my mother in laws stuff and I came across a bunch of snow flakes she had bought. We figure she bought them to decorate her tree and for some reason never used them. She was one to always save stuff for just the right moment and just the right moment never comes. Anyways I took them home and there was more than enough to do my tree. I like to collect ordiments also. I got a bunch from a swap group I joined this year. So they are on another small tree I had. Simple and no fuss.
After reading about you bakeing cookies and having a homemade Christmas I just realized that I was missing something this year in our Christmas. The homemade part!!! Not that we will do big on gifts. But something about giving something handmade from the heart does something for me at this time of year. Thanks for the reminder. It kind of late for this year. But I think I might start a list for next year.
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I dried apple and orange slices in November and tied them on just string along with torn calico strips to make garlands. I dried my slices on Warm in the electric oven and they came out so pretty (I posted directions and pics on my blog). I also made paper stars for the tree and those directions and pics are on my blog too. Simple, but so pretty. The dried fruit slices smell so good!
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We would choose a scrawny tree on purpose, so we could dress it up and make it beautiful with our homemade ornaments. Then, we would cut a star out of a piece of cardboard, cover it with foil and fasten it on the top with hair pins.
Many years later, I discovered why I was always sick on Christmas Day. Now, I am limited to using an artificial tree.
Thank you for sharing your tree and the recipes.
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Love the tree
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I know this is am older Christmas posy, but I love re-reading it and looking at the picture of Morgan holding the cookies, my how she has grown.
I have to say I have not been near a mall for 3 years and dont do the Christmas shopping either, I laugh at the ads on tv and it the newspaper. Can you beleive stores opening at 1AM for holiday shopping?? I dont miss it one bit, I love the idea of a real old fashioned Christmas and getting back to the real meaning of Christmas–how close are we to losing that? I am so happy to see some of the younger posters taking their families to where they should be. Some times I feel like I have shut out the outside commercial world, and it feels so good.
Thank you for helping us all to remember when….
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Sorry about the spelling–it isnt because I have been in the egg-nog, just didnt have the lamp on!