There absolutely must be a tree...

On the second day...

It's pretty well documented here on the www that I love our Christmas tree. I found it 4 years ago at a pre-Thanksgiving sale, and it was love at first sight. It was the only one left that was 9ft tall, and the 40% off tag attached to it was just an added bonus. The spark that drew me to it 4 years ago hasn't died one bit. This year we even had to replace some of the lights that came on this pre-lit beauty, and I still love it as much as the day I brought it home. In sickness and in health, right?

You know when you find a pair of shoes you really like and you are tempted to buy 2 pair so you'll have a backup in case they ever stop making that particular shoe? Well, that's how I feel about this tree. If I ever find another one like it, I'll be tempted to buy it so I'll have a backup for when this one just absolutely falls apart beyond repair.

One of my favorite things to put on our tree is this raffia garland I made several years ago. I have a thing for raffia. It's so casual and natural and understated.

Anyway, when we were first married and living on a very modest youth minister's salary, I made the garland for our tree. I used several strands of raffia and tied them together with red, green, white, and blue scraps of fabric. I placed the fabric ties about 6 inches apart and each raffia strand has about 8 or so ties. It's so festive and simple at the same time. The garland has been on our tree ever since.

Every year at The Preschool we give the parents an ornament to help them remember the year their child spent with us. This is my 4th year to do this, and I finally came up with an ornament that I love. I'm nothing if not slow... and since I'm a parent in my class, I got to keep two of these.