Her House is Filled with the Spirit of Christmas

Oh, there's no place like Sally Yablonsky's home for the holidays! Every year, Sally not only decks the halls and rooms of her Apalachin split-level with evergreen boughs and decorations, she puts up five Christmas trees.

 "I love Christmas," says Sally. "If it snows in October, I put Christmas music on. I want my family and friends to see Christmas all around, every inch."

 The five trees - each with a different theme - start going up the day after Thanksgiving. Sally takes them down a few days after the First of the Year, and returns them to their storage place. ("We have a large basement!") All the trees are artificial.

 The most formal of the five trees  is in the living room. This full-size tree features blue and gold ornaments and bows. Clear icicle ornaments reflect the white lights. Red and gold garland drapes the tree, and a beautiful golden-winged angel graces the top. Under the tree, a happy group of snowmen rests on a navy tree skirt.

 A medium-size tree sits in the foyer near the staircase where the stockings are hung with care. (Sally's home doesn't have a fireplace) This tree features a delicious assortment of "inedible edibles" - ornaments that look like our favorite treats such as candy, apples, cherry tarts, and grapes.

 Sally's favorite tree is the full-size tree in her country kitchen. Decorated in a gingerbread theme, the tree is full of delightful gingerbread boys of all kinds - some even made from real gingerbread. The tree is draped with peppermint and gingerbread lights and artificial popcorn and candy garland. A group of stuffed gingerbread people gathers under the tree. 

 Sally also puts a tree in the master bedroom. This smaller, table top tree is decorated with a romantic theme by using lace and baby's breath.

 The fifth tree is a full-size ‘family' tree in the family room. This is the only tree that Sally does not decorate. That honor is left to her three children - Jill, 21, Jeff, 18, and Joey, 10 - who may decorate it any way they wish. The children usually put a train and a small village under this tree. 

 Sally's personal Christmas forest began eight years ago. The first Christmas in their house, Sally and her husband, Peter, put up one Christmas tree. The following January, Sally happened to stop by Central Tractor in Vestal while they were selling artificial trees for 80% off. Sally came home with three trees. And she's never looked back. One year, she even put up seven trees, though five is normal for her.

 "My kids think I'm crazy, but I do it for them."

 In addition to decorating her house with trees, Sally also fills it with 
joy using snowmen, angels, gnomes, elves, and other seasonal figures including a nutcracker collection and a Nativity set that she made herself.

 "I do love the true meaning of Christmas, but I love the magic, too.  I'm a 42-year-old who still believes in Santa."