Trees, trees, trees

How peculiar that trees have become such a predominant symbol of Christmas. What did we do before the humble Christmas tree? Imagine a pre-1841 household, bereft of a great big enormous space filler that means I have to start thinking a couple of weeks before it goes up just what is stuffed behind my favourite corner chair, will it be on view, do I have to take it elsewhere in my stuffed like a turkey house, or can I just plonk the base there and fill in any visible gaps at the base with a ready-wrapped present pile that works as a disguise from December 1st until the 25th, when who gives a flying squirrel what lies behind anyway, because the whole house is heaving after a month spent rampaging to carol concerts, last minute shopping, making sure that the obligatory family visits have been done and panicking that if Aunty Carol turns up with serious presents you won't have anything more than a tin of Walker's Shortbread to pass over.
It must have been bliss.

But the Christmas tree dates from pagan times (or Martin Luther, depending on who got to Wikipedia last) and we're stuck with it.

This year I have really enjoyed crocheting little bits and bobs for the house so inspiration struck one September day and I set to work. It sounds crazy, but it took me two months to finish them I hooked the bodies and joined them in less than a day.
They sat around for a couple of weeks while I waited for the wooden dowelling to form the stand to be delivered.

Then another couple of weeks to think hard whether there was any stuffing in the house or was it hidden well in the Craft Attic and then sitting it by the chair (stuffed behind so that it was slightly hidden from view) until I felt soft enough to stuff a tree while DH looked on in amazement muttering "Who has time to stuff a tree? You don't even stuff mushrooms!"

Another week for the ricrac from Ebay to pop through my door and a few (ahem) a lot of buttons to fall casually out of little envelopes (that made DH's day; another rattling envelope to explain!). I think it was the night I sewed them on that he finally stopped asking why and just sat with a fazed look on his face. He finally knew he had entered Bedlam. And I was the only patient.

But they are finally done, stood in empty tuna tins filled with grouting because that pot of Polyfilla I know I have somewhere is... somewhere else and not here.  And ready for the end of my mantelpiece. Elves one end, trees the other. Can't wait.

What did you say? You want to make one? Seriously, they are mega easy. They use only treble stitch and slip stitch for the bodies, joined together with a row of double crochet (English terms) I have written a  small pattern, which I will share later this week.