Christmas and Otherwise....
I Hope you will understand, Dear Readers, the enormous Joy that I feel when the tiny Christmas tree lights on the tree in The Lovely Old Dollhouse turn on! There is just something so magical and timeless and beautiful about a Christmas tree with the lights glowing, but even moreso when it is in a dollhouse! Of course, for Helen and Charles it is the "same old" tree in the "same old" corner of the Living Room and it has been just so for how many years? But never mind, the effect is always the same... Peace and Joy come into their hearts and Love for everyone and everything seems possible!
"There!" said Charles with great satisfaction.
(It seems it is always his job to set up the tree,
but he really likes it that way.)
"I think it looks better than ever" he adds happily.
"You do such a wonderful job with
the Tree, Charles," said Helen quietly.
"It always reminds me
of our first Christmas together..." she added.
"Do you remember?"
"How could I forget, Darling..." he replied gently...
"The first major dispute of our marriage...
and I thought it would please you
to have the Tree a surprise!"
"And instead I was so shocked
that it was up already
and nowhere near Christmas Eve
when my family had always put it up....
what was I to think...?" said Helen laughing softly.
"Well, you told me quite clearly
what you thought, as I recall..." said Charles...
"Something about poor taste and
lack of sharing...." he added with a grimace.
"I wish you could have seen the expression
on your face, my love..." replied Helen, sweetly.
"It nearly broke my heart... " she said.
"But we learned from it and built a better tradition
for ourselves because of it, I think" she added.
"Always to do it together..." said Charles smiling.
"And never before St. Lucia's Day and
Never as late as Christmas Eve..."added Helen wistfully.
"I think it is just Perfect...." said Helen.
And lest you think I have neglected the other Houses
the tree has been lit in the Castle Great Hall...
Where it is very dark, even in the middle of the day.
(I will have to bring out the accessory lighting...)
And over at Sally May's and Chip's House
the Tinsel Tree has been set up
and shines brightly all through the day.
Ernie and Blanche have gotten used to the "style" of the tree,
even though it wasn't what they would have chosen.
They figure that since it is not their own house
they have no business to complain!
But the truth is they are really enjoying the glitter,
no matter that it is artificial!
And over at The Cloud Palace,
As far as the Fairy Bears are concerned
the Silver Tinsel Tree is the
most Natural thing in the World!
Who wouldn't love
a beautiful glittery silver tree
to light the darkest Nights?
And if you look closely you can spot the
little snowman ornaments made by Birgit herself!
But that is not all, Dear Readers!
Do you remember the little table-top ceramic tree Gabrielle found?
I love the ambiance it brings to The Folly living room
which is really too small to fit an ordinary Tree.
Even so, it radiates so much Peace and Joy!
And perhaps you remember that the Tree House itself
once had a Christmas Tree in the Salon!
I had to hunt around a bit to find it...!
Can you see it back there in the corner niche?
I know it is a bit dark...
But now I am sure you are wondering, Dear Readers,
what I meant by "Otherwise" in the post title...
and since we are on the topic of Trees a lot lately,
I have more to show you of the
Tree House Nano Tree House....
If you are familiar with the rooms of The Tree House itself,
you would know that the third room up is the Library.
But for the Nano Tree House I decided the Ratlings
would probably wish for a bedroom
to go with their kitchen and salon.
So I am trying to make a very small version
of the Chinoiserie bedroom with the Pagoda bed!
You can see the fireplace has been attached.
And the green base color for the walls has been painted.
which is where the Trees come in...!
(Please remember the walls are 1/4 inch tall!)
So I am just trying to "suggest" the elaborate
wall painting I did for the Tree House itself.
Maybe you can see it better with the flash?
This is just the beginning...
I needed to see how it looked in photos....
And here I have added "leaves"
(okay, a few dots of green) to the trees in strategic places...
And the side wall too...
And, of course, I needed to attempt
to imply a Peacock over the fireplace....
can you see his blue neck and green tail?
Does it remind you of the trees in the Folly Bedroom?
Well, Dear Readers,
that was what I meant by
"Trees, Christmas and Otherwise!"
