I
believe wholeheartedly in ‘better late than never.’ Admittedly, I was a little tardier than my
normal tardy with Christmas decorations this year. We have a tradition at Chez V of putting up the tree and
decorations on the Friday after Turkey Day but this year was a different
story. And to think I had grandiose
ideas for decorating this year with you lovelies in mind. Alas, the best laid plans of mice and
men…
But
never you fear, I did finally get the tree up and I was able to execute at least one of my large marge schemes. At
long last! I call her the Christmas Tree
Porch Canopy. This is the second time I
have rocked this lil lassy and she’s even more fantastical than I remembered.
The first time I did this was on a freezing
December weekend back in 2004 when I was living with my sister. mr. V and my sis helped me the first time – you know back
when mr. V was still my fiance and up for anything so long as it impressed me. Let me assure you those days are looooong gone.
So what took 3 of us one weekend to complete the first
time, took me 2 weeks to do this time because I was Hans Solo and insanely busy with work. I should say that this go ‘round mr. V did
give me the go ahead, albeit begrudgingly (because I have been threatening to do
this at Chez V ever since that first execution), and he did build my
frame. But no help for the labor
intensive part which is weaving greenery, lights, and ornaments on a 20’ by 7’
porch ceiling. Side eye.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVvIQULQS6UfgX_J9UwqnBgtKgAE9fDeyS9SE3YWHA_Wirbn8mIVepzVFJYxz1R1Q-ahMsOIA3_IY2iiUUoXwWXJ4C4rw5eB-RKv1tEqPOMaVjSDqmM25Q5scn7E8Gh4tP2lBW3DO7Mpg/s640/Christmas+Decorations+023.JPG) |
lots of this... |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiYYY8isw_jw-FDOp6B5Y7SoVL7mrKJ0yt1LpkwU0vqiKgEVklDZUMa898OFy5gAZpDdLNOwvCcoRkX_LzoxTNM-u311UtOygGJ8s9bnsy19e3aDQlQLc4QiawGRNmvt_23JNE738oQe8/s640/Christmas+Decorations+022.JPG) |
went into this - the frame with chicken wire |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx0G1SSIvh_Jb3b4inQYgQWx5le_lHPgfe7r3Wh7q7doZk3W5gPfq939aUZtjggLSGT_jyJtpRYYnvUvxGdvGeEF36NCC_mAZdw53zh9xQO0rR0i4IyoWBG5HN6FsBPWkYu65SQii_1fQ/s640/Christmas+Decorations+036.JPG) |
same view - completed |
Not going to
sugar coat it – this is a total pain in the arse. It’s a lot like
climbing up a ladder, bending in half backwards with a craned neck and up
stretched arms to attach a sprig of greenery, climbing back down the ladder,
moving the ladder a few inches and doing it all over again. Times 50,000 times.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP0H5DwqEZ3Iwx_VmlLDqz0uO6BnYr5pAm0uZVk76z1hYEZwzuxOew0aUvW2eottVys4wMMcXJk8B2ei5rMRJMrh-ogQYdBioYUcuwVPVzkYvDywLfdRcIFjbd5kgt9ZKkbosxbv2m_tM/s640/Christmas+Decorations+053.JPG) |
Pieti loves to photo bomb |
I can
not take one ounce of credit for the idea – only my execution. I got the original idea from a 2004 feature
of Lawrence Adkins and David Dempsey’s Atlanta bungalow in Cottage Living
(RIP).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_TklEYqQ-FAJv26mut-06nMENuUuKnLxz4ITFY_9_m7dweXFM1ACpS9MK05in0BL7ZEuFwnVig0WdV2IvDgvJfvwv2Rl-YLpg6eSPTbjiVFGz-6GH-WEpv75p7dmpGqjwO38dKBmth0E/s640/Christmas+Decorations+066.JPG) |
with lights on |
Totally
worth the shredded hands and herniated spine.
I walk out on the porch each evening
and feel like I am under a huge Christmas Tree, dreaming of sugar plum fairies
or red soled shoes…
kisses, mrs. V