Tag Archives: Christmas trees

What’s Feng Shui got to do with it?

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Deck the Halls… with Good Energy! 🎄✨

The stockings are hung, the tree is twinkling, and the scent of pine (or maybe gingerbread) fills the air. Holiday decorating isn’t just about sparkle—it’s also about how your space feels. And that’s where Feng Shui comes in. This ancient practice is all about arranging your surroundings so energy flows smoothly, bringing harmony, joy, and maybe even a little extra luck under the mistletoe.

🎁 Feng Shui Basics, Wrapped in Holiday Cheer

  • Qi (Chi): Think of Qi as the invisible holiday spirit that flows through your home. When it’s blocked, things feel stressful. When it’s free, everything feels merry and bright.
  • Yin & Yang: Balance is key—like pairing cozy candlelight (Yin) with lively holiday music (Yang). Too much of one, and the vibe feels off.
  • Five Elements: Your decorations already bring these in!
    • Wood: The Christmas tree or wreath.
    • Fire: Twinkling lights and candles.
    • Earth: Ceramic ornaments or a rustic nativity scene.
    • Metal: Shiny baubles, silver bells, or tinsel.
    • Water: A reflective ornament or even a bowl of holiday punch.
  • Bagua Map: Imagine your home as a gift box divided into nine sections—each tied to areas like love, wealth, and career. Where you place decorations can subtly boost those areas.

🎄 Holiday Decorating with Flow

  • Tree Placement: Put your tree where it feels welcoming, not crammed in a corner. Bonus points if it’s near the “family” or “wealth” area of your Bagua map.
  • Clear Pathways: Don’t let piles of wrapping paper block the flow of Qi—or your guests!
  • Light It Up: Fairy lights aren’t just pretty; they energize a space. Place them where you want to spark joy or creativity.
  • Clutter-Free Cheer: After the gift-opening frenzy, tidy up quickly. A clutter-free space keeps energy moving and spirits high.

✨ Why It Matters

Holiday décor isn’t just eye candy—it sets the tone for how you and your loved ones feel. By layering Feng Shui principles into your decorating, you’re not only making your home look festive, you’re inviting harmony, warmth, and good vibes to carry you into the new year.

 

So this season, as you hang ornaments and string lights, think of it as more than decorating—it’s a little energy makeover for your home. And who doesn’t want their holidays to glow from the inside out?

 

Oh Christmas Tree

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🎶 Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree (With Cats in Tow)

The Beat Drops, the Baubles Bounce

Every December, the living room transforms into a stage. The fir tree stands tall, lights twinkling like disco balls, ornaments shimmering like backup dancers. Cue the music: “Rockin’ around the Christmas tree…” And just when you think the show is set—enter the cats.

Feline Funk Meets Festive Fir

Cats don’t just watch the decorating spectacle; they headline it. One leaps into the branches like a rock star diving into the crowd. Another bats at ornaments with the rhythm of a drum solo. The tree skirt? Forget it—it’s now a cat cape, perfect for dramatic entrances.

 

Lights, Laughter, and a Little Mayhem

Stringing lights becomes a duet: you on one end, your cat on the other, determined to chew the cord like it’s a guitar string. The topper—star, angel, or glittery bow—becomes the ultimate prize in a feline climbing competition. Sure, the tree may lean a little left by the end, but isn’t that part of the charm?

 

 

The Encore: Cozy Chaos

When the decorating dust settles, the cats curl beneath the glowing branches, purring like bass notes under the melody. The tree may look slightly “remixed,” but it’s alive with personality. After all, what’s Christmas without a little chaos wrapped in tinsel?

 

Why We Keep Rockin’

We decorate not for perfection, but for the joy of the jam session. The tree becomes a dance floor, the cats become the band, and the holiday spirit becomes impossible to ignore. So crank up the carols, embrace the glitter storm, and let the cats steal the spotlight.

Because when you’re rockin’ around the Christmas tree—with paws, claws, and laughter—it’s not just decorating. It’s a holiday concert you’ll never forget.

🎤 Share Your Cat Chaos!

Now it’s your turn: have your cats ever staged a Christmas tree takeover? Did they topple the star, shred the skirt, or turn ornaments into hockey pucks? Share your funniest cat-versus-tree stories—we’d love to feature the best tales in another post.

