Christmas at Carlton

Since moving out of home at 18, I’ve lived in seven different homes (plus the donga at Malden Station and of course Carrie the Camper last year whilst we traveled). I’ve always liked to bring a bit of Christmas cheer, but it’s only in recent years that I’ve got the ‘grown up’ Christmas decoration down pat…

When we lived in the teeeeeny tiny cottage at ‘Ythanbrae’ there really was nowhere for a tree – so I improvised with some sticks, a white spray can and a vase. Then we lived at ‘Brindabella’ in our ramshackle farmhouse – the first time I got to have a real tree in a home of our own. I really got my Christmas on that year (2010) – we were in a new home, new jobs, where we thought was our forever home. I decked the halls with linen, burlap and white decorations.

Two years on and here we are at ‘Carlton’, our biggest home and full of old crumbling limestone character. Wandering the empty rooms at 2am when we arrived here on moving day, I pointed out exactly where our Christmas tree would go. It was April. Fast forward eight months and there she stands, a pretty good looking ‘wild’ tree if ever I did see one…

She’s adorned with simple and few decorations, just the way I like it. I don’t like to have loads of decorations on the tree, I like the look of the natural greenery. I also don’t want to have a specific colour to limit me so opt for neutral textures and fabrics and classic white. Can’t go wrong.

I figure that I’ve got years and years to collect decorations (plus I really have nowhere to store such items!) so I restrain myself from buying endless baubles, wreaths and bells. There’s so many nice things available though…I couldn’t resist some new additions to my stash when I was in town yesterday. A wee little bell wreath, a wooden angel and metal and rope star.

I am hoping my Christmas decorations are classic and timeless, able to last the distance of many more Christmases spent gathered around the tree or under the mistletoe. And as Matt warns me, I’ve probably got limited Christmases to go where the tree is not decorated in hideous purple tinsel or kinder made decorations from kids! I can only see this as a good sign he’s a step in the right direction towards thinking about babies – ha!

How do you deck your halls?
Do you have a real tree?
Christmas colours you prefer?