Lovely tree! I feel your excitment because after our remodel the first thing I did was buy a new tree..in January!

I was OCD the rest of the year wanting things to be perfect, and you know what? Planning Christmas decorations takes a long time!

I've already bought some gifts, have you? :)

Had to laugh at Jovi's expression-looks like she is saying, "Mom, what the heck are you doing? Are you nuts? It is only September!" Nice tree, though.

I know it's a bit nutty to even be thinking about a tree now but, I seriously have never had Christmas at home since I moved out of my parents house as a teen. It's a huge change for me to be "hosting" Christmas and I do want to do it right!

Nope, I haven't started any Christmas shopping yet. But I've been buying other stuff for the holiday. I'm going to have all our guest rooms, beds and sofa beds packed so I suddenly need to be sure I've got extra towels, comforters and stuff.

Now I need to decide if I'm going to take the tree back apart and pack it away for another few months or just throw a sheet over it. My neighbor suggested the sheet but said to glue eyes and a mouth to it and I'll have a Halloween ghost!

Nice looking tree. We might have to get a new one next year, our big one is getting kind of beat up by the animals (the cats love to climb in it). I have a 4' one, also, that I like to put in a large urn in the living room, and it's also getting a bit ratty.

This year we decided to do Christmas in February, when our son is home. The kids are all tickled about that, takes the pressure off them all for having to deal with in-laws and travel, etc. So who knows, we might be changing our tradition!

I vote for the ghost! Very funny! Oh, and I didn't mean you were nutty at all-I would have done the same thing in your situation. It is a beautiful tree and so great to get it on sale. I was just interpreting for Jovi b/c her expression is priceless in that shot! :)

Jovi was just saying- Mom, my presents aren't under there! where is my new ball, and my new treats, and my new chew toys and......??
dang, I thought I had more time to be good. :)

I won't laugh because I've never owned a Christmas tree either. We celebrate the holiday away from our home so I've never seen a reason for a tree at our house. I do put up other types of Christmas decorations, but mostly candles and a wreath.

Three months is a long time to have a tree hanging around. I would probably lay it unassembled on a guest bed and cover it with a sheet to keep the dust off.

I remember what it was like to host my first Christmas! I went all out in decorating and had a blast.

If you have a free corner somewhere in your house, just throw a sheet over the tree and put it there.

Look at the teeny tiny wallpaper pattern and the teeny tiny moose rocking horse in your mom's diorama!! Gotta love it!

whitadobe, just leave the tree up. The stores will have their Christmas decorations up in about, say.....two weeks or so.

nice tree! i would just leave it up too- time really does go by so quickly anyway!! if it's not decorated, it's fine, even uncovered, imo! (tho the ghost idea is cute too!)
since it has white lights, i would even possibly start plugging it in in late oct or november when the days really start getting shorter!!

Very pretty! Looks very nice in your room. As far as what to do with it until Chrismas goes, do you have a walk-in closet or guest room? Like Oakley said, drape a sheet over it & tuck it in there until you need it. Yes, you will have a ghost! My mom did this every year...she never took the tree apart or took the lights off. Kids in my neighborhood liked to visit it! "Can we see the ghost?" They'd ask. It was stored in a dark closet & did look rather spooky!

I just have to comment on how pristine & clean & perfect your house looks! How you manage it with the dogs, I have know idea. One cat's hair & destruction is more than I can deal with sometimes. You've got the formula down, Whitdobe!

Best wishes with your holiday festivities! You will create a lovely, memorable celebration, I'm sure. Jovi will help!

How did I miss this one? Yes, I need to replace our L/R tree. Last year I had a problem with the lights after the entire tree was already decorated. There wasn't any way I was going to switch it out then.

I love your tree whitdobe. Which style did you choose? The Balsam Hill website has a sale going on with free shipping on purchases over $100. Would love to purchase one today to take advantage of the free shipping offer.

After reading your thread last nite, I took a peek at the trees. Some are a bit steep in price. That said, if the tree lights are guaranteed to work year after year, it would be worth the investment. Your post does sound as tho you are indeed happy with the quality of your tree. I liked the Saratoga, but it is only produced in a 7' size. Still deciding on which tree... DH is going to be just thrilled when the Christmas tree shows up in September!

Do you have a place to stow it away assembled until holiday time? If you don't host Thanksgiving at your home, you could actually get a jump on decorating your tree. With a houseful of guests coming, I would take advantage of anything you can do earlier with regard to your decorating.

I would love to hear your thoughts as to quality, ease of assembly, etc.

TIA

Work_in_progress, my tree is a Saratoga Spruce. I really liked the shape of it and while I could go taller in that room that particular tree fit into the place I wanted to put it very well. BTW, if you do need a new tree go out and take a look at the prices of the trees in Hobby Lobby. Yes, they do have them out already. After you've looked at the prices of those trees (and you pick yourself up off the floor) the Balsam Hill trees will look even better to you. Prettier tree at a much better price. (And no, I have no relationship with BH aside from being a very satisfied customer!)

I think I'll probably leave the tree in the living room until Christmas. DH will be traveling a lot this fall so we're not likely to want to use the formal living room until about Thanksgiving. In my family we traditionally put Christmas trees up at Thanksgiving so, it's OK if it's sitting around then. (And shoot...if I do wind up giving a dinner party it'll be friends. I'll explain and they'll understand. I can't move it into a spare bedroom without hauling it up a staircase so that means pulling it apart.)

Stinky Gardner thanks so much! I guess I need to go through my "house" photos and change some out. Both my Dobes passed away in the spring so I only have one dog now, Jovi the Border Collie. Belive it or not, alone creats much more "mess" than both of my Dobes did together! I do "cheat" a bit. My formal living and dining rooms are babygated off. Dogs are only allowed in by invitation. For the most part, the dogs tend to hang out with DH and I so if/when I tidy up after us I wind up tidying up after Jovi too. :-)