Klowns in my Koffee

On the solstice, literally when the "sun stands still," we stand on the cusp. From now until June - which seems like forever - the amount of sunlight each day will get longer by teaspoonfuls until we bask in the gentle breezes and full bloom of summer.

We didn't waste the shortest day. My little band of destructors, freed from school for two weeks, cooperated in the ritual cleaning of the house. While not exactly up to "Martha" standards even though I've been working on it for weeks, many of the rooms now again look like they did when the social worker visited in the pre-adoption days. The kids were enticed to behave with this promise: If we get the cleaning done, we'll have time to decorate the Christmas tree tonight.

My family had been expressing doubts that the tree would ever appear. Attila the Son thought that the absence of a lighted tree in the front window would be a confusing sign for Santa Claus. who might fly right on by, thinking that we'd had our fill at Hanukkah.

Aided by a large barbecue platter from Famous Dave's and the Time-Life Treasury of Christmas Carols (operators are standing by), we set up the tree. Kollege Kid took the lead and did a wonderful job with the lights and selecting the theme. Since we have enough decorations for three trees, some editing is necessary and prudent to avoid having a tree that topples. Some years, we aim for a color palette or a particular genre; for example, shiny, silver, homespun, toys, Santas, etc. One year, we assembled "simple and classy" with white lights, gold and silver glass balls, and a few metallic ornaments for interest. At the other end of the dial, is "tacky but fun" with every cartoon ornament and kindergarten objet d'art lying in the bottom of the ornament box.

This year, we just let the kids hang any ornament that they thought was fun. The Starship Enterprise hovers next to a pickle with antlers. A delicate gold filigree house shares the neighborhood with Garfield and a bear using a computer. And it looks just great.

Eat your heart out, Martha.

On the years that we have the matchy-matchy trees, these simple and colorful ornaments are cheap, fun to make, and can be made to fit any color theme.

Buy a box of clear glass balls. Carefully remove the metal or plastic hanger piece that caps the opening to the cavity. Add a few drops of craft paint of your chosen color to the interior. Tip or swirl around to achieve different effects.

Adding another color while the first color is wet can produce an interesting mottled effect as seen in this black and white ball. For a color blocked pattern, allow one color to pool and dry in one area, then add a new color to the section that is still clear.

Allow to dry and replace the cap. Hang on your tree and congratulate yourself for your creativity and frugality.