Taking Down Christmas

Jan
7

It’s the most wonderful time!

Oh, the most wonderful time!

It’s the most wonderful time OF THE YEAR!


Taking down Christmas is Clover’s favorite time of the year. She stacks her gingerbread cookies and counts them twice. She tells the other girls: “One for Nutmeg, one for Clover. One for Fanta, one for Clover. One for Sprite, one for Clover.”

This is the latest I have ever left up a Christmas tree. I’ve really enjoyed this tree and have been reluctant to take it down. It went up in mid-December, though, and despite careful watering, the pine needles on the floor show it’s drying out.

I received a few new ornaments after the tree originally went up, and it’s been nice to have extra time to use them on the tree this year. Morgan remembered to get out this one that my mother gave to her last summer.

This one was given to me by 52’s sister post-Christmas, after I’d mentioned how much I liked birds with clips to perch on the tree.

This one came to me in the CITR forum ornament swap.

I pull off my popcorn, cranberry, and dried orange slice garlands over a big pan. Everyone will be happy to get some popcorn and cranberries. The orange slices will go into big baggies, drizzled with citrus fragrance oil then closed up for a few weeks to absorb the scent. I’ll use them in potpourri later.

The goats will be in cookies for awhile from this stash.

The ornaments go in boxes and back to the attic.

And so it is goodbye to Christmas…. Until next year!





Comments

  1. Nona says:

    Glad to hear yo share the popcorn and cranberrys
    with the wild life!
    I can’t wait to see the new baby Goats!

  2. Nic, SD says:

    The bird is crazy cute!

  3. Sue Nugent says:

    :snuggle: Ahhh! Seeing your babies, makes me sad. I had to give mine up after 3 years with the mother, and 2 years with the two little ones. I sometimes wish I could go back and get them,but I know they are treated good where they are, and they have lots more pasture and companions.You sure can grow to love any animal though. My pet rooster,Ellie Mae,is testimony to that.

  4. catslady says:

    My tree is still up but pretty soon lol. I love looking at my ornaments too since I’ve been collecting them for 41 years. My daughter took all of her with her 2 years ago but I still have more than enough for a very large tree. Soon my youngest will take hers too. I’m sad to let them go but thrilled they they both get to start out with ornaments that mean something to them. I’m not much for the store bought variety lol.

  5. Kathy in FL says:

    Our tree comes down today. This is the saddest part about Christmas, when it’s all over.

  6. greensborodailyphoto says:

    In rural North Carolina, we have been busy with “Breaking Up Christmas” parties!

    https://www.greensborodailyphoto.com/2009/01/breaking-up-christmas.html

    Jan
    Greensboro, NC

  7. joycee says:

    It’s hard for me to say goodbye to Christmas every year too, the decorations are all memories from the past 41 years. I can imagine just how good your house smells with the orange, ginger and cinnamon from the cookies. Tell Clover and the rest they are “Lucky ducks!”

  8. Carol Langille says:

    Yep..that time of the year and it’s not my favorite! I don’t like the house with no pretty lights or shiny ornaments…takes a while to get used to it again without the Christmas glory!
    But we only get Christmas for a little while each year and that’s what makes it special.
    Happy New Year to everyone!

  9. texwisgirl says:

    Post-Christmas goatie parties at CITR!!! Woo Hoo! Happy days!

  10. Cousin Sheryl says:

    I have to get my artificial tree taken down today while college boy is still here to carry it back to the attic. I will be double sad because my tree will be gone and “#1 Son” will be heading back to college. Siiiiiggggggggghhhhhhhhhh! (Can I borrow Morgan for a few days? She always keeps me happy!)

    :purpleflower:

  11. kelly says:

    until next year. I will definitely give our goats the gingerbread men.

  12. Linda Segerson says:

    I am still in the process….had a new roof put on the house and all the banging and scraping left bits & pieces of shingle grit all in the attic, got to get up there and clean before I put decorations back up there. :hissyfit:

  13. Lisa says:

    I must be weird! My tree almost always comes down the day after Christmas – any longer than that and it just depresses me. I love putting the tree up and really enjoy it from Thanksgiving to Chrismtas, but I *really* love how much larger and cleaner the house feels when the tree and other decorations are packed away.

  14. lilac wolf says:

    Cute – gave me an idea I want to try next year. 😀

  15. Ramona says:

    Goats will be happy, happy, happy!

  16. Bonnie says:

    My tree is still up, maybe today or tomorrow it will come down. I am always reluctant to take it down. With no decorations winter is gloomy. I love Christmas….

  17. Sharon Dz. says:

    Don’t forget to share the tree with the goats! Mine LOVE “used trees”!! They eat the needles and even strip the bark. Be aware that the tannins will turn their urine orange. Makes for pine-fresh cud burps too 🙂

  18. rileysmom says:

    oh well, I feel better knowing there are others that still have the Christmas tree up! I was fixing to take it down yesterday and hubby said, “So soon?” okay!
    It seems “crowded” in the room when it first goes up, but then when I take it down, the room feels “naked.”

  19. lindae says:

    I left a small tree up for a few more days that’s decorated with my favorite ornaments–vintage Shiny Brite ornaments. I have fond memories of these from my childhood. The tree is on a table to keep it out of reach of curious grandchildren.

  20. lavenderblue says:

    Ours went out the door tonight. I’d untrimmed most of it on Wednesday, except for the top few branches. I was afraid to reach too high because for some reason my son stuck one of his guitars on a stand underneath it. So tonight my son took down the angel and the rest of it including the lights. Those are his job to put on, too.

    I don’t know why he needed a day’s rest in between, but at least the job is done now.

  21. mommafox says:

    When I was growing up, our tree was always left up untill at least the 1st day of the new year. The popcorn and cranberry garlands and apple decorations were always left on the tree and it was placed by the front porch for the birds to enjoy. The tree also gave the birds a little protection from the wind and preditors. Using an artificial tree now, that tradition is no longer followed.

  22. Window On The Prairie says:

    We haven’t taken our tree down either. I so enjoy looking at it, and also haven’t had time. Maybe tomorrow as we expect to be snowed in here in NE Kansas.
    Suzanne

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