The Inn has it's tree and it's a beauty! It is an 8-1/2 cultured bush fir and smells fantastic. I dragged it back and set it up in it's stand and came back the next day to water it and start the decorating. The angel went on crooked but Indigo fixed it by straightening her up. I strung the lights and a few ornaments, then left for dinner.

The tree was placed in the corner between the window and the fireplace. Indigo popped in and added her magic touches from the boxes of ornaments near the tree. She draped some lovely glass beaded garland as well as a special touch, a handmade gum wrapper paper chain, 100 feet long, that she made back in the 70's - very colourful. The she adjusted the angel and placed a blue light under her gown, so she has a lovely blue glow. She added some beautiful and unique ornaments, including one that features Irish Pipes, drum, etc. and turns and plays music. More to come later.

I added some ornaments later than night, including some glass angels, little red apple ornaments, ornaments with tassles and some beautiful gold glittery reindeer. In one of the boxes I found some antique ornaments, lovely glass birds with tails that clip on, and some blown coloured glass ornaments like a little church, a Santa, a Snowman and some others. I brought Gizmo with me but he tried to climb the tree to get a sparkly and nearly knocked over the tree, so he had to go home. Oh, ladder tippy, needs fixing if anyone's handy, as I almost face planted into the tree.

Oh - almost forgot, I have a little tiny ceramic Siamese cat that I always hang on my own tree, but this year I decided to hang it on the Inn's tree instead. Found some beautiful pearl and gold bead garlands in one of the boxes, hope Indigo or someone can find a way to use them, they are lovely.

Well TnN's - it is a huge tree and still has lots of room for decorations....there are two or three boxes near the window full of lovely treasures to hang on the tree...hope you will all have fun and add to the Christmas spirit by helping to decorate the Inn's tree and the Inn itself.
Leaves Christmas Music playing softly and a platter of snacks for all who pop in to help. Drinks on me!! Fa la la la la, la la la la

Gently places tall glass angels on mantlepiece, with some lovely scented pillar candles in between. Hangs wreath on Inn's door. Brings in Eggnog and brandy and rum (light, amber and dark) for those who wish to imbibe...along with some other things to drink, including sodas.

I'd loop the pearl and gold bead garland at the front of the mantlepiece in front of your glass angels, and then go outside to find some small pieces of pine bough to weave between the angels and candles... the scent Of the fresh pine is lovely!

Heads off in search of something to secure the pearl and gold bead garland to the mantlepiece...will save the searching for branches another day...it's pouring out there tonight and windy.

No go Indigo - cant find anything strong enough to hold up the garlands, they are heavy, push pins dont work, it & they fall off, tape, same deal. Dont want to drive nails into mantlepiece...so have to leave them I guess.

If its ok with Shaman & Indigo,I will just stay here by the bar supping beer watching you two do the work. OK,OK ,I will connect the tree lights and switch them on when you're finished.
hopefully then i can take some of the credit for this fine tree.
The other thing i forgot to mention is that i will only do the work if you keep buying me beer for the evening,
Be carefull up that step ladder Shaman,dont want you falling on any punters.

OHHHHH - coal in your stocking this year! While you are at it, can you fix the ladder in the back room, it's tippy and I almost face planted into the tree a few days ago. Can you come up with a way to hang those pearl & gold bead garlands without hammering nails anywhere in the Inn? While you are drinking your pints of course...If you put some ornaments on or string some lights around the Inn's windows, you can have free pints! Leaves heaping platter of cheeses and crackers and pickles and cookies & stuff for all who help out in some way.

Oh come on Ularu.. find an ornament or two... and I'll stand you a pint.. *grins*.. Of course if you fix the ladder you'll get Two! And Shaman MAY just let you throw the switch to light it up officially... !

Nope - Indigo gets to throw the light switch to light it up officially...if it ever gets finished decorating that is...Ularu at least you could frame the windows in lights and make them look nice...we need more help to finish the tree, shouldnt just be Indigo and I doing it all...free drinks for all who help decorate!

begins searching for that one special ornament to hang on the TIR tree, begins tossing out ornies that have gotten in the way of the search. If anyone out there they best caught these or grab a broom and start sweeping. "can I get some light in this box please" and where are the free drinks for helpping?

Free drinks at the bar...broom and dustpan in the corner...hope you find that one perfect ornament

Sweeps up broken ornaments that Pegs left on the floor...tsk tsk. Digs around boxes, comes up with some long pretty jewelled dangling ornaments and hangs them here on there on the tree...there! That looks nice.

Hmm... alright, let me see, 'climbs up to that old corner in the house, facing the kitchen... and brings down a small (not too small) wooden stable, miniature sheeps, cows, shepherds, donkeys, a manger Joseph and Mary, Magi kings. Oh yeah, we have a tradition where we plant grains of wheat and let them grow into green at Halloween (ST.Barbra in Lebanese), and then we put it also under the tree by the stable. What else, those soft fibre lights that look just like the tree leaves, well that too.
How about it Shaman and Indie, ey?

