This is the first Christmas at the ranch so there are undoubtedly going to be some firsts. First tree, first Christmas stockings and first disasters. Well, not exactly disasters. I’ll call them failures. I’ll save the word disaster for after Christmas presents have been opened.

The Christmas tree fell over this morning. It left its mooring. It took it’s pretty little decorations and lights to the floor. This wouldn’t feel like such a failing except that I cleverly hung the tree from the ceiling.

The ranch has nine foot ceilings in the great room and the tree is a hefty one at almost eight feet. My daughter and I together installed the hook in a beam in the ceiling and together lifted the tree to attach the lanard to the hook. The twine I used was just too wimpy to handle the weight so it snapped. Since the tree is hanging in a pot of water there wasn’t anything at the base to keep it upright.

It truly is a great idea to hang a tree. No adjusting for perfect vertical. No falling over in the flimsy stand…oh wait…it did fall over. Time to bring out the proper twine or in this case, wire. Heavy wire. Time to do it like a woman.

Like I said, it took two of us to muscle it into place but this morning it’s just me and the spiny spruce. Let me think…smarter..not stronger. Stronger just isn’t an option.

Once I had attached the heavy wire to the tree I doubled the wire over and twisted it to secure a loop at the top. I made it a little shorter than before so this way I could add two wire ties to the loop allowing me to tighten and therefore lift the tree into place. Sort of like using a winch. Okay, so I had to hide the wire ties with a festive bow and ribbon but I feel that this method will hold. Next year I’ll be prepared for hanging a tree with a much heavier cord….red and white would look pretty.