by Roxanne -

After-Christmas Tree Hangover

Photo Apartment Therapy, Elle Interior

Real Christmas trees were a great idea back in the day when people heated their homes with log fireplaces. But I’m wondering if they make much sense  for the world today. It takes 10-12 years to grow a pine tree to the size needed for a Christmas tree. Trees help conserve the soil and put good things into the atmosphere. Then we cut them down by the millions to use in our homes for a month of decoration. The week after Christmas most of these trees will be wrapped in a large trash bag and set out at the curb. Hopefully some will be composted but in large urban areas most are destined for the landfill or an incinerator (ugh!). Although one study insists real trees are less damaging, why not change the paradigm completely and be kind to the environment instead?  I think we are imaginative enough to find even better options. Find some inspiration at Apartment Therapy here.

On another holiday note, we spend most of the year conserving electricity, turning down the thermostat, turning off lights and appliances when not in use. Then in December we plug in lots of lights? Just wondering . . .

Maybe we can consider new ways of thinking about Christmas trees, ornaments, holiday reminders and how we might enjoy them, beyond just getting an artificial tree.

by Roxanne -

Holiday Decorating Without a Tree

Photo A. Meshar

Tapping into my retail background I have made some progress in coming up with fun Christmas decor ideas that are inexpensive, fast, but elegant. Happily, none of them involves a tree, ornaments or lights – yeah! It’s my pleasure to pass them on to you. If any attract you feel free to duplicate or better yet – improve upon it!

A few years back I decided I liked the smell of evergreens, but not all the expense, care and mess of a real tree. That year I gathered various evergreen branches (long & short needle, different textures like Juniper and Spruce) and placed them in a large glass hurricane vase with water and wrapped with a red velvet bow. On a server, mantel, counter or table it looked beautiful and smelled great.

One year I filled the same hurricane vase with tangerines and foil-wrapped Christmas hard candies. Wrapped with a bow and rimmed with candy canes, this too, smelled good and looked great. Also it didn’t need watering, the needles didn’t fall off and the tangerines could be offered to guests.

Last year I came across giant cinnamon sticks (about 12 inches each) and giant pine cones at the florist. I decided these would be great stuffed in the hurricane and accented with branches of bright berries. Again, great cinnamon smell and even better – no watering!

This year the cinnamon sticks and pine cones are on the mantel. A large velvet runner drapes the server. Gathering up the silver and glass candlesticks, glass bowls and votives that we almost never use, I arranged them on the runner. A menorah and a string of gold beads complete the display. It twinkles, sparkles and the tea lights are pine scented. Greeting cards are placed on a large platter on the dining table and a basket of berries on the door greets visitors. All of this took about 20 minutes and required no tree cutting. We reused and enjoy what we already have with minimal use of space. This is important in a small townhouse.

Fast, easy and festive. What will next year bring?

Photo A. Meshar

“You have your brush, you have your colors, you paint your paradise, then – in you go.” Nikos Kazantzakis

by Roxanne -

Adult Tree House

Did you have a tree house as a kid? In fourth grade I had a friend whose father built her a terrific tree house. It was large enough for two sleeping bags so we could sleep out there all night. And we did. This tree house had a ladder that took you up through a trap door. There was a plywood floor and the walls went half way and finished with screening,  important in Minnesota where mosquitoes can be annoying. The tree house was topped with a shingled roof. Being up in the tree house was like being in a different world. Everything looked so far away when I was up so high. After dinner sounds from the kitchen faded into the distance. The sky and stars seemed closer. The leaves rustled in the tree and I could smell the greenness of it all. I remember many adventures there, including evening escapades with flashlight in hand.

Well here’s an imaginative take on that idea – a tree house for adults. See more here.

But it also reminds me that tree houses need healthy trees:

“What is the use of a house if you haven’t got a tolerable planet to put it on?” –  Henry David Thoreau