It's been 6 years since we've had a Christmas tree in the house.
Why, are we Grinches or something? Don't celebrate Christmas?
Well, no on both counts.
It's been more of a logistical issue. We often travel for the holidays, and I don't like the thought of a live tree dying in the house while we're gone. Fire hazard and all that.
And the cats. Lots of cats to climb up or tear down the tree.
So we've just avoided it altogether.
But this year I wanted a tree. And I wanted a tree that we got to choose and cut.
So when C-baby and her friend visited the weekend after Thanksgiving, I thought, "This is my chance!"
Friends recommended a local tree farm that was just over the ridge from us, and soon we were piled in the XUV and on our way.
After picking up the requisite equipment - namely a tarp for dragging the tree and a bow saw for cutting, we began our trek up the hill.
The trees were planted in sections by type.
We passed by all the short-needled spruce varieties. We always had short-needled spruces when I was growing up.
And then we spotted her down the aisle of Scotch Pines.
She was perfect. Symmetrical in shape, full and bushy. C-baby and I agreed immediately, we had to have her.
But Papa Bear wanted to keep looking. We hadn't reached the top of the hill yet.
We debated leaving someone beside her just to keep the other shoppers away until we returned (as we knew we would).
But in the end we trudged up to the top of the hill only to find more short-needled pines.
An attempt was made to use the tarp to slide back down the hill, albeit unsuccessfully.
When we returned to the Scotch Pine row, she was still there.
{Whew!}
And so the cutting began.
There were gadgets at this tree farm that I have never seen before, like this one, which shakes the tree vigorously to dislodge snow and loose needles and such.
And this one, which reminded me of something the Grinch might use to stuff and steal Christmas trees from the Who village.
As Papa tethered the tree to the truck, we wandered around looking at things.
And breathing deeply.
Need a hand, Papa?
Even the drive home was lovely, with white snow and red barns peeking out here and there.
Stay tuned for trimming the tree!
Holiday Cheers -
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