The Hunt for a Tree

Finding the perfect Christmas tree kick-starts our holiday season.  While some families like to have the tree in place and decorated before Thanksgiving, we always wait until December to go on the hunt.  If we go on the first weekend of December, which is my preference, it can sometimes coincide with our youngest boy's birthday.  Luckily, he doesn't seem to mind.

When the boys were little we used to take them to a tree farm complete with Santa, reindeer, hayrides, and a maze made out of hay bails.  We'd hitch a ride to one of the back fields and traipse through the rows and rows of pretty spruces in search of one that wouldn't be too thin, too fat, too tall, or too short.  After Ken finished sawing the tree down, we'd sit by the bonfire and wait for the wagon's eventual return.  After we got back to the big barn/store, the boys would run through the maze, climb on the fence to get a better look at the reindeer, drink hot cocoa, and help us pick out a wreath.  The trip wouldn't be complete though without getting a picture with Santa.

As they do, kids grow up.  Eventually, pictures with Santa are rejected out of hand.  The fascination with the reindeer lessens and the maze loses some of its magic when the children can see over the bails of hay.  The trip to the tree farm becomes more of a chore than an adventure.

While I will always hold those memories of that first tree farm close to my heart, we no longer visit its many acres in search of our Christmas tree.  We've found someplace that is much more reasonably priced.  Instead of paying $60-100 for a tree, we pay only $25.  There aren't as many trees to choose from and there's no cultivated Christmastime ambiance, but this new place suits our needs just fine.

We pull into a driveway and then follow a little two-track path up to a hill where everyone parks.  The owner's dog is often up by the house, but sometimes she comes out to visit the families.  This year she saw Dexter in my lap and jumped on Ken's truck, leaving faint scratches in the paint.  Oops!

The parking area on top of the hill. 

On the hunt for the perfect tree.

We found it!  Of course there's an obligatory picture with mom, boys!

This year we went on a day that was unseasonably warm for a Michigan winter. Snow had yet to fall, which meant there was no need for snow pants or heavy boots.  Hats and gloves weren't even necessary, although most of us did opt to wear gloves.

Forget the hand saw!  Ken remembered to bring his chainsaw.

He's got this.

Mission accomplished!

I am never a good judge of size.  I thought the tree looked a little on the short side when it was still standing in the lot.  However, when we got it home and Ken got it into the tree stand, I discovered that I had to actually trim off several inches of its pointy top.  A few more snips were required to help shape the uppermost branches.

After fixing the angel atop the tree and recruiting my hubby to help me decorate it - both boys were off with their girlfriends by this time - we finally had our Christmas tree in place.  I think it's beautiful.

Christmas tree and some treats. Life is good.