I swore I would NEVER be one of those people with a fake, pre-lit Christmas tree. Part of the holiday fun is selecting a tree, tying it to the roof of the car, driving it home and dragging it in the house.
When we were kids, Momma always made us wait until the next day to bring it in the house. The boughs had to fall—her excuse. Really she was exhausted from our trip to Keiser Supply to pick out the tree. She needed a night to recuperate before the official decorating event.
My sister and I were so excited we watched the tree through the window all night as we counted down the days til Christmas.
For whatever reason, about seven years ago, John and I bought a permanent tree. It looks amazingly real, even borderline dry often shedding needles. And it was EXPENSIVE—in two more years we may break even.
When we were kids, Momma always made us wait until the next day to bring it in the house. The boughs had to fall—her excuse. Really she was exhausted from our trip to Keiser Supply to pick out the tree. She needed a night to recuperate before the official decorating event.
My sister and I were so excited we watched the tree through the window all night as we counted down the days til Christmas.
For whatever reason, about seven years ago, John and I bought a permanent tree. It looks amazingly real, even borderline dry often shedding needles. And it was EXPENSIVE—in two more years we may break even.
The Tree lives 11 months out of the year in the garage attic, stored in two giant red canvas body bags. Each year shortly after Thanksgiving, John climbs into the black attic hole to retrieve The Tree via the pull down ladder purchased on sale and installed by our builder-friend. My job is to ‘spot’ him, a skill learned in cheerleading days. As if I could catch him should he fall…
Buying a rickety pull down ladder ‘on sale’ may not really be that great of a bargain. Plus it has a weight limit near that of John’s, especially after Turkey Day…
The good thing about the fake tree—the moment Thanksgiving dishes are cleared away, we can drag it down and decorate it. No shopping in the rain or wind or heat. No waiting. Immediate gratification. The new American way.
The bad thing about it—its fakeness. I love the smell of Christmas. I spray the fake tree with essence of evergreen, and for five minutes it almost smells real. I reinforce the aroma with fresh garland arranged around the mantle.
My kids (now grown) hate this fake tree. These are the same kids who never took much interest in decorating a real tree.
My kids (now grown) hate this fake tree. These are the same kids who never took much interest in decorating a real tree.
This year, I’m getting a real tree. Yay! John is happy he won’t have to drag down the heavy body bags. The dogs will love drinking tree water from the base. I will add another year to the break-even equation…oh well.
When the kids come home for the holidays, our house will smell like Christmas.
talya
Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.
Musical Pairing:
How exciting!! Are you spending Christmas in Texas or Arkansas?
Christmas in Dallas:) With Tate, Kelsey & Andy:)
When my kids were small we would go up the mountain (the hill) at Kinfolk Valley after the Thanksgiving meal & cut our tree down, load in the back of our truck, bring home & set it up by the brick wall with the fireplace & decorate the tree in our small Cat Alley home. The tree was decorated with lots of homemade cookie ornaments that we all cut out and painted. I still have a few of those ornaments. It’s funny how a smell can bring back so many memories. I always loved the smell of wood burning during winter.
When my kids were small we would go up the mountain (the hill) at Kinfolk Valley after the Thanksgiving meal & cut our tree down, load in the back of our truck, bring home & set it up by the brick wall with the fireplace & decorate the tree in our small Cat Alley home. The tree was decorated with lots of homemade cookie ornaments that we all cut out and painted. I still have a few of those ornaments. It’s funny how a smell can bring back so many memories. I always loved the smell of wood burning during winter.
I decided the day after Thanksgiving that I was getting a real Christmas tree this year. Two great minds……
I remember when I would get our tree when you and Staci were little, I would have to wait until I could “borrow” the truck from Thomas. Usually it would be raining or sleeting—-did he do that on purpose? Probably.
THEN, when you two were at Baylor, I would have the tree standing and we would all decorate it the night ya’ll got home from college.
I love Christmas……….. Barbara
Yes, I’m sure he did that on purpose.
Yes, I remember decorating it during college years.
Yes, I love Christmas too!
🙂
Kids are very protective of the real Christmas tree tradition. I know mine are! That and my dear daughter (who is now 21) thinks that every ornament that she ever made must be displayed proudly on said real Christmas tree for everyone to see. LOL. Of course I cannot argue against that!
I’m happy to hear you get a real one this year and the body bags can stay where they are!
hated fake trees until they (cue the angels singing) came pre-lit, now I’m all for them! Another winner!
For the past two years, our pre-lit tree had one burned out strand. We ignored it.
Got my first Christmas decoration out tonight. Real tree soon. Scared what Sammy may do to it this year. Could be interesting!
Staci