My "Different" Northwoods Christmas Tree

This year I decided to do something really different for a Christmas tree.  I didn't really feel like putting up the regular traditional tree in the living room, moving all the furniture around, and going through all the work just for myself and my husband.  This year I wanted to keep things simple and easy, and do something that would cost nothing.  So I decided to put up a tree of sorts on the closed in porch, which is the entrance to our home.  This way there would be no mess, and no furniture moving or rearranging.   I went out to the woods and cut off some branches of a couple poplar trees that we want to get rid of this spring, as they are growing in a place we don't want.   I put the tall branches in a big gallon sized glass jar, then strung a couple sets of mini lights, and used some cloth folk ornaments I made several years ago.   The "tree skirt" is fabric from my crafting stash.  The final result , in my humble opinion, is "cute" - don't you think?  We have mostly poplar trees and hardwood trees like maple and oak and ash and very few pines up here.   So this seems very fitting for a Northwoods themed tree!

My table top tree is about 4 1/2 feet tall.    It makes a nice entrance for coming into my kitchen!

A little different view.

A close up view.   Not much snow outside yet this year.

It is getting towards evening, and you can see some of the lights.

Later this week I will put up a small artificial tree on my kitchen counter, about 3 ft tall, with white mini lights and silver and gold ornaments. I usually put up quite a few decorations throughout the house, but this year I am keeping things very simple and putting up only about a third of what I normally do.  Hopefully this will give me more time to do baking and cooking and visiting friends, bringing them goodies.  Every year I always feel too rushed and wish that I had more time for visiting.   This year I will make the time!
     Speaking of Christmas - the whole "Black Friday" thing seems crazy to me!  Oh, I DID go shopping, but not for anything that most people shop for, like you see on the news.  I went to a local thrift store and bought a couple of Christmas books for 25 cents each.  Then I went to the fabric shop and bought two 5-yard pieces of lovely flowered fabric for some future project.  The fabric was only $1.99/yd, which is a good price!  Then I went to Menards and bought a couple strings of outdoor lights.  Finally I went to the bakery for a couple sweet rolls and to the supermarket for a few grocery items.   I certainly did not see any crowds or fights where I shopped!  I can tell you there is NO way I would stand in line for a TV set or some techno gadget.  For one thing, I hate techno gadgets, and I don't even own a TV set.  We gave up on TV several years ago, and we do not miss it at all.  Besides, I can watch anything I want to online for free, at least until streaming services are not free.  I just like to watch news and special events anyway.   Everything else on TV these days is trash, to my way of thinking.   It is much more enjoyable to spend an evening playing cards or Scrabble with my husband, or neighbors, or just reading a good book or sewing on some project.   Some evenings I just enjoy playing the piano or my accordion.
     Anyway, I just wanted to share with you my little unusual Christmas tree this year!