Methuen Festival of Trees, First Prize Winner, 2011

After winning in 2010, we were raring to go for 2011. This year my Everett Mills building manager thought we ought to have a moving part, and suggested “maybe a mouse”. So I made a deal with him. If he could make the mouse move, I’d do the rest, and we did! With a complete turn around from the very calm and peaceful “Time to Remember” tree of 2010, this design bordered on chaotic. Contemplating a “mouse”, as the star of the show this year, I thought of “…not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse….” But this time all creatures were stirring, even the mouse! Ribbons flew, gifts tumbled, and brightly colored balls of all sizes crowded the tree as three toddler sized elves, my own creation, climbed the tree in all their glory. There were sugar plums, candy canes, jingle bells, and decorated cookies, one of which was the target of our mouse ( who was moving out and over to try and steal a nibble!). His well dressed girlfriend sat on the shoulder of our lady elf, as if to whisper in her ear. Papa elf was stringing popcorn and cranberries while he balanced on a pile of toppling gifts, as yet another creature (woodland owl) helped with the ribbons. Way up top, the youngest elf perched proudly along side the, slightly off balanced, star topper. Oh Joy! …I had never expected to be so lucky as to receive this coveted first prize conifer award again. What an honor! Can’t wait for next year!!!