Christmass Tree

We’ve got a great source for live trees, and wind up paying about $40 for a 7-footer. The smell really freshens up the house for the season. We usually string several ropes of lights, this year was red white and blue. Since we’ve got a grabby toddler, our ornaments (many of them cherished Waterford gifts) were sparse and of the unbreakable kind.

(I’ve got a pic that I’ll post in a little while…I’m having Photobucket issues today)

-- Living on the square...Metro Detroit

I’ll have to go digging for pictures of our tree. We have used artificial trees for years now. (It’s a long and silly story as to why we switched!) The only thing I really miss about a real tree is the awesome smell. Our tree is filled with small colored lights and memories … all the ornaments our children had made us over the years (in school, Sunday School, at the kitchen table) or bought me as Christmas gifts. Still have 5 or 6 glass bulbs from hubby and my first Christmas (33 years ago now) ... and, now proudly display a “grandparent ornament”. I am a tinsel freak and have passed the “tinsel” tradition to my adult daughter.

The first picture is our tree … second picture is my daughter’s NINE foot tree in Arizona; where we spent Christmas this year.

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

with the kids “gone” and Rick not a Christmas person, I switched to an artificial tree, one with the lights already on it. That part I love!! I miss the real tree though.. going out and finding the right one…. yah that was so much fun.

There it is… just a little guy that I can fit on top of a table. (Under the table is a big rubbermaid container holding our fish from our little pond…. can’t wait for them to get back outside! )

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

OK, Photobucket and I had a chat, and I was able to upload a pic of our tree this year…

I love seeing everyone else’s tree!

-- Living on the square...Metro Detroit

are those crests hanging on the tree?

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

I had honestly thought about a small, table size tree but got VETEOED big time by my kids (even though they don’t live here! what is up with that – LOL!). However when we downsized we did have to go out and buy a smaller tree … my old one would not fit in our tiny living room (okay … WE would not fit in our tiny living room with the tree!!). And, I had a devil of a time finding a smaller tree that I liked.

This is a great topic … I too love seeing everyone’s tree and hearing about how they decorate.

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

I got vetoed the first year that I talked about an artificial tree – even though the kids lived in another city and weren’t even coming home for Christmas that year! Christmas is a time about family and family is about memories and traditions. It’s hard to let it go.
My son (who was the one to do the cutting down of the tree after my husband died) refuses to have an artificial tree in his home now. I always thought he hated the tree cutting days. Ha. You just never know.

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

Yes, you are right … Christmas is about family and traditions. I did understand what the kids were saying and feeling. Guess what I didn’t realize was how important it was to them that mom and dad’s house stay the same at Christmas. I had assumed with them out on their own that they would begin their own traditions and what they had as children (although precious to me and their dad) would take less priority. Boy, again I say, I was wrong there.

My daughter and I now have a friendly competition going for the day after Thanksgiving … who gets their tree up and decorated first! How silly is that (but I am loving it!!). Another tradition … one I hope she will continue with her daughter when she gets old enough.

And, Debbie I am sorry about the loss of your husband … I had no idea. You are one awesome, totally delightful and strong lady! Glad that I am getting to know you …

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

thanks :)

doesn’t it just warm your heart, knowing how much our children “need” the family traditions :)

the competition sounds like lots of fun!

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

Yep, those are crests! A very regal look, IMO…

I heard radio commentary around the holidays that discussed the idea that the “ritual” of Christmas is judged successful based on how close the current Christmas comes to all other Christmasses in the past…LOL.

-- Living on the square...Metro Detroit

well that is interesting and true.
If there aren’t baked beans on the table.. well.. might as well go home!
haha

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

Dad’s honey-brown sugar baked ham, mashed potatoes and greenbean casserole at our house … geez, makes me hungry just writing about it … :-)

And, yes I am very interested to see the submissions for this competition!!!

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

The year I lived in France (back in college), I was so excited to go get a Christmas tree… and was – well, sickened beyond words – as to the selection. A selection everyone else thought was normal. A 4 footer was huge, pricey, and everything was so skimpy. I was sooo homesick for the massive and full trees I remembered back home. I scavenged loose branches off the ground and actually tied them on to fill in the bare spots!

My parents always had a real tree (until that year) as they wanted it up for my return the week after Christmas. They kept it and never looked back.

I was so put off by their decision,... I missed going out to search for the perfect tree. One year it took us all day! But it grew on me. Not having to water and vacuum was nice. Putting it up early, and keeping it up longer was nice too. My wife came from a real tree family, and I was happy to go out and cut our own, problem was… the “rules” of our apartment complex mandated an artificial tree, (fire code), we borrowed a smallish one (5-6 feet) one for a couple years. But a few years later when we bought our house, we were very excited to go and cut down a real one – the only real one I’ve had since the puny one in France 14 Christmasses ago.

The next year my daughter was to be born, my wife and I went out and bought an artifical tree of our own… we envisioned the tree drying up while we were at the hospital, and staying up for months before we could get to it. We’ve gotten used to it, but now I really want a pre-lit one. I hate that job, but I love having it up!

One year my in-laws had a live tree, planted it outside in the spring. That was neat.

-- southern NH. - smack dab in the middle of 5a and 5b - with lots of shade and full sun, in all the wrong places.

I did that one year as well… should do it again (the potted tree).

isn’t it interesting that the “right” tree depends one what we have grown up with.
I love a real tree.. but I have to say that I don’t miss the needles or putting on the lights.

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

My wife loves to decorate the tree; me, not so much. I get it setup, upright and stable, and then she takes over.

