This post could also be called The Year of the Great Lilting Tree.
BAH-HUMBUG.
Sunday night Michael and I got our Christmas tree and I was excited to get it set up. He built a fire, it was warm and cozy in the house and we put the tree in the stand. Then it proceeded to lilt. And keep lilting. And then it feel back against the wall. We adjusted this thing too many times to count.
I got the lights on and decided to wait to see if the tree was stable. Still lilting. Still falling. WTF?! We tried everything. Was it lined up properly? Were the little screw things tight enough? What is going on?!
Monday night after work we got home and it had fallen back against the wall. Every time I walked into the living room and saw it crooked or fallen, I felt nothing but irritation and like the tree was just one big failure instead of something HAPPY and joyous. Not only that, all the animals in the house are super intrigued by the tree and were under foot the whole time.
Screw it. I’m DRINKING.
NOG!
Finally, after crawling around on the hardwood floors for a very long time, I figured out what the issue was. There were a few branches that should have been trimmed off before going in the stand because it kept making the tree fall. Michael got the garden sheers and I clipped the three branches and TA-DA! THE TREE WAS STABLE.
Then I broke an ornament while decorating, of course shattering everywhere. Oh and did you know that tree stands have a “this is full enough” line for water? Yeah, I didn’t either. Until Michael was pouring the water in and I saw there were four holes around the sides where water comes pouring out. WEEEEEEEEE!!! Needless to say, the tree was an ordeal.
The good news is that it was finally staying upright and we could put ornaments on it. Things turned around and it was fun decorating the tree. I always buy some new ornaments after Christmas when they are on clearance and I usually forget all about them so it’s a surprise to see what I got last year!
🙂 I love that one. That’s Michael’s new ornament for this year. Also this one:
I also noticed a theme about my ornaments. I have a lot of food ornaments. A cupcake, a hotdog, a chef holding a cupcake, two gingerbread men, and a sushi plate:
Ah well, they are fun ornaments! I haven’t put presents under the tree yet. Fat Kitty loves to unwrap presents and eat bows and ribbon that are on the presents. Also, Maya likes to sit underneath the tree so I’ll wait for her to do that. 🙂
Do you have a tree this year?
Courtney @ Don't Blink. Just Run.
Hahaha, what a nightmare!! At least you finally got it figured out and could decorate. That’s really the only fun part. I like the ornaments. We usually buy wrapping and all that after the holiday, but I never thought about getting any other ornaments. Our tree is already pretty full with special ornaments anyway. I suppose if I saw one that was just perfect we’d have to get it though!
Lisa Eirene
Yes, at least we were able to fix it! That would have been disappointing. Michael was sweet; he said that it didn’t matter if the tree didn’t work and we threw it out, we could always put a broom in the corner and wrap Xmas lights around it. 🙂
Courtney @ Don't Blink. Just Run.
Aww! That IS really sweet!!
Carbzilla
This is why we have a fake, pre-lit tree, and we’re not even putting that up this year. Because our place is so small, we have a printed Xmas tree from IKEA that we will hang on the wall (if we can get the grommets put in in time). I just don’t have the time to decorate anymore. Sad.
I did get our initial in fake boughs to hang on our porch but now I have to get battery lights to decorate it with. Probably this weekend or by Amazon 🙂
Lisa Eirene
Good thinking! How is Max doing??
Courtney
This year was our first time putting up a tree together and it was a bit of an adventure. Tiki seems to be mildly allergic to the pine, but keeps rubbing her face in it & and Echo wants to drink the water and hide out under it. Thankfully, nobody has tried to climb it… yet.
As for the holes in the tree stand… I wonder if ours has those. I better check the next time I fill it with water.
Lisa Eirene
Awww that’s pretty cute. My kitties love to just sit underneath the tree. It’s pretty funny.
Kim
OY!! What an ordeal! The first year that we were married I wanted to get a real tree because growing up that’s what my family always had. The only problem – my husband (a military pilot) left the day after Thanksgiving for 3 weeks and I didn’t want to wait till he got home. I wrestled that tree for days before calling in help – last real tree we ever got!!!
Your tree looks great now that it isn’t lilting!
Lisa Eirene
Wow your ordeal is much worse!!
Diane Fit to the Finish
See? This is why we have a fake tree. Plop it in and you are good to go. 🙂
Seriously though – there is nothing like a real tree. Glad you finally solved the mystery of the tilting tree.
Lisa Eirene
So many people with fake trees! I admit it’s better for the environment, cheaper and probably easier. But there is something about having the tree smell….
Lori
We have a fake tree. I wish we could have a real one, but John is allergic to trees, so we have the fake one. At least there are no surprises with it each year. 😀 It also means we can put it up early and enjoy it longer.
Lisa Eirene
Good point.
Coco
Hah! All reasons why we have an artificial tree. We decorated ours this weekend – you can see my pics on my blog tomorrow.
Lisa Eirene
Man! So many people with fake trees! I had no idea.
Miz
each year I offer my NONJEWISH husband to get a tree—each year he says no 🙂
Lisa Eirene
It IS a lot of work….. 😉
Biz
We have a prelit fake tree – best decision we ever made! Haven’t had time to put it up yet – tonight might be the night!