The Eclectic Christmas Tree

Our eclectic Christmas tree is as lively as the white Christmas tree is soothing. This artificial tree is in the sunroom and stands about eight feet tall, with bushy limbs that brush the floor. We trim the tree in miniature colored lights, and garlands of wooden cranberries. After that, anything goes.

The traditional parade of santas, snowmen, toy soldiers, etc., are represented, but there's also some unusual stuff, not generally thought of as Christmas ornaments. Like three 3-inch square empty boxes that once contained teabags from Harrods department store in London. My stepdaughter brought these to us as a souvenir from her trip to England. To preserve the gift as a memory, I tuck them into the branches of the tree.

I also tuck small breath mint tins from Rome into the tree. These were souvenir gifts from a former co-worker. There's a Korean figure, meant as a refrigerator magnet, still in it's plastic bag, on the tree, too. This came from a granddaughter who visited that country.

Our own travels are not so far-flung. But there are souvenirs on the tree from those trips, as well. Many of them are keychains. I discovered years ago that these inexpensive items, some of which feature photos or pictures of the area, hang nicely on the tree. One from Texas is a cowboy hat, and one from another trip is a camera that features area pictures when you look through the viewfinder and click it.

Other things that I've tucked or hung on the tree include four "Little Little Golden Books." These books are about three inches square, and contain full Golden Book stories. I got them at a flea market, and my husband drilled holes in the top bindings for cords to hang them. They are cute.

There are also "scrolls" on the tree. These were actually menus, written on parchment paper, and rolled up for guests attending a local high school Madrigal Feaste event. "Lorde" and "Ladye" (and our names) are hand-printed on the scrolls. Another scroll tells the story of "The Legend of the Christmas Spider."

The eclectic tree also reflects our lifestyle, with fishing theme ornaments, cameras, gardening tools, cars pulling campers, Shih Tzu dog ornaments, patriotic ornaments, a stuffed animal that represents our favorite basketball team, and grandchildren pictures. Handmade ornaments are here, too, like the crocheted bear, made by my mother, and the glittery ones made by grandchildren years ago.

Trimming this tree is always a walk down memory lane. And it's the favorite of family who visit during the season.