Trimming the tree at my house means something different...

[mattl]

I do only fresh cut trees.  I thin them out by about 1/3.  I like flat  branches that spread.  Most trees today have branches going in every direction, crossing the entire tree, shooting up and being spindly.  I hang lots of stuff on the trees, inside the tree too, not just on the surface.  Here are two of the three trees I do, the 3rd is not done yet.

 

The tree in the living room is all gold ornaments with white miniature lights, the dining room tree is various porcelain, brass and a wide variety of things collected over decades.  It too uses miniature lights, this time colored. All the lights are vintage, if you call early '80s vintage.  They have 9"-12" spacing and each bulb gets wrapped around the branch.  Both tress have about 350+ lights on them.  The large tree in the family room get C7 lights and has very traditional stuff, some dating to the late '40s and '50s, plus more recent things.  I'll post that one when it gets done.

 

The last picture is the exterior.  I do a wreath in each front window and all windows get a simple candle.

 

[gansky1]

Beautiful trees!  I really like that you thinned them before decorating, really adds to the visibility.

 

Have a very happy holiday(s) Matt!

 

[vacerator]

I Love it!

Is that a balsam tree? Ours is similar, but fake. I have always preferred a short needle tree.

 

[yogitunes]

just beautiful.....

I did this one season, I had 7 trees decorated.....a theme for every room, a lot of work, but was worth it in the end....

whenever possible, I prefer a real over artificial...

I have 10 foot ceilings, I pick the biggest tree I can find.....most oversized trees cost less as they don't have many customers that can fit them....

then cut off the bottom and use the scraps to display in window boxes outside, and trim out the fireplace as well...

 

[mjg0619]

Looks beautiful!

If you don't mind my asking, what sort of vacuum do you use? Hopefully something suitably vintage!

 

[mattl]

Thanks!  They are all Frazier Firs.   We used to get Balsams, but they are quite rare now.

 

As to the vac, I have a collection.  A few Hoover Dial-a-Matics, a few more recent vintage Kirby's and a couple of older canister vacs, a Kenmore with a power head and a Hoover Spirit.  I use the Kirby's the most.

 

working on the last tree tonight.  They all stay up until mid January, we have all our get together's Christmas Eve and weeks after.  So they stay up at least till 12'th night but usually longer.

 

[mattl]

Main tree

Finally got the finishing touches on the large tree in the family room.  I still use garland and spray snow, very much a tradition in my home.  My mother always had a few snow covered branches, and she would spray snow on the trunk to lighten up the interior of the tree, and I still do the same.  Also only tree I do that has icicles on it, again something we've been doing since before I was born.

 

It's hard to get a good shot of a Christmas Tree, the second shot is a close up of some of the vintage ornaments.  Hard to see, but the two more centered are from the early '50s, there are a couple of red bells that predate that in the background.   Final picture is the back of the house with a candle in each window.

 

Hope all of you have a happy, peaceful and enjoyable holiday....

 

[iowabear]

Main tree

Just beautiful.  Love the big multi-colored lights, the vintage ornaments, the garland and icicles and especially the show-stopping star at the top.  Reminds me a lot of the tree we had growing up.

 

[washdaddy]

Matt,
Your trees definitely have the holiday spirit! Each one a masterpiece in it's own right. The big tree in the family rm sure brings back memories with those vintage lights and those decorations.

May your Christmas be a safe, blessed, happy and merry one!
~A N D~
May your New Year be prosperous and peaceful as well!

Rick

 

[pulltostart]

Beautiful trees!  Both of the exterior shots, but particularly the one of the front, make me think of 'Home Alone'.

 

Merry Christmas!

 

lawrence

 

[ovrphil]

MattL

Very nice, Matt. I like everything....the house and trees are beautiful. Life is good - Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Balsam's are becoming rare? Michigan phenomena? I used to live in southeast Michigan, so I wonder if they're too expensive/not profitable to grow(slow grower?) or a blight (?)

Yogitunes - your description sounds like a dream I had,could have accomplished, but never did...all those trees - did you post photos of them?

Probably the wrong place to send wishes to everyone - but Merry Christmas and best wishes to everyone who passes by here....Happy New Year to all. Thanks for keeping this place interesting and helpful.