12 Days of Christmas Decorating: Day One

Did you know that finding a bird's nest in your Christmas tree

will bring you good luck and prosperity in the new year?

Or, as in the case of my friend -- not once but twice --

it means you will be expecting a baby soon.

Finding that lovely specimen in ours has led us

to having a nature-inspired Adirondack tree this year, 

with many of the decorations going outside 

for the birds when we are done with them.

Supplies are ready, and since we will be busy for some time,

I will be sharing the 12 Days of Christmas Decorating

right here on the Red Hen Studio blog.

First up, stringing popcorn and cranberries.

Orville Redenbacher's microwave stuff won't work,

unless you want it all a bit greasy.

Instead I bought a big bag of plain popping corn

that we nuked in a  brown paper bag,

about a quarter or a half cup at a time.

Using long sharp needles and heavy thread,

we started stringing lengths of about 3 feet long.

The boys had a sense of accomplishment

and the thread didn't get all tangled on them

than if I had given them longer pieces.

Once the lengths were done, I tied each one to the last

and added them around the tree.

This might be the easiest of my decorating ideas

but it certainly is time consuming.

Each boy did a few sections, but I finished up

most of them while watching television.

The preschooler had an easier time stringing Cheerios

with a blunt-ended tapestry needle.

He proclaimed he was making bracelets and necklaces,

but with shorter lengths strung on pipe cleaners

the results would be cute little wreaths.

Here is phase one of our tree, with a small amount of white lights

and wide red velvet ribbon strung around it.

Oh, and the candy canes since the boys couldn't let those wait.

And here is the nest back in its place among the boughs.

Can't wait to share more with you over the next 12 days.

Check back tomorrow!