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"She seemed to come suddenly upon happiness as if she had surprised a butterfly in the Winter woods"
(edith wharton)


Friday 14 December 2007

'two turtle doves?' & a bah humbug 'christmas' tree


earlier this week, I was just about to walk out the door to drive my grandson Thomas to school, when two birds flew onto my deck and sat looking at me for quite awhile... I immediately thought of 'two turtle doves' but no, they weren't turtle doves they were brown cuckoo doves... a gorgeous pair of copper coloured birds come to say hello to me.
I am feeling much better although the cough is still hanging around. I was talking to a friend yesterday who has had the same thing for 3 months, apparently it is just a thing that won't go away for months. I think I might take up smoking so at least I have an excuse for constantly coughing (of course this is tongue in cheek)

ok, ok.. I 'must' have a christmas tree because that is what we do here at this time or year. For years I have gone out and bought a real pine tree from our local fire brigade or Lions club but this year, I refuse to do that. I refuse to have a huge tree in my loungeroom, having to vacuum all the needles that constantly drop, watering it trying to keep it alive in summer heat... so I decided to do my own thing.. a live tree, I thought. Joe and I trotted off last weekend to a nursery to find something suitable. At first I thought of buying a frangipani.. these are out in flower at the moment and are truly a summer type plant, but they won't live indoors for too long.. then I thought of the Wollomi pine, an ancient tree that was discovered a few years ago, deep in a hidden valley not far from where I live.. it is from the dinosaur age and has survived millions of years.. it has been cultivated and is now being sold in nurseries. However the biggest one was only about 14 ins high and a cost of $100.. I just could not bring myself to buy one. So we left empty handed. Well, not quite empty handed I bought 3 Echeverias to decorate my table on christmas day... will show them later.

While in the local hardware store yesterday, I spotted some palms and even though I am not a lover of these plants.. they are a summery kind of thing.. so I bought one for $10.. an odd choice I know but with a vintage sari wrapped around the base, some personalised baubles, a few lights and some vintage birds hiding in the branches or fronds.. it does the trick, I think. And after the silly season has gone as quickly as it comes... I can put the palm out on my deck.

24 comments:

Bimbimbie said...

*!* Love the choice of tree and decorations *!*

Julie said...

I do think it works! I applaud your alternative Christmas efforts.

Your bird looks somewhat like our mourning doves here.

Julie

Fire Byrd said...

looks good hon! love the idea of the birds. Does seem to make more sense not to have a pine tree in such a hot place.

Is there a statue in your garden or a ghost, can't tell, except can see this female form?
love pxx

Invisible Woman said...

I loVe your creativity! I thoroughly enjoyed your Christmas palm tree and the information on the Wollomi pine. Amazing.

It sure was nice of the cuckoo doves to pay you a visit.

Blessings for a return to full health very soon! xo, MW

peppylady (Dora) said...

What a lovely tree. I'm not one to follow rules very well and I think it cool to have a free thought and will.

What a lovely looking bird. Do they make a cooing sound?

Annie Jeffries said...

Robyn, I love what you have done here. A potted palm is very cool. Love it.

gma said...

Beautiful. Looks like you live in the tropics! Doves here are white to dark gray!

A bird in the hand said...

Even though it wouldn't survive indoors, I love the idea of a frangipani!

I got myself a small (fake) table top tree. I have no room for anything else, and I don't normally have a tree... your Christmas bird from last year is hanging on it! xoxoxo

amelia said...

Our doves are the same colour as the ones in your picture but we call them mourning doves.

Love the tree, great idea!!

Anonymous said...

I love it. Who says we have to have a regular tree anyway. Love Hugs and Blessings

Sorrow said...

Thats wonderful!You have such a fun spirit! We used to decorate a Norfolk island pine someone gave us! It's the count that thoughts! ~grin~
Keep mending on that cough!

Everydaythings said...

Well done great alternative to a traditional tree - you are creative!!!

Kim Campbell said...

I think it looks lovely! I am so glad you are feeling better!

I miss you
XO

Rowan said...

What a good idea - much more suitable for where you live and your time of year. Looks very pretty and summery.

Pear tree cottage! said...

Robyn I love that you simply "break out of the boundries" with such ease.

I lived in PNG for several years and a pine tree was no were to be found so a palm yes worked a treat! good on you girl.

Have a gentle day, get well soon.
Lee-ann

Ruth said...

We use greenery from the garden and hedgerows - holly, ivy, cedar, pine cones, rosemary, mistletoe - anything evergreen. More traditional than the Christmas tree actually - and full of Solstice magic!

J C said...

Robyn your tree is great. Here, people decorate palm trees with lights in their yards at Christmas. I looks kind of neat with the light stringers waving in the breeze. I'll try to get a picture. My tree this year is a fake ficus I already have. I have begun to decorate it with tiny things, like the origami ornament and some cranes my Japanese friend gave me. DH collects Tweety too, so I'm sure they will be on the tree. I wasn't going to do it, but...well.....how can it be Christmas without some kind of decorated tree. Last year I had a twig tree with art stuff on it. I will NEVER again have a cut Christmas tree. I would love to have a living tree, but I don't think dh will go along with planting it later. He is into palm, palm, palms. (Low maintenance). xoxoxo

Anonymous said...

That is such a great idea and it looks great !!! I love the sari wrapped around the pot and those birdies look so nice in the tree !!
Have a great day !!

Angela said...

What a deal you got on the palm! And it's really beautiful.

laoi gaul~williams said...

what a great idea for where you are...here in freezing cold dorset its a real tree grown at the farm shop up the road...it was very festive walking up in the cold, choosing one and carrying it home.
i shall send you a picture :)

Sheila said...

It looks great Robyn..!
good for you for being true to yourself..
;o)
I don't use a real tree, but one of my favourite evergreens is a Norfolk pine, very Australian..!
BTW, I fixed my email, so you can use the usual addy
Love and hugs
xo

Gill said...

Fantastic tree Robyn~!!
I love it. If I were any further south my tree would be exactly the same!!!!
I love the fact that you used a vintage sari with it at the base...it shows how creative you are.
Much love,
Gillian
xo
(We are preparing for a HUGE snowfall, I'll take pickies for you.)

Anonymous said...

Hey Robyn,
you can use my words ; )
They are a part of a Dutch poem I wrote, which I translated. It is a bit longer, but this is the core feeling ; )
Have a great day !!!

Tinker said...

I love the palm tree! The sarong looks so right with it. I was thinking the other day when I took that photo of the palms, how really they would be more fitting for Christmas - I'm betting there were more likely palm trees than pine trees around there.
Hope your cough clears up soon! ~XOXO