The "Evolution" of our Christmas Tree

Well. We got the tree in the house. It had to be trimmed a wee bit more and dried out a little on the back porch, but it is in it's place in the sunroom ready to be decorated. The boxes of ornaments are patiently waiting to take their place on the branches. I'll let the kids help with that, but first thing's first the lights have to be put on. Now you have to understand. I am a little anal about the lights. They have to be just right (translation-I have to do it myself). Robby learned this early on in our relationship. Being the helpful man he is, he put the lights on for me once. He didn't do a BAD job, but it just didn't work for me. I ended up taking them all off and starting over. See, I'm not satisfied with just walking around the tree stringing the lights up as I go. They have to be carefully placed on each branch, all the way in to the trunk and back again. It is a painstaking process that I absolutely LOVE. I think it was my Dad who "taught" me the fine art of placing lights on the Christmas tree.
I don't remember him ever being swallowed by our tree though!


Garrett took this shot from the floor under the tree. You thought I was kidding about "each branch" didn't you!
I only got about halfway up the tree before I ran out of lights. We have a couple of strands that are half out and several more that don't come on at all anymore. What a sad sight!
My wonderful husband spent an hour replacing bulbs and fuses in an attempt to salvage at least one strand of lights.

Alas, it was no use. These lights will take their rightful place in the garbage.

Look at all the dejected Christmas lights, never to grace the branches of an evergreen tree again.

Tomorrow (after my Anatomy final) I'll be headed to target in search of replacements. Hopefully I can find a Buy-One-Get-One sale! Until then, our tree will sit naked.