Sunday, December 14, 2008

and on to another tree












I'm back - for now. Looks like we may have to move into my in-law's house for 1-2 months while the tree damage gets repaired. We just finished renovating the house a year ago, so we are not looking forward to more 'renovations.' But we continue to focus on the fact that no one was hurt.

Of course, the last ornament on our Christmas tree had just been hung days before the tree fell. I'm still glad we got one, and I still turn on the lights every night.

We (or at least, I) love the process of finding just the right tree and bringing it home. This season was made all the more sweet with our little one in tow.

We always buy our tree from the Boy Scouts (for those in Nashville: they're on the corner of Post and Davidson roads). The prices are slightly higher, but the customer service and the overall 'experience' far outweigh the slightly inflated prices...besides- you are helping out a good cause.

When you first arrive, a Boy Scout is assigned to you. He guides you through the process, and will explain the differences between all the trees. Jeremy (our Scout) told us the difference between the Douglas, Scotch, White and Frasier Fir pine trees (among others). One has long, soft needles (White), but the needles fall off quicker. One has the most appealing shape (Scotch), but is a little more prickly. Another has a more tangerine scent (Frasier)...and so on, and so forth. Such a Big decision to make.

We ultimately went with a beautiful Scottish tree, which I only regretted when I put on the lights (the prickly branches really hurt!). But it is beautiful.

Jeremy took our tree to the tent, where they cut off the low-lying branches and put on our stand (if you take your stand when you buy the tree, they will put it on and 'balance' it for you). Jeremy asked us if we wanted a 'Charlie Brown' tree for Gram- which- of course, we did. So he created a little stump tree with a hole for a Frasier Fir branch. Adorable!

They loaded up our tree onto our big gas-guzzler (I promise, I'm a Prius driver at heart- maybe someday!), and off we went. The tree is now at home, nestled into the corner near our fireplace. The remote control my mom got for the Christmas lights comes in handy, particularly with a tree that is so prickly. How do you pick your tree?

On a side note: thank you for all of the sweet comments while I was gone. I read each and every one of them, and really appreciate it. 

4 comments:

kayce hughes said...

It was fun to get a tiny peek of your home. I hope that more will follow some day.

birdie said...

Your tree looks beautiful. We went with a Scotch pine too and I agree about the "ouch" factor when hanging the lights.

PUMPKIN PETUNIA said...

Love the Charlie Brown tree. So sweet!

We always end up taking much too long to decide on our tree. By the time our limbs are frozen, we narrow down our choices and invariably go with a tree that is MUCH too big for the space in our house. But the yelps and screeches from the kids as we try to get it through our front door and then the fits of laughter because the tree is (once again) too big are worth every minute we spend deciding.

Brooke said...

I'm so sorry to hear about your house! And I love that you actually get to see what your tree looks like before you buy it.. our trees are all bundled up and you just kind of have to guess what it will settle into!