-- Living on the square...Metro Detroit

I do love my pre-lit tree too … although this year I had a “black hole” issue. One little area of lights would go on and off (more off than on!). Driving me crazy. I finally stuffed a small string of lights in that little area. My husband says I needed a “life” ... LOL …

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

lol lol
hey.. somethings you can live with.. and somethings.. well… you just can’t.

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

ARTIFICIAL TREES….NO…say it isn’t so!

Our tree is a sacred tradition…..anything less than 10’ is simply too small. We’ve gone as tall as 12’. That has the angel scraping her halo on the ceiling. Last year was the 1st year that we had trees of our own that were big enough (the one pictured just made it). We’ve always bought a fresh cut tree on a tree farm. We usually tag a tree in early november to get the best choice. The ornaments are an eclectic mix of heirlooms that I have from my childhood, some the kids made as children, gifts from friends and family, to my wifes collection of hallmark animated ornaments. Decorating our home for the holidays always takes the whole weekend and sometimes more. The tree alone usually takes 3-4 hours to setup, light, and decorate. To top it off our daughters have always (since they were 8 or so) have had their own trees in their rooms. We dig up a couple of small 3 footers and keep them potted and replant after Christmas.

-- Bob, Carver MA USA, Zone 6b, Annual Rainfall 48" http://capecodbaychallenge.org

Of course “treefarmer” has to have a real tree!
there really is no comparison.

my sister-in-law has 13 trees in her house. A Christmas showcase

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

Beautiful tree, and all the hard work shows!!!

THIRTEEN trees in her home … wow Deb, your sister-in-law must have a HUGE house and LOVE Christmas trees. I bet they are really pretty though and she needs a vacation after putting them all up! ;-)

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

they do have a huge old house. (Gorgeous old house). I’m not sure how long it takes her to set them all up. But it’s a wonderful atmosphere for the holidays, That’s for sure

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

Would love to see some pictures of her home then … I do LOVE old homes; especially decorated at Christmas time. Bet you love to visit!!!! :-)

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

oh yes. It was my great-grandfather’s farm and has been passed down through family. I had pictures of the banister but I think I recently deleted the pictures.

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

Christmas trees.

A few memories.

When my kids had just learned how to walk I had talked a fellow student into letting me borrow his truck to go and get a Christmas tree. Not having two nickels to rub together it was a long drive down several county roads to find the right tree in what I thought was Crowns Land.

the kids are bundled up like giant beachballs, mittons way to big for their hands and the shiney elevens cascading down from their pink frozen noses. I cut the tree down after walking through, while half carrying my kids, snow so deep it couldnt support me when I hear a big loud “CRACK”...............my God, I’m being shot at. My guess is that the local farmer fired one over our heads and wasnt pleased to donate a tree to a poor up and coming family so I yell to my the mother of my children

“START THE TRUCK, START THE TRUCK”............”RUN”.....” RUN”.

The energy required to carry to kids, a christmas tree while dashing through 2’ of snow would have laid me on the wrong side of the grass had it happened today but adreniline carried me through.

Doing a speed chase down the county roads, farmer in his truck and in hot pursuit I see the tree bounce out of the back, stop, reverse, run grab throw, panic stricken…......and the chase continues and the whole time the mother of my children is screaming at me.

I did get my tree but she never really got over it.

next year the mother of my children demanded we cut down our own, legally!.......so off the four of us go to a local tree farm. A horse drawn wagon takes loads of people back into the bush of what seemed like a 500 mile trip and drops us off in the middle of no where to scower the trees.

Then you get on your hands and knees to dig out the trunk from the snow and use one of those wobbly (cant cut butter ninja type) hand saws. By then the kids are frozen and whinning like a stuck cat, as is the mother. Off we go, back onto the wagon, pay the fee, and drag the tree back the “borrowed truck”.

“Do you have the keys?”

“No, you have the keys”

“No, I gave them to you”

the blank look on her face said it all. She had given the keys to the youngest back where we cut our tree down. back where all the snow is trampelled, where the thousands of stumps look the same as the one you made.

I had never raked an entire field of snow before and have since vowed never to do it again.

I still get a real tree every year, not that if it was soley my decision, that I wouldnt buy the “fake” but I guess it is the desire to never be defeated by a tree, or maybe its the “look” you get when you suggest the very idea of a “fake” tree.

When Christmas comes I tend to get short cases of the “willies”, a little chill that cascades down my spine.

-- Central northish Ontario

LOL!!! LOL!!!! Shot fired over your head you say!!!! and the lost keys … LOL!!!! GREAT MEMORIES!!!!! Truly hope you have written these down somewhere, if for nothing else than to pass these down to your children and grandchildren!!!! (my face hurts from laughing …)

You have a gift for story tellin’ my friend …

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

I can’t top those stories!!! lol yikes.

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

Hilarious story greenthumb! Definitely remember to write it down for your kids!
And another reason I LOVE my artificial (sorry guys) pre-lit!No hassle, no gunshots! LOL!

-- Jen, Zone 8 SC, http://www.woodlandchic.com

I think my favorite part is that even though you were being pursued by an armed, angry farmer for tree-rustling, when the tree bounced out of the truck, you actually WENT BACK for it!!

LMAO!!!

-- Living on the square...Metro Detroit

I am loving all these “abbreviations” ... Been quizing hubby cuz I am not quite up to day … Love “LMAO”!!!

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

santa only comes once a year

ever wonder why?

-- Central northish Ontario

I thought it was because he was sleeping

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

I think it’s the union contract he’s got with the elves.

-- Living on the square...Metro Detroit

LOL!!!!!! Union Contract … hahahahaha!!!!!

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

Yeah…nothing’s been the same since the elves organized.

-- Living on the square...Metro Detroit