Deck The Halls From Porch To Treetop - Christmas Lights, Christmas Tree Toppers & Christmas Angels

Fa-la-la-la-la, la-lah, la-lah... I love the boughs, and the holly. I adore the sparkling lights twined among the evergreen branches of a lovely wreath that's dripping with jeweled fruit, and colorful glass balls, and crowned with an amazing velvet bow.

I celebrate the Christmas season every year by festooning my home with wreaths and garlands. The garlands look so lovely and fresh, swagged across the mantle, tied up with red bows. Gold beads and silver stars intertwine among the tiny lights that loop through the length of each garland.

In some of garlands, lovely magnolias peek out from among the gracefully drooping boughs. In others, tiny birds and poinsettias nestle among the branches. I love them all - every twinkling light, every shining star, every tiny bird and velvet ribbon.

One of the first things to go on the tree at our house was always the lights. I still recall my dad sitting cross-legged on the floor, laboriously untangling strand after strand of colored lights.

If the string of lights burst forth in all its multi-colored glory, he would cheer, set it aside, and move on to the next strand. If the string didn't co-operate though, his routine changed.

When that happened, he would temporarily unplug the string, and mutter a few well-muffled words under his breath while he dug into the box of spare bulbs. Then he would begin the tedious job of checking each light in turn 'til he located the offender.

At that time, lights were wired in series, and when one burned out the whole string blinked off. As well, the bulbs in our strings of light were quite large - about an inch long. The bulbs of that size I use for the base of oneliving roomlamp are rated a 4 watts. I hate to think how much power those colorful strands ate up.

Nobody worried much back then about conserving power, and, anyway, there weren't a lot of options available. Nowadays, we have LED technology. Touted as environmentally friendly, the reduction of power use alone is enough to swing my vote, and the cost savings is phenomenal, making it a very attractive package.

Make sure your tables are adorned in style too, with these lovely painted jars.

Filled with twinkling Christmas lights, they are a perfect starter for your home decor, and equally lovely on their own or as a centerpiece.

Each lighted jar features a different design and Snowman. Some have one or two evergreen trees, while some have trees and candy canes to compliment the Snowman.

Each jar is frosted, and is filled with tiny "rice lights" for an added twinkle.

I am particularly fond of the adorable star design. The slightly tipsy Snowman looks so sweet and jolly.

These Dora and Princess Christmas light sets are just the thing to gladden the heart of some special little girl.

If Dora or the princesses don't suit your living room's decor, though, consider how sweet they would look adorning the window frame of that little girl's bedroom, or twined into her very own lighted Christmas wreath.

This adorable display features ornaments created in the delightful Victorian style.

Finely crafted to resemble sparkling glass baubles, each figure is touched with silver to sparkle and shine from the branches of your tree.These heirloom quality ornaments are sure to become treasured family favorites.

The Victorian Man from Byers Choice is a one-of-a-kind ornament. Each unique figurine is hand crafted and decorated by skilled artisans. Such lovely tree ornaments - it seems almost a shame to have to put them away when Christmas is over.

They didn't have ornaments like these NHL and NFL licensed decorations when my son was young, and, mercifully for my idea of Christmas decor, his father was never really into sports.

Now, though, I think these little guys are really cute. You can ardorn your tree with a complete set of all your favorite teams and conferences...and if they clash with the elegant garlands, lush wreaths and scented candles in the living room, why not have a special sports-themed tree in the rec room?

I have had many trees over the years, and have had a few toppers that were beautiful arrangements of lights, or a simple star, that remind us of the star that shone over Bethlehem so many centuries ago.

This lovely tree topper contains ten clear lights, and features a simple, elegant metal frame.. It will make a beautiful addition to almost any Christmas decor.

This lovely 12-point Moravian star comes with a clear adapter to use as a Christmas tree topper, but it can also be hung anywhere in the house.

The lovely Capiz shell Christmas tree topper shell comes all ready to plug in and light up your yuletide decor. The natural shell adds a gracious glow to the top of your tree.

The lighted Mosaic Star of Bethlehem tree topper is double sided, and glitters in Christmasy color - ruby red, rich emerald, and deep sapphire blue.

I absolutely adore Christmas angels. The last thing to go on the tree every year, my angel is a baroque lady in red velvet and gold, bearing a lighted garland.

One year, the son of a friend decided the angel on the top of his family's tree should be named "Harold".

Their rather venerable angel, complete with a dove of peace, gold tinsel halo, and rather stiff blond ringlets looked nothing like a Harold to any of us so we were naturally curious how their 5 year old had come up with this idea.

I know - you're thinking this sounds like one of those apocryphal stories - the kind that are clever and funny and touching, and make you wonder if they ever really happened, but I can vouch for the truth of this particular tale, though, and we really did have trouble containing our laughter when he explained.

His family had never named their angel, and apparently their son felt the lack. As we had sung a lovely old carol in church that day, he had chosen that angel's name for his family's angel, so that she would have a proper angel's name "just like the angel in the song".

He went on to explain that their angel was a "herald angel", too. For years after that, whenever our friends unpacked the Christmas decorations, he would gleefully shout, "Hark! The herald angel!" when she appeared from amid the tissue paper.

My dad used to always put our angel on after all the other decorations were in place, and just before the tree was festooned with tinsel.

I remember how he would hoist up our little sister to put "Angel-Glo" in place.

Made of gilded and painted plastic, she had a halo that stuck out all around her - rays of stiff, clear nylon reflecting the color of the lighted bulb behind her.

We loved "Angel-Glo", named for the caption on the box in which she was purchased. The tree just wasn't finished until she was set carefully in place.

There are so many beautiful and elegant tree-toppers available now. Almost any taste or budget can be accommodated.

Some friends of mine decorate their tree entirely with bear ornaments every Christmas. I'm sure they would love Serafina Snowflake or someone just like her to preside over their tree.

At just over ten lights to the foot, these beads are very large, but perfect for twining into outdoor evergreen garlands or very large wreaths.

Available in clear or multi-colored, as well as other combinations. On their own, looped above the door or entwined up your porch railings, the multi-colored strands would make your house look like it belonged in a Christmas Candy-land.

Christmas garland is one of my all-time favorite Christmas decorations.

Usually I buy plain evergreen garland and add my own light strands and decorations, depending on the colors and the theme.

Most often I will add clusters of holly berries and leaves, pearl or frosted Christmas tree balls, and jeweled fruit.

Sometimes I will include little birds in their nests, or a lovely red cardinal among clusters of high-bush cranberry leaves.

I have created some gorgeous garlands, but lack of space in my new apartment has somewhat curtailed that activity.

I still enjoy making wreaths though, and can use the same stash of goodies that I have accumulated for the garlands.

...and, of course, everything is topped off with an incredible bow, the trailing ends looped and twined through the garland or wreath.

I have a box dedicated to Christmas ribbon, and whatever the wreath or garland, there is always one ribbon  - velvet, gauze, figured, encrusted with jewels or sparkling gold and silver - that is absolutely the perfect final touch.

For the finishing touch to your exterior decor, who could pass up these cute as a button offerings - Disney Yard Art.

I am a big fan of "The Mouse" and all his pals, but I also know a little great niece who is a princess in her own right. She would like nothing better than to have the whole house in princess dress from garret to garden.

What ever your preference, these great decorations are sure to brighten your yuletide as well as your yard.