...finds and adds an Angel above the stable scene Rolan is building...You gotta have an angel Rolan!!
*smiles and HUGS her friend*

Oh! Lovely Rolan! I never even thought of a Nativity...very beautiful. And yes, you must have an angel above a manger scene! Digs around boxes and finds a medium sized bright gold star ornament and hangs it above Indigo's Angel. Now the tree really ls starting to look beautiful!
*Hugs Indigo & Rolan* But, still needs more ornaments here and there, big tree needs big ornaments so come on everyone, help make it the most beautiful tree ever to grace the Inn.

Let me check... hmmm, that good old wine bottle that I have from the armenian covent in Bzommar Lebanon (don't ask me where it is, look for it on Google). that bottle is about 20 years old now (so what? gave him the cash and he gave it to me...) I'll simply put it under the tree on some old linen, with all the dust still on it. Looks charming doesn't it? (especially that you are going to ***Cyberly*** drink!!!)

Voila' produces a corkscrew on que....Who's in to try a 20 yr old (Red?) wine?? *rummage's around and finds a few wine glasses behind the bar...Great Idea Rolan!!!

ME ME ME! I'll have a glass please Indigo...I adore red wine. Great idea Rolan, and thank you so very much for sharing it with us! Stands back, looks at half empty tree and sighs, rolls up her sleeves and starts hanging more ornaments - danglies, shiny balls, glittery balls, (balls = globe shaped ornaments), some more angel ornaments and some candy canes. Come on folks, please - help decorate - big tree! Needs lots more ornaments. And we could use some lights framing the windows and maybe some garlands hanging around the Inn. Cheers Indigo, Sante Rolan!

Yoohoo Accasbel - are you going to hang some ornaments on the tree? Or are you lost somewhere in Second Life?

Bought some lovely ornaments at the store, so pretty couldnt resist! Bejeweled ones, globes with glitter designs, other pretty ones. Gets out tippy ladder and hangs them here and there on tree. Stands back, looks, yup, shaping up nicely but still needs more work. C'mon guys, help out here a wee bit! Get into the season and spirit of it all. Somebody has got to fix that ladder, dangerous to use. Drags back into back room with note attached: "Please fix, very tippy". Grabs another mince tart and cookie and heads out into snow and cold....brrrrr.

Hangs some silver and gold "icicle" ornaments on the tree here and there...very pretty, pick up the lights nicely and reflect it...snatches mince and butter tarts, bundles up in boots, parka etc and out in the snow to trudge home.

Puts out new platters of freshly baked & iced Gingerbread Men and Women, Mince Tarts, Butter Tarts, Shortbread and decorated Sugar Cookies; places large bowl of eggnog in bar fridge and bottles of rum (dark & amber) and brandy to the bar...help yourself - BUT - you must hang an ornament or two on the tree from the boxes nearby. Huge tree, needs more decorations. Enjoy!

Finds a litle sweater ornament tangled up in garlands in box, possibly the one Pegs was looking for and leaves it on the table with note beside it saying "Pegs - is this what you were looking for?" If so, it's here for you. There is another one in the box over by the bar.

May we all get around to doing not only what we keep meaning to do .... but also do something we haven't yet quite got around to imagining.

Merry Christmas to all

I'll try to be around more.

Now Acc that was vaguely Rumsfeldesque (if there is such a word).

In the spirit of St Kitsch , who is after all the relevant patron saint, can I recommend a couple of freebies for your yule desktops that keep me cheery.

1) holiday lights demo version gives you flashing lights etc plus tunes

2) Magentic allows you to get lovely wallpaper including some rather nice winter landscapes

All the best all

Acc - what a beautiful picture! Merry Merry Christmas to you and all who come to Tir!!!

Tidies up Inn, puts boxes of christmas decorations in store room, leaves candles (unlit) all over the Inn's tables and bars, builds up fire, finds Christmas music station and turns it on to play softly....AND leaves wrapped pressies for everybody under the tree!!!!

Plus my not so secret (now!)but ever popular family punch recipe:

In a large saucepan :

1. Pour in a bottle of red wine , a pint or so of cider, a pint of lemonade, ditto orange juice, a cup of port , ditto brandy

2 Add to this chopped apple, orange segments, chopped banana. sugar to taste and a couple of sticks of cinammon


Warm through , remove cinanmon....drink and relax

You can top up with whatever you like and it will change flavour throughout the day

Wow - sounds great Ludd! Yummmmm

For all overgrown kids like myself, or for the little ones in your house...here's two good sites to browse through: www.northpole.com - lots of great stuff to do and has a santa tracker and www.noradsanta.org has santa cam and is tracking santa right now! Santa just left Australia/New Zealand/South Pacific...and is on his way elsewhere.....you'd think I'd grow up one of these days...but nooooo!

