Cutting down some Yule cheer

"I love the smell of a real Christmas tree" I thought to myself a couple weeks back.  I mentioned it to Tracey while she was making dressing for the Thanksgiving bird.  No doubt, she had flash backs to our first couple years of marriage where (without fail) we drove out to a Christmas tree lot on the coldest night of the year and bought a Scotch Pine already dry and losing its needles. "No, no."  I assured her, "We'll cut down our own.  It'll be romantic and Norman Rockwell-esque."

I wrote down the directions before we left the house, "Head out to our Apple Orchard, turn right at the cow pasture."  We of course got lost.  Not too bad though, we found the farm while the sun was still high in the sky.

We got a quick run down on the tree types and how the farm worked (cut down,drag out) and in we went.  The trees started immediately.  The weather was brisk but sunny.  Really, I'd say it was about ideal.  We had a dusting of snow Friday night and there was still a bit on the ground.  We viewed several species.  After selecting, then discarding one after another, we moved in one more row and found the perfect species - the Colorado Spruce (we later  learned).  Beautifully spaced branches, attractive coloration, strong and supply.  7 feet tall - perfect.   "It's too sharp." one of my young ones commented.  "What do you mean?"  I asked incredulously.  "It'll hurt to decorate."  "You're not going to hug it, it'll be fine."

We actually walked back to the lessor species when cooler heads prevailed - it really was a pretty tree.

Everyone had a chance to cut.  Gretchen got late cold feet about KILLING a tree and passed on the opportunity.  I regaled them all with a tale from my childhood when we cut down a tree that was the size of our living room.

Dragging it back to the hut, I found out it really was sharp.  Hanging lights I discovered exquisite pain from dozens of simultaneous stabbings.  The house reeks of pine.  All is right with the world.

Tracey found on the web that Colorado Spruce drop their needles at the drop of a hat.  This'll be the gift that gives the whole season.  I think we may have a new tradition.