tree4

I’m counting it a huge win that the tree is bought, inside, and up as today is only the 2nd. We’re going live this year, since our artificial tree died this summer from a case of mold. I’m hoping this Frasier will open up a bit more so I can shape it up a bit. I think we’ll wait to put on the twinkle lights and hope that happens.

Speaking of which, we had to buy  new ones (see dead artificial tree above) and the boy and I tried desperately to talk IZ into blue lights this year. Nothing doing. We were informed in very stern Danish tones, that  Christmas lights aren’t negotiable, “Red lights outside, white lights inside. That’s the way we’ve always done it.”  Then he gave us that look that informed us were C.R.A.Z.Y for thinking anything else. Here I thought I was being all traditional with a real tree, since my first impulse was to find a vintage silver one. Or better yet, a flocked one! Apparently, there are rules about these things. Danish rules. Why am I just now cluing into this fact?

However, looking at that photo above, I will concede it was probably a good idea to choose white against all the yellow in the room.  But that doesn’t mean we let him have an easy win. Poor IZ has endured an entire day of, “What did blue ever do to YOU?” and “What exactly do you have against blue, anyway?” It’s the price he pays for avoiding a very public hissy fit in Fred Meyer.

And all this talk of blue lights has me thinking it might be time to paint over this yellow to a more blue (and photography) friendly color. You know, for next year. Because if Halloween teaches us nothing each year, it’s that those cheap import twinkle lights have very short life spans. This year’s twinkle lights will need to be replaced eventually. It may not be a blue Christmas this year, but 2011 already has promise.