Tree Hunting

Since we've lived here, we've gone and gotten a fresh tree each year. It's usually only $20 (this year went up to $25) and the farm we go to is only about a mile from our house, and they will either let you cut it or cut it for you, shake out the needles, core it if you've got that kind of stand, and bag it in netting, and mount it on your car, all for the same price. And don't forget the free coloring books and coffee and hot chocolate.

My son was saying on Saturday that we needed to wait until there was snow on the ground to go get the tree (last couple of years have been that way!). And, we woke up Sunday morning with about two inches of the white stuff. By Sunday afternoon, when we went to get the tree, a little of it was melted off, but not much. It's finally getting cold enough that this time it actually stuck on the roads a bit, too.

At any rate, we went and got a tree, and all the douglas firs, and other types of trees he had looked really cool there, with snow resting on the "leaves". The farm is only open Saturdays and Sundays, plus it's dark by the time we get home from work here, in December (almost full dark at 5pm), so we decided to go ahead and get it. We traipsed around just a bit, but the owner gave us an idea of where some trees about the height we were looking for were, and so didn't spend hours travelling through the acres and acres of trees. Everyone has an opinion - I like this one, no that one's too skinny, the top's messed up, or there's a gap in the side. But, finally, we found one that'll do...

Unfortunately, we spent the rest of the afternoon moving some furniture around the house and doing other things, and when I went to get the stand, I noticed a fine crack in the bottom of it. I am sure it would still hold the tree, but any attempts to water it would have ended up in the carpet (which actually probably did happen, last year). It was late enough, I didn't want to go all the way back into town and try to find one.

So, I got the stand, and a largish plastic cup, took them outside, and planted the tree in a cup of water, outdoors, and tonight we'll try that one again! I guess we'll have to get it in tonight, because overnight, they're calling for another 2-4" of the white stuff south of Harrisburg, and 1-2" up where we live... so we might have a 2 hour delay tomorrow. At least, the kids hope so.

And so goes life in Pennsylvania. If I can get the batteries in my camera recharged, I'll post a couple of pics of the snow covered trees (maybe tomorrow).