First Snow and Decorating the Tree

On December 1st I woke up to this.
SNOW! Wow. What a beautiful sight. A wonderful way to kick off the month. Stanley didn't think if was half bad either.

Snow always makes him extra frisky. He's definitely a winter dog.

He never seems to run out of energy, just wants to play, play, play, in the cold white stuff.
This winter wonderland made me even more excited to decorate the tree. I didn't have too long to wait, just one day...

We started out with our usual colored lights, but soon decided that our woodsy tree needed a more delicate touch.

Just a string and a half of white lights. I have actually wanted to change to all white lights for a couple years now, but Mike finally gave in. And I love it.

We were also more selective with our ornaments, a first for me. I have always put them ALL on. But we stuck with a vintage feel and color palette.

This is my favorite vintage ornament I have, it helps set the tone. So that means bright colors and avoid plastic, muted colors and obviously modern ornaments, like from hallmark.

It was hard to sort through some ornaments that didn't make it onto the tree might end up decorating other parts of the apartments.

I am lucky to have a small collection of vintage ornaments passed down from my mom, including my tree topper, which I love.

The finished tree...

I love it. Very different from years past, but lovely. I love how the sparser branches make it possible to see ornaments that are hung on the side and back even, from the front. And the tree is so fresh! Last year needles would fall as you put on the lights, this year they stayed on even when we were pulling off the colored lights! I love petting my tree, so soft and lovely. It's a good pet tree. he he. Maybe I should name him.

But will it still be love in the harsh morning light?

Yes, the whole tree pics didn't do it justice, but the closeups show the details with renewed beauty.

Here you can see one of the final touches that I think make the tree, the bows. They are so cute and add wonderful color.

Here is one true and one wannabe vintage ornament. Can you guess which is which? The angel was painted by my grandma in the 70's, while I bought the little pinecone last year.

Both so cute.

There were a couple that slipped through that can't even try to be vintage...

Like this flying pig. I gave him to Mike last year in him stocking along with a donation to Heifer International in his name. I couldn't leave him off, this is his first year to grace the branches. Luckily his colors work well with the vintage ornaments.

So that is our tree this year. It makes me smile everytime I look at it. Just as your tree should. And this year I am going to be extra consciencious of watering and keeping it as soft and pettable as it is today, in fact I should go water it right now...