When I found this bottle brush tree at the thrift store, I thought it was OK. It wasn't like I was going to leave it behind.
It had the requisite flocking and mercury glass beads.
It had a frosty little Santa on top, which was kind of a bonus.
It had a music box in the base, and it worked, which was a plus. Not a huge plus, as I'm kind of neutral on music boxes, but it was a sweet variation on a bottle brush tree.
Dresden decorations on top. I'm kind of neutral on dresden decorations, too, but it's not like I oppose them.
The little snowdrift on the bottom was sweet, too, and the only possible explanation for the tree being encased in a plastic cylinder, which to me was not a plus.
It wasn't until I got it in the car that I noticed the weird perforated top. Which puzzled me. And as I was pulling out of the parking lot an idea dawned on me, and it's kind of a miracle I didn't stop right then to test my theory.
Yes, a bottle brush tree in its own snowy little world. The snow shakes back into the perforated top, and when the music box is wound up, it falls. Ever so lightly. Sigh.
I may retire from thrifting. I'm never going to find anything this excellent again.