And a partridge in a pear tree

I have a confession to make. 

I haven't put up a big Christmas tree for the past two years.  Our boys live about 2 1/2 hours away and normally they would drive up together on Christmas Eve but this year and last they have had to work late on Christmas Eve.  So we decided they would just stay at my Dad's and we would meet up them first thing Christmas morning and we would do our celebration there.  I think it is fun for my Dad to have the commotion in the morning.  

Putting up a big tree seemed like a lot of effort for just the two of us (not the best attitude, I realize) so my pretty ornaments, collected over the years, lay snug in their tissue beds up in the attic. 

This year, however, I decided to do a little faux, themed tree.  I went to Michael's on a day when they were practically giving away their pre-lit trees and found a 4 1/2 foot tree in a pot that I thought would work nicely on the round table in the living room.

I went through my ornaments (man am I ever impressed with myself at how well I pack them up after the holidays.  Usually by then I'm ready to ball everything up in a sheet and shove it in the back of a closet) and pulled out all the sparkly white ones and all the bird ornaments I've collected over the past few years. 

I like the effect.  It's a nice touch of sparkle and light and the all white look is soothing to me.  

One thing I didn't realize when I bought the tree is that is has a fine dusting of glitter on the branches.  Didn't realize it until Rick had pulled it out of the box and was standing in a swirl of glitter drifting down upon him.  Now he is decorated and ready for the holidays.