Anybody want some surplus snow? We have a foot and a half already and another foot or so expected today....and more over next couple days! Be more than happy to ship some over your way.

Almost forgot the goodies! Lays out huge platters of cheeses, crackers, sausages & cold cuts, sausage rolls, pates, crackers, chips & dips and platters of assorted sweets and goodies to munch on. Should be great with Ludd's special not so secret anymore punch!

PS: No opening pressies till Christmas Day!
Also leaves kittie treats for all cat owners and doggie treats for all dog owners...and other treats for other pets. My kitty wishes one and all a "Meowy Hisss Masss" (quote courtesy of silk)

Ho Ho Ho !!! Santa has finally arrived! Oh my my my what a pretty tree they have! And cookies and a wee dram for me too, how kind of them. Grabs big sack and whilst nibbling on cookies leaves presents under the tree for all the good little lasses and lads here. Knocks back the wee dram. Ho Ho Ho...Merry Christmss to all and to all a good night! Nollaig Shona!!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

WOW, there's lots of pressies under the tree for everyone...Santa was really good to us!

Nobody's opening their pressies? Tsk Tsk! Well, hurry up or someone else will scoop them up! I got a great pressie....I'm sure all of your pressies are great ones too! Snatches some mince tarts and butter tarts and heads off home to check on her dinner.

Hey! Is this Irish time Acc, or Tir time? It's not 3:17 a.m.! It's just after 7:00 pm. here.

Hello and Merry Christmas from Fitzroy Crossing!
May the Universe bless you in which ever way you wish for.
With love,
lace

http://noela-kimberleyadventure.blogspot.com/

*sneaks in to open all the left over pressies* .... WHAT A FIND! :-)I think I now understand that old saying "all my Christmasses have come at once"!!

Naughty Indigo for not giving me a heads up to help unwrap all the unopened pressies! Hope you found some real gems under that tree! You deserve em lass!

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ONE AND ALL WHO FREQUENT TIR...WISHES FOR A 2009 THAT IS A VERY GOOD YEAR FOR ALL OF US!

OOPS! Dingbats done it again! That should read Naughty Lacie for not giving me a heads up on that treasure trove under the tree - sorry Lacie, and sincerest apologies to Indigo, whom I was thinking of at that time I wrote that! Good on you Lacie for cleaning up...wonders if you found a Zodiac and engine in those presents? If not will try to find one BUT will ship it collect - hey - you wouldnt believe shipping costs these days!

Hey...did anyone take a pic of the Tir tree? I'm sure I missed it by now. pout pout. I hope everyone has a wonderful year ahead. Thinking of all the ol pals and wondering what adventures life has brought to each of you. Hugs and well wishes. Dé

Miss Dazysprite - Alas I know of no-one who took a picture of the Tir tree, but a full description of the tree and how it came to be decorated is all described in this Christmas 2008 topic, who decorated it and who put what on, etc. If Ms. Lacie did not open all the pressies there may still be one hidden under it to open, and the tree has yet to be taken down. Tis such a pretty tree I am procrastinating. Soon though it will have to come down till next year. Hope you had a good Christmas & New Year's!

Lugs boxes out of cupboard in preparation to take tree decorations and other decorations around the inn down and put them away. Awww, heck with it, I'll do it another day. Puts boxes back in cupboard. It can stay up and look beautiful for another few days. Procrastination, isnt it wonderful?

Hoping Dazysprite will take pic of tree before it comes down. How've you been lass? Havent seen you here in ages..hope you come back more often.

*hangs head* .. re-wraps the gift tagged for our Sprite.

Happy Christmas to the sprite. Hope life is grand!

*wanders off shimmering in sprite dust*

*whispers to Dazysprite* .. thanks for leaving a message on my blog. Lucky I found it, as the message was on a post from a month ago. I did answer your message and would LOVE to hear from you!

Bye bye Christmas tree, pretty as you are it is time to be packed away for another year. But you will be back and looking beautiful again next year. Thank you for giving us so much enjoyment and fun, and for being so lovely to look at.

I didn't have my camera, but I did buzz by and peek through the door. It was such a lovely tree. I did spy a wee package still there...it had a tag on it marked sprite, but is seemed to appear to have been opened already. hmmmmm can't imagine how that happened. hehe. I wonder what interesting adventures are ahead for each of us in 2009. Guess I'll just have to buzz in more often to find out, eh? Hugz all. Dé

Oh well, there's always next year! Yes, hope you do pop back more often, and in chat too, not just message board. Hmmmm, seem to have picked up some sprite dust - wonder if it will have any effect on me?