By Putting lights on the Christmas tree has been the seasonal job I detest most. It never goes well, but I finally figured out the problem: we don’t have enough lights for the tall trees we like. And I tend to do it myself without much help. The help I do get is usually in the form of advice, like “You need more lights over here… Could you just move some of these down?”
In the past I’ve moved lights. That is a mistake. Once the lights have been carefully woven on each branch it is a disaster to start moving them and increases the work by at least three-fold.
So the answer now is NO, …Could you just go get more lights? Generally I try to decry “more”… but ’tis the season…
Now, finally, we have something of a formula. It takes about 100 lights for every 1-1 1/2 feet of tree.
And I have a new helper. This one has been dying to help for years, and each year I give her a little more responsibility. I think she’s ready to take over the job.