The Charlie Brownest Of Christmases

Yesterday I dug out the two Charlie Brown Christmas trees I have. One is about 15 inches tall after it's stretched into shaped when removed from it's box. It has a nice wooden base the tree screws into that has the Peanuts logo burned into one end of it. It also has a little battery operated speaker box underneath with a button on top that when pushed, plays the Linus and Lucy theme song. It comes with a very nice lone red glass ornament ball to hang on the drooping branches. It has Linus's blue blanket to wrap around the base of the tree....all pretty much just like what you see in the classic Christmas special on TV every year since 1965. I also have the smaller version of it...about 12 inches in height, minus the music box and Linus's blanket. Both are 50th Anniversary editions of A Charlie Brown Christmas from 2015. They were a must-have since A Charlie Brown Christmas was such a big part of my childhood, and pretty much ever year since then. The nostalgia was just too precious to let slip through my fingers. 

All that being said, It's been that long since I've put them out. Living alone the past 5 years has made holiday time strange and quite a bit of a conundrum for me. There truly is no Christmas in my house. I have to go elsewhere to celebrate it with family on those days. Decorating for Christmas is a bit of a puzzle. Who's gonna see it but me? I always put lights in the windows and wreaths on the doors. That part I get to share with everyone else. But decorating indoors leaves a lot to be desired. 

I haven't put the big tree up in as many years. I have a small table top tree I put out if it feels right. Some years it doesn't. This year has been a bit different, though...and it's odd because the budget is tighter than it's ever been and I won't get to shop for gifts. Work has had me so strung out that I haven't even been able to make things to give in shopping's place. But since Thanksgiving weekend, I've had a bigger urge than ever to create some joy in this place. 

I put lights up inside. Everywhere. I've dug out Christmas decor I haven't seen or thought about in years. I have a LOT of it just stored away in boxes...and I've been thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis close to dragging out the big tree and all it's dressy finest to put up in front of the big picture window (do they still call big windows that?). I ultimately decided against it because I don't trust the dogs, Charlie and Mr. Big, to leave it alone (water it every time they pass it 🙄), and my 3 kitties would no doubt have a hey dey with all the glitter ornaments and ultimately discover climbing the thing. Every. Single. Day. I'm gone too much for all that. I just don't have the energy to clean up all the mess and make all the repairs every evening after work....and, no, I'm not up for caging the tree or hanging it upside down from the ceiling that's become the thing do in situations like this these days. Great in theory, but way too much work and expense just for a couple of weeks of the tree being up. 

But it's been fun thinking about putting the big tree up. It's made me know that what I have done outside of that is enough...and has perked this dingy little place up quite a bit. It's defintely brought some joy this holiday season.

I hope you've found joy along the way in your holiday season. Sometimes a few strings of twinkly colored lights strewn wherever a spot needs twinkling and a couple of little Charlie Brown trees is all it takes. 🎄🎅