Our First Real Tree

My husband and I come from different holiday traditions. Well at least when it comes to the Christmas tree. His family is used to a country drive to select and cut down their very own evergreen right out of the forest. Me? I was happy with the fakie that my mom, sister and I put up each year. With the color coded branches and little filler pieces you wrapped on the fake pole, that tree was older than me.

While I get to pretty much do most of the decorating around here, I agreed to get a real tree for our home this year. My first. Can you believe that? But with a new home and new husband come new traditions, so we donned our warmest gear and headed out to McHughes Tree Farm.

McHugh himself showed us the ropes. “Climb up the hill and pick any tree you’d like!” he told us. Off we went.

We were joined on tree day by my brother and sister-in-law and our two nephews. Nothing like hiking up hill in the cold and mud trying to dodge snowballs from two teenage boys. And get good pics for the blog of course.

But it was quite fun. There were trees as far as the eye could see. All shapes and sizes. McHugh was right, you can really stop any time and get whichever tree you want. We searched high and low.

Now there are a few items you need for cutting down your own tree. Here’s a run down.

1. Some cute Wellies to weather the weather. Thankfully it wasn’t snowing but it was wet. Wellies are perfect for days like this.

2. A cute hat of course and sunglasses so people think you look totally out of place trying to chop down a tree in the woods. Besides I have to take some shots of myself since I’m always taking them of other people.

And you need a tree farm too, that helps. Yea that’s about your only requirements for a tree cutting adventure.

Oh yea and the big, burly, bearded man with a chainsaw always giving you the furrowed brow when you take his picture. Hold your horses ladies, he’s all mine 🙂

Then you have to be serious for tree selection is a serious business! You want one that’s full and green and just the right height and width. Soon enough you will spot one and you’ll just have to take it home with you.

Now you have to act quick if you are dressed totally out of place in the forest with your sunglasses, hat and Wellies, wielding a camera on your tree excursion because those babies come down quick.

One minute it’s growing all natural in the forest,

Then next it’s on the ground!

And then all there is left of your tree is the reminder that it once lived in the woods, a little stump.

This actually made me kind of sad because I am a nature loving recycler extraordinaire in real life and cutting down a tree can bring me to tears. I kid you not. But I kept my tree-loving tears in check and remembered that trees are renewable and recycle much better than those plastic fakies you get in stores {although don’t get me wrong, we have 3 fakies up in the attic and I love em}.

And marriage is all about compromise right? He’s gets a real tree, I get Photoshop Elements for Christmas, see how that works?

Back to the tree killing fun.

Hubs strapped her on his back and down the hill we went.

Now you may think all this nature stuff happens outside. Oh no. When you get home you have to make a fresh cut so the tree can get enough water. Right in your foyer. Thankfully we have wood floors that sweep up quick.

And just like that you have a Christmas tree cutting adventure! Just add water 🙂

Do you get a real one? Any cutting stories you want to share? Notice how I just dress warm and snap away while hubs does all the work around here? If only I was kidding.