Is your Christmas tree any less real if it wasn't chopped down in the woods? There's been a lot of talk lately, "real" or "artificial"; I've read it in blogs and in e-mails as trees are going up in homes everywhere right now. We have gone totally artificial this year at Chez Goodneedle, and yet the tree and all it represents is no less genuine. When our children were small we always had a fresh-from-the-forest variety. We went fake, so to speak, when we lived in Puerto Rico and just couldn't force ourselves to shell out good money for a dried out, imported, evergreen sitting in a 90 degree parking lot. That tree traveled with us across the ocean to Europe and back again, it now is happy to be living out it's life as my Chrismon tree. The last five years, though, we've journeyed to the mountains here in North Carolina and trekked through the tree farms looking for that perfect fir for the family room. The sheer weight of the tree, the needles, the water, the spiders (!) changed our minds for good last year, my heart wasn't happy dwelling on these things. I have set up three trees, and I am not ashamed to admit that all of them will be returned to the attic on Epiphany. Enjoy this season of preparing and decorating, I know that I am! ... And the peace of God which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus... Philippians 4:7So, what do you do, real or not?
From our home to yours...
from the mantle to the front door,
the sentiment is real!
the sentiment is real!Merry Christmas...
Life is Good!
Life is Good!
12 comments:
We have also gone artificial this year. Poor hubby was interrupted three times at the office for consultation on the kind, what color lights, and whether or not this was really a good thing to do! He was very patient, saying that it mattered ten times more to me than it did to him and that I should do what I felt was best. I was tired of the dried out trees leaving behind their lifeless needles only to be found month later tucked away in some inconspicuous place. Trying to remember to water two trees twice a day had become more than the two of us could handle. The final decision point was the new hardwood floor in the family room. My neighbor didn’t know she had a slow leak in her tree stand and over the three weeks her tree was up last year, the water ate away at her hardwood floor. Now a chair will forever stand on that spot to cover up the lifted and discolored hardwood! So Chez Ray has two “fake” Fraser firs, one 9 feet tall for the family room and the other a wee thing of 4 feet for the dining room. I will miss the fragrance of a real tree but I’ve contemplated hanging a balsam-scented Yankee Candle Car Jar way inside the trees to simulate that one missing feature. Will I fool anyone? I haven’t broken the news to the kids yet...I'm a little worried about their reaction. Maybe they'll never guess? I’ll let you know if my secret Car Jar really worked!
I can't believe this.... I really am not excited, Christmas won't be the same!! *shakes his head and goes back to studying*
Our tree is artificial and beautiful. When I was a child we always went out to the farm on Thanksgiving and chopped a cedar...never had a store-bought tree until I was married, but those "real" trees are such a mess, and as I got older I simply didn't want the mess. The artificial tree we have now is about 5 years old, has built-in lights, and it looks like a fairy tree. As I had hip replacement surgery recently I thought perhaps of not putting up a tree, but our oldest grandson and his girlfriend came over and put it up...and it's as beautiful as ever.
You know we rush around chasing our tails so hard in December we often forget what it is we are celebrating...the birth of Christ. I'm wish for everyone the quiet to reflect and to just be still and know that He is God.
I think part of the reason I am feeling guilty for going artificial this year is that we live in a pine forest, so all we have to do is go in our back yard and find a good one to cut down. But I am over it .... really ..... I think ....
I am turning my Dog Haven quilt into a wall hanging. I sure do wish I could have made it smaller though. Oh well!
Glad to know that you have artificial fragrances to go with the artificial trees.... I'm afraid its just not going to be the same....
I've always been a "go real or go home" kinda guy. I was horrified when my parents popped for a fake tree. But my lovely bride wanted a fake tree. So my brother and I sat her down to tell her the bad news: a real tree was the only way, no exceptions.
We explained that the tree represents life, bringing life into the home. How can she so cavalierly pass off that symbolism? How can she be so heartless?
She said, "Okay, so the tree represents life?"
"Yes" We're winning!
"So you're bringing life into the house?"
"Yes" We're winning big!
"But you cut the tree down..."
"So?" We smell trouble...
"Then it's dead. You're actually bringing death into the house."
Blank stares exchanged between brothers....
So now we have a fake tree... and so does my brother.
Jim you are a lot of things to me. Not only my cousin but too; a mentor, friend, roll model, co-author and cycling geek. Let us not forget, you're a lawyer. Help me out here, come on man, help me out. Just looking for some basics learned in law school. I certainly hope the use of fake trees is not going to prevent you from visiting for Christmas...
I think that there is a place for both sorts of trees - no golden rules - just whatever suits you best.
I live in a cool country and we just happen to like having a pine tree for Christmas - yes the mess, the pine needles falling if you don't take good care of it - but oh the smell makes it all worth while.
Over here the latest 'fashion' is for black or purple artificial trees - and why not?
Not for us, we like traditional - but I guess if the tree is going to be artificial why not make it blatantly so - instead of trying to make it looke like a 'real' tree LOL
Whatever tree you go for - have a good Christmas
Cuz,
I feel your pain on the fake tree thing. It took me a while to adjust. Quick question: Do you have a real tree set up in your apartment?
I've always used the artificial kind. I think the real ones need to stay out there and supply the world with oxygen.
Jim- Need I remind you I have a broken leg... Now how do you expect me to schlep a Christmas tree up the flight of stairs to my condo? I was looking for my parents house as a place of comfort with a real tree and real scent filling the living room. Well, I guess It's time for me to throw in the towel... No one seems to be helping.
Kyle, if you had a fake tree, you could have assembled it piece by piece even with a broken leg. Especially if it was pre-lit.
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