A Perfect 72 degrees

You may think you know what I'm going to write about after reading my title. But I'm here to bet that you don't!!

Today's post actually comes from a little reminiscing of my Christmas memories. This after struggling all weekend with my decorating efforts of tree, Christmas village and lights. I have to ask myself in the midst of yet another "they worked when I tested them!" frustration. I'm sure you've been there - you get the whole 12 foot tree strung with lights and then for the grand finale you plug them in ...... and only half the tree is lit, the bottom half. Of course you started on the top half which is the most difficult to remedy. You just have to question whether it's worth it all.

But here is why I struggle through until I get it right, or mostly right. When I was little I remember going into my Dad's basement workshop where he was always creating something. He was a hard working farmer but in the winter, when you only did the bare minimum of outdoor work b/c of the sub zero temps, he would find time to tinker with his wood working hobby. He made all sorts of cool things like church collection plates, lamps, furniture, etc.

Well one year he decided to make a large wooden Christmas tree with green lights attached and a star with blue lights. He put these up on the side of our 2 story century old farm house and it was a sight to see for all who drove by.

I especially loved the star because it turned out to be a geometry lesson (you all know how much I love that subject). He explained to me how to measure with a protractor to get exactly 72 degree between each ray that made the 5 points of the star. So from that time on 72 degrees took on a festive quality for me. It was sort of magical and became part of what made Christmas so great.

So now I have my own blue lighted star. It is still not up b/c I don't have a century farm house but we're working on it. That and the village with the lights that just went pop when I plugged them in. It doesn't matter - I love Christmas because it's magical, it's 72 degrees!