Well, it has been a hot minute since I posted on Steemit. Post vacation funk, work stuff, Christmas prepping and Christmas season shenanigans. But here I am to ring in Christmas Eve with you all today. 🎅🏻🎄

So let’s dive into a little TREE TUESDAY! ^{It’s Tuesday somewhere right?}

🎄 🎄 🎄 🎄 🎄

I love seeing all the decorated trees this time of year. In town squares, at shopping malls, in people’s homes... Everyone has a different idea of what makes a great Christmas tree and I love checking them all out. Live trees, artificial, full, spindly, white lights or colored each one has its own personality.

Here are a few from this season.

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Tree One: A Waikiki Tree

This lovely tree was the first I spotted this season - in EARLY November! 😳 The tree is located in the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. I like the palm fronds and tropical flowers tucked between the branches. So very Hawaiian.

Tree Two: An airport tree

This tree stands just outside the international terminal at Sydney’s Kingsford Smith Airport. I LOVE the ornaments on this tree. They are all over sized and each is an iconic Australian image. If you look closely you will see ornaments shaped like the Sydney Opera House, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, kangaroos and koalas. This was a great tree to spot upon arriving to Australia.

Tree Three: Martin Place

This massive tree can be found in Martin Place, a pedestrian square in the heart of Sydney, Australia. Sydney’s Central Business District is not lacking for trees, but this is the big kahuna of them all. In the evening the lights of the tree are accompanied by a light show projected in the ground adjacent to the base of the tree.

Tree Four: Queensland

🤣😂🤣 This one is definitely NOT your normal Christmas tree. It was one of a series of modern “trees” on display in Brisbane’s central business district. If nothing else can be said about this tree, it most definitely captures the summer vibe of Christmas down under.

Tree Five: Another one in Brisbane

Here is another large and in charge tree, This one is also located in central Brisbane. It stands in the center of King George Square in front of Brisbane’s city hall.

Tree Six: Back Home!

This is the tree in my little town. Located in Centennial Plaza, this living Christmas tree is adorned with white fairy lights and colorful baubles from the Saturday after Thanksgiving until New Year’s Day. I like that my town decorates a tree that still grows here. Christmas with no chopping required. 😊

Tree Seven: Hoighty Toighty

Across Lake Washington from Seattle is the second largest city in my state - Bellevue, Washington. Bellevue used to be filled with blueberry patches and small farms. Today it is filled with super rich Microsoft employees. The “eastside” (as the Bellevue side of the lake is known) is wealthy and you can see it in the city’s residents and in their glitzy shopping mall tree.

Tree Eight: The Party Tree

Just before my recent trip to Australia, the father of one of my best friends passed away. In my post just before his death, I mentioned that he (Ed) and his wife Patricia throw a BIG Christmas party every year. Well, even with Ed gone the party happened this past Saturday. This is Patricia’s Christmas tree. I had seen my friend Ned (Ed’s and Patricia’s son) a few times since being home. However, Saturday was my first time seeing Patricia. It was bittersweet, but so lovely to be celebrating Christmas in their home as we have for the past two decades.

Tree Nine: Mom and Dad’s

This is my parent’s Christmas tree. They always get a Nobel Fir. Mom likes that the tree is long lasting and that the wide spacing between branches makes it easier to hang LOTS of ornaments. My mom has a massive collection of Christmas ornaments. She is an artist, so has always taken care to make the tree and the packages underneath beautiful.

Tree Ten: My Tree! 😃

We have an artificial tree. Growing up I never thought I would become a fake tree person. However, we bought this in Australia (where real Christmas trees are rare) just after getting married. It was purchased with a gift card given to us as a wedding present by my dad’s dear friend, a fellow named John Rose. Well, Mr Rose was one of the best people you could ever meet, Sadly he passed away from cancer in 2008 or 2009. He always loved that we used his gift for our tree, and now that he is gone the tree is even more special to me.

^{Gift closeup. I am loving the cardinal gift wrap.}

Growing up I had a full ceiling height tree of my own in my bedroom (only child 😁). Because of this, I have had my whole life to accumulate a massive ornament collection. I still hang some of my first ornaments on our tree. I am also fond of collecting ornaments while traveling. I would say 60% of what is on the tree is blown glass (I love some holiday sparkle). Every ornament I own was gifted or individually hand picked by me for the tree.

Here is a closer look at some faves.

^{Two old school ornaments. The wooden Santa with tree has hung on my tree every year of my life. I like that it has a bit of a retro late 60’s early 70’s vibe. I am not sure if my parents bought it for me or if it was passed down from their stash to decorate my first tree. The mushroom ornament on the right was always on mom and dad’s tree when I was a kid. I always loved looking at the little mice inside, so mom eventually gifted me this ornament.}

^{These two ornaments were both Hallmark purchases. (Hallmark is a store in the US that specializes in greeting cards, but they also release collectible Christmas ornaments every year.) Both ornaments have little holes where you can insert one light from the strand on the tree. This makes their windows glow from inside. I love that both scenes are so very Christmasy.}

^{I have several animal ornaments on our tree. Here we have a glass dachshund ornament I bought at Liberty London just off of the city’s famous Carnaby Street. I got this ornament before our dachshund Jasper, but its little face looks so much like our pup! The baby seal ornament was purchased at the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California. It is so cute! I always hang him at the top front of our tree where he is easy to see.}

^{These two bears were also purchased in London. Each wears an uniform of a different royal guard. All of London’s historic attractions have the BEST gift shops attached. I bought the bear in the red top during a visit to the UK in 2009 and the one wearing the kilt in 2013.}

^{Look! It’s a s’more! 😄 This ornament is a classic American campfire snack. You put a marshmallow and square of Hershey chocolate and place them on top of a graham cracker. These are cooked over a fire until the marshmallow and chocolate melt. Gooey and delicious! This little marshmallow has turned the tables however and is roasting his own little hotdog.}

^{These last two ornaments were also picked up while traveling. I found the felt koala on one of my first trips to Australia. Which means I’ve had him for 20 years. The Santa with Eiffel Tower I got while visiting Paris in 2013. Like a lot of people I am Eiffel Tower obsessed, so I actually have several different Eiffel Towers on our tree. But this is the only one straight from the source! 😍}

^{Last but not least... our tree topper. My husband is Australian. From our first Christmas until now I have always put this little koala at the top of our tree. There is a sparking snowflake just beneath, but the koala is the star.🤩}

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Merry Christmas Everyone!

❤️💚❤️ 🎅🏻 🎄 ❤️💚❤️

PS - My Secret Santa gift arrived yesterday. It is at my parent’s place (their mailbox is more secure than mine), but I can’t wait to see what is inside tomorrow!

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