As a homeschooling family, I was always on the lookout for fun and yet educational activities to do with my children. One that we all remember very fondly was the year we attended A Civil War Christmas. This was an interactive afternoon put on by a reinactment group. What fun we had and we especially loved seeing a period decorated Christmas tree. Since then, I put up my own version of a simple tree. Usually in the dining room. This year I almost skipped this due to time getting away from me but Friday afternoon I decided I didn't want to skip it. So I headed to Walmart to purchase the most important element of my simple tree.......
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Bob's Sweet Stripes...much more authentic than candy canes.
Since I will not be using all 8 of my dining room chairs, I decided to go ahead and set the trees up on 2 of them. I really like this look.
No lights on these trees but they are lit by the hutch light.
I put the trees in a couple of vintage, red-rimmed enameled pots. In the past I've used baskets or galvanized buckets but I am thinking I like this look best.
Sweet Stripes tied on with fabric strips.
A vintage box of Shiny Brites..I considered putting them on the trees and then changed my mind. I liked what the box looked like there and just left them.
Besides the candy, the only other ornaments are some simple wooden cutouts that I found years ago.
Some of my pinecones used as filler. I sprinkled a little cinnamon fragrance oil over these to give a nice scent to the dining room. Not too much though...a little goes a long way.
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After that decorating, there is nothing like a large beeker of cocoa and those Sweet Sripes make a wonderful addition to the cocoa.
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Sharing at some of my favorite blogs!
Ceilo's Show Off Your Cottage Monday (all about the Christmas Tree)
Lady Katherine's Tea Time Tuesday
Sue's REDnesday
Suzanne's Vintage Thingie Thursday