Christmas 2020, for the first time since I first did my "own" Christmas tree - in, I think, 1987 - I didn't. It was the first pandemic Christmas. Things seemed black. Looking back, it's very hard to remember much about that year or the beginning of 2021. Christmas 2020 was the leanest and most mean I've ever known. I can't remember what we ate, or who we ate it with, except it was at home. As it always is. Last year was also lean, but because it was the second year under lockdown and folk were stuck, I made an effort, and the tree went up. And we did a turkey. I remember being determined to make it "normal". I think it mostly was. I do remember not being able to find the Christmas lights. The ones I wanted. I'd clearly not put them in the right place. I couldn't find them. Until March...
Doing the tree is a "thing". My mother always "did" it on December 16th - a public holiday in South Africa. It's also when I try to put up our tree. Now that I do the market, that public holiday generally coincides with the annual McGregor Christmas market, so now it happens when I can. That I did it yesterday is a small miracle: it's been known to happen on Christmas Eve.
Speaking of trees, @dswigle lamented the cost of "fresh", live trees not so long ago. About six years ago, I decided to ditch the plastic tree I'd bought - in 1987. Moving to McGregor has been liberating: it's released me from the pressure of being part of the herd. With that has come the freedom to explore different things. Perhaps it's less about McGregor than it is about reaching an age and stage in life when I've recognised that it's ok given myself permission to do what I used to consider was out of left field.
One of these was probably our fourth Christmas in McGregor. Finding a spot for a tree had always been a challenge, especially with a kitten in the house and it was the third Christmas with a kitten in the house (that's a story for another time). Besides getting rid of the plastic, I had to find a "home" for the tree that was out of the reach of kittens' temptation.
A dead tree branch from our then new plot behind the house became my inspiration.
The long-suffering husband helped to drag it down to the house. Sighed and fled. This was the result.
I stupidly (or to The Husband's relief), didn't keep that branch, so the following year, after the fire, I found another, rather charred branch. For obvious reasons, I decided not to hold on to that rather dirty, blackened piece.
But
The bug had bitten and I resolved never to haul out the plastic tree again. I started to look for something that would work and the dried out racemes of aloe ferox flowers would work perfectly. Ours hadn't flowered by then, so I set out to find one.
Janet came to my rescue, telling me that there were some magnificent specimens on the road to the farm where she lives. She spoke to the owner who arrived with a couple. I chose the one that has been our "tree" for the last tree years. For the fourth, it hung around, gathering dust in the carport. Oh, and The still long suffering Husband spray painted it white for me.
I took a somewhat minimalist approach to the tree this year. As you gathered, most of the ornaments have stories. I won't bore you with each and every one. It's part of the joy of doing the tree.
It's been another rough year. In putting up our "tree", I am putting my best foot first and looking to put the old year behind me.
Until next time, be well
Fiona
The Sandbag House
McGregor, South Africa
Photo: Selma
Post script
If this post might seem familiar, it's because I'm doing two things:
- re-vamping old recipes. As I do this, I am adding them in a file format that you can download and print. If you download recipes, buy me a coffee. Or better yet, a glass of wine....?
- and "re-capturing" nearly two years' worth of posts.
- From Wordpress, I use the Exxp Wordpress plugin. If this rocks your socks, click here or on on the image below to sign up.
- Join Hive using this link and then join us in the Silver Bloggers' community.
Original artwork: @artywink
- lastly, graphics are created using partly my own photographs, images available freely available on @hive.blog and Canva.
