Christmas Tree Wishes to You and Yours

Every year, when we put up our Christmas tree at Darlington House, I'm convinced it is the prettiest, most magical one ever.  This year is no exception.

As I've written before, I long ago surrendered decorating our Christmas trees to Boy.  He's so much better at it than I am.  Also, I tend to get in the way when I try and be helpful in such things as decorating trees or arranging flowers.  I'm very happy to be Boy's cheering section, where I am joined by our dear little Pompey.

Every year Boy comes up with a different theme for his Christmas tree decoration.  This year's theme is "Silver and Pine Cone Wonderland."

He has covered the tree with vintage silver ornaments and with pine cones harvested from the trees on our property.

Boy has collected silver pine cone shaped ornaments for years.  I like the juxtaposition of them with the  real ones he's added to the tree.

He also added a flock of little birds to the tree, perched on the tips of its limbs.

Doesn't it look lovely?

Boy further decorated the room with bowls and urns filled with silver ornaments.

He covered the mantel with a forest of little frosted bottle-brush trees.  He also nestled loads of pine boughs atop all of the picture frames in the room.  It's really quite enchanting.

But the magic really comes out at night, Dear Reader, when the tree's tiny white fairy lights are illuminated, and the room glows like a winter solstice fire.

I have a lot of admiration for people, like Boy, who can photograph a lit Christmas tree.  It's not as easy as you'd think.

I like the way the ornaments and tinsel icicles glitter in the light.

Don't the pine cones look marvelous?  So woodsy, I think.

I count at least six vintage silver pine cone shaped ornaments in the preceding photograph.  Do you think I've missed any?

Here's the little silver barrel ornament we found last year on our travels.  I've become intensely fond of it.

But it is the little birds that really make the tree quite magical, I think.  I love them.

See all of the birds in a flock, perched on the top of the tree?  I think they may be hiding there so they won't frighten Pompey.

But, then again, Pompey seems to have his mind on other things than the little birds.  I suspect he's more interested in hastening the delivery of his next yummy treat, particularly since he was such a good and obedient model for this photograph.  We make sure that our little Pompey joins in the fun here at Darlington House during the Christmas holiday, too.  And why not, since he's part of our family?

And with that, Dear Reader, we in our family—Boy, Pompey, and I—wish you and yours a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Photographs by Boy Fenwick and Reggie Darling