memories of childhood past, stringing popcorn, making ornaments, making gifts, then xmas eve decorating the house and tree, the glorious smells of fresh cut tree, boughs of cedar, holly, pine, spruce used to make garlands, pine cones decoration, acorns, dried berries, the smells from the kitchen, then to church for the service, back home to the stable (the girls got a couple cups of extra ration heated and sticky with molasses) then to bed, early chores ( the cows always always came first) breakfast and gifts then Dinner, visitors or visits, chores again and a quiet night. the decorations stayed up until after jan 7 when we had gifts and a big meal again, the on the 8th the tree was taken down and moved to the front lawn in the snow, the popcorn was left on the tree and any edible ornaments, the garlands where placed around the berries and cones and acorns spread with them, the tree was redecorated with balls of suit, strings of dried fruit and berries and little pouches of nuts and seeds, was always amazing how many different types of birds would show up along with a few awake squirrels, the odd chipmunk or two.