 

 

 

 

A Festival of Trees

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I have a feeling this is only the first of many “Festival of Trees”. I was looking for lighting displays and when the list came up there were festivals of trees everywhere.

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How did I end up at the Easton Garden Club’s “Festival of Trees”? A friend of mine asked me to take pictures of her two children for the annual Christmas Card.  It took some juggling because between the kids school schedule, my friend’s work schedule and my work schedule there didn’t seem to be anytime to get together. The challenge was complicated by needing a holiday background. They didn’t have their tree up yet. Finally we adults decided to take the kids to see the Festival of Trees. It was close to their home and we figured there must be something there to use as a background. A couple of shots in front of a tree and the kids could go back to being kids. Easy Peasey, right?

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I volunteered to take the day off from work. It was an afternoon event and then we’d take the kids to see the “Lighting of the Rockery” in Easton Center in the evening. Sounded like a good idea at the time. The only problem was the kids didn’t get the memo.

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I picked the little family up at 2:30 and we took a leisurely drive the couple of miles to the Festival. It was inside so we didn’t need to worry about the weather.

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Young Dawn was all dressed up for the picture. So far so good. But that was as far as it went.

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Inside the large building tree after tree was decorated. There was so many trees.

Easton Festival of Trees 013 copyThey had names like “A Black Tie Affair”,

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It’s a Dog’s Life, Aqua Splendor and many more. There was even a tree that I think you’ll recognize.

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There was  a Grinch set up for photos. Perfect (not). And Thing #1 and Thing #2 with the Cat in the Hat!

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That was when I hit the first road block. Both children turned into the human versions of Thing 1 and Thing 2. They didn’t want to be in the same picture together and they didn’t want to be in a picture with the Grinch. Each had their own favorite tree but didn’t  want to share.

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I’ll let Santa sort out the Naughty or Nice list. Sometimes it’s better to punt, so separate pictures it was.

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The Center of Easton was bustling with Bouncy Houses, Fried Dough and Hot dog stands.

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Then it was time for the big event.

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A rock wall called the Rockery was lit with hundreds of holiday lights. The DJ cranked out lively Christmas tunes like Rockin’ Around the Christmas tree. It was a jolly old crowd that cheered the lighting.

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By now it was quite dark and time to return,  Daughter Dawn , Son Alex and Mom Nancy back to their little home.

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Mom Nancy and I will put our heads together to plot the next attempt to secure this year’s Christmas photo. We’ll only get one more try because Christmas is right around the corner.

It’s That Time of Year

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It’s the most wonderful time of the year
With the kids jingle belling
And everyone telling you “Be of good cheer”
It’s the most wonderful time of the year
It’s the hap-happiest season of all
With those holiday greetings and gay happy meetings
When friends come to call
It’s the hap- happiest season of all

This is the week that launches the holidays. Already there have been tree lightings and parades and I’m not talking about the Macy’s Thanksgiving day parade. I’m hoping to get into Boston to check out the tree and decorations at Faneuil Hall. There was a 30 minute TV presentation for the lighting of the 95 ft. tree!

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No snow yet. The weather folks were saying it was snowing on the south shore when I turned on the TV yesterday morning. I’m not sure where they were looking because here the sun was out and it was a beautiful, if cold, day. This morning, rainy and gray.

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I think I might like the snow this year. I don’t have to drive in it. Working from home lets me relax and enjoy the changing New England weather without worrying about maneuvering through traffic to get to work.

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Some of my neighbors have their holiday decorations up already. I’m still dragging my feet. It took 10 years before I was able to get a small Christmas tree up and keep it up with 2 curious cats. Each year they would systematically dismantle the tree. In the early years they pulled it down faster than I could put it up. Last year was the first year it really survived the whole season. Now I have a new cat and I’m debating if I really want to start the battle of the Christmas Tree all over again.

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It’s not like I have little kids to impress. It’s just me but I did enjoy it last year. And the antics of 3 cats might make for an entertaining post.

Yes, I’m thinking I should at least try it out and see how Buddy reacts. See that’s why I write these posts. It helps me make decisions.