The Christmas Tree Diet

Ok, did that title catch your attention??!!  Maybe I should have said "The Christmas Tree that Went on a Diet", 'cause that's what our tree looks like this year!

 Hubby and I were about to head out in search of a Christmas tree that we could cut at a tree farm.  But then our neighbor told us that she had a tree that she wanted cut down, and she thought we might want to use it as our Christmas tree.  Well, I was a bit apprehensive when I first saw it.  I personally love big fat, full trees! The fatter and fuller the better!  And this tree, well, it needed some help!  It looked especially sparse when hubby brought it into the house!!  So I joked that it looked as if it had gone on a diet!

 While I still am not in love with this tree, at least it was free!!  I've used only a small fraction of our ornaments on it. and hubby liked having to put only one strand of lights on!  I really love this sweet little birdie.

 And just look at the sweet face of this cute little angel!

 Of course there just has to be some glitter and glitz!

 Isn't this little squirrel adorable?  He is made out of seed pods and other natural materials.

 Ok, here in the day light you can see just how skimpy he is!  I wasn't even going to share him with you this year, but then I thought, "let's go ahead and keep it real!!"  I bet he is the skimpiest, scrawniest tree you have seen here in blog land!  He makes me think of a Charlie Brown Christmas tree!  Hubby joked that we didn't lose our view of the Puget Sound.  We can sit on the couch, look at the tree, and enjoy the water view thru the branches!

 He does look better at night, I think!  Next year, I'm definitely going to get the biggest, fattest, fullest tree that I can find!!

 I also wanted to share with  you today a wonderful gift that I received from my sweet friend Cindy over at Cindy Adkins Whimsical Musings.  Cindy is one of the nicest, most thoughtful people you could ever meet, not to mention incredibly talented to boot!  She created for me this gorgeous collage on a vintage book cover! And she also sent this cool necklace made from an upcycled domino.  How fun is that?

Cindy's attention to detail is impeccable.  I just love this pretty rose made from cheesecloth.  Who would have thought cheesecloth could be so beautiful?  Thank you again, Cindy!  I love it all!!