Some of you are new to my blog and aren’t familiar with a Christmas tradition we started several years back to take the stress out of finding the perfect Christmas tree. Our “Mystery” tree tradition goes like this…
We go to the nearest big box store and look for a tree in a certain height with a straight trunk and grab it with it’s string or netting in tack. This year the 6-7ft. trees in the Douglas Fir variety were about $25.00. We throw the tree in the back of the truck and head home wondering what it might look like once we cut away all the string.
This year it took most of the afternoon for the branches to relax as we had freezing temperatures here in the Seattle area and the tree was frozen. As it thawed we could see that it was another fine Mystery Tree choice. We’ve resigned ourselves to be happy with however it might look. Once the lights and decorations are added I’ll show more photos.
Slowly but surely it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at this old house.
I was so excited to see that WordPress is continuing their tradition of adding snow to my blog for the month of December!
Have you gotten your tree or started your decorating for Christmas?
I’ll be linking up to ABC Wednesday for the letter U soon. Thank you ABC Team and Denise Nesbitt!
The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b. 
Hi Ellen, I love your pictures; it’s so much fun to “be invited” into our fellow bloggers homes at Christmastime. I love to see everyone’s Christmas cheer! 🙂 The “mystery tree” is such a cute concept. 😀 We were picking out our tree the day after Thanksgiving and deliberating between this one and that. The fellow with the chainsaw who was cutting them down for us said, once you put lights and ornaments on, they all look pretty. I have to admit he’s right.
I love your cheery fire and the pretty stockings. They have a Scandinavian look about them, and I think that’s so pretty at Christmas. I also love your Santas on the hearth. It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…
Have a great week, Ellen!!
Hugs,
Denise
Ellen, I think that tree is perfect! I can’t believe you picked it sight unseen (almost). I love your stockings hung across your mantel. laurie
I like the natural look. It will be beautiful.
That’s a stress-free way to choose a tree! And it’s so pretty. I like the natural look best, too. There are a few things out but the tree will have to wait until the weekend.
I personally like a real tree and if it’s not ‘perfect’, it is more special.
As far as decorating goes, no, nothing yet, as we are not back living in our house. This weekend, maybe…
Your tree looks wonderful! You must have a good eye because with them all tied up that way it is hard to tell. Looking forward to seeing it decorated…the stockings are wonderful, too. You fill all those? Impressive.
I love that mystery tree tradition!!!! It looks a very beautiful tree. 🙂 No, we haven’t gotten our tree yet. I only had the Advent calendar out this morning. And this afternoon, I changed out the quilts and pillows. That’s about all I got done Christmas-wise. 🙂
Happy December to you!
What a great tradition…a fun way to eliminate the stress of “perfection”! And it looks like it’s going to be beautiful! At our house, decorating is in full swing, but it looks like a cyclone came through here!
You got a beauty! I love your tradition. My tree is upright and the lights are on it but no ornaments yet! The nuts ‘n bolts snack is made, the wall unit is decorated with lights, the outside flood lights are on – still so much to do! The best part is that it’s only 19 days till she comes home……
I love this tradition of yours. We focus too much on some supposed PERFECT about way too many things. If I could get a tree for that low price I would buy one to put on our porch. We have too many with allergies..a real tree inside doesn’t work. But I may have to go check tree prices….I LOVE the height of your tree. Such a fun tradition to look forward to….
Wow! Let the celebrations begin! Your home looks lovely, Ellen!
Enjoy! 🙂
A most welcome UNDERTAKING!
ROG, ABCW
You’re all set. Nice tree.
ABC WEDNESDAY
You got another nice one! Have you ever not? Looking forward to seeing it decorated in person.=)
A fun tradition! I’m enjoying the “snow” too! And glad it’s limited to my computer screen 😉
I love the snow on your blog. It is just falling like that here in Seoul. Beautiful tree 🙂
Love the tree, and love the warmly inviting hearth with stockings hung .
Wonderful tree and I love the fire and decorations.
We have a very realistic false tree because one of our daughter’s is desperately allergic to every kind of real tree we’ve tried,!
Have a wonderful Christmas,
Best wishes,
Di,
ABCW team.
Wonderfull Ellen, i envy you
No….. Christmas decorations always get in our house on dec. 9th. (our weddingday)
First because of the special occasion ofcourse, and second because we here in The Netherlands have other festivities (ends on dec. 5) wich i always will honor,
To bad that i am allergic to real christmas tree, they give my migraines within an hour.
So we don;t have one, also because we don’t like the fake ones and because we have a couple of dogs and cats wich like a real tree a little to much 😉 😉
I always make a mountain with many thing on it on a high and wide dinertable.
It’s great to hear about your traditions. Our wedding anniversary is December 6th! I’m sorry real trees give you migraines. There are lots of ways to enjoy Christmas without a tree.
I like that…your mystery tree tradition!
Your tree looks beautiful! We do the same thing. A treal ree should look natural and not perfect like an artifical tree …lol!
I love your mystery tree tradition! And your fireplace looks gorgeous! I am totally unmotivated this year. We usually decorate the first weekend in December but it is late on the calendar this year and I think that’s thrown me a bit.
And you didn’t even have to cut it down! 🙂 I think it looks wonderful.
Well done! It’s going to be another winner!!!
WordPress doesn’t need to add snow to my blog. We get enough of it here in Kansas City without piling on! 🙂