The Tradition of Cutting Our Own Tree

The hubs felt strongly about creating a tradition to cut our own Christmas tree down every year.  So last year, for the first time, instead of driving 10 minutes to the mall where there is this awesome little tree lot, we drove an hour to Floyd to a tree farm there.

Now there was some thought put into this.

First, this particular tree farm in Floyd is the same tree farm that delivers the trees to the mall lot that I/we have been frequenting for YEARS.  We like them.

Primarily because they drill a hole in the bottom of your tree and it goes in this nifty tree stand that has a spike and it’s easy and you never have to worry about this (excuse the fact that the older post has no pictures) happening to you.

(Note:  the first year the hubs and I were dating, he didn’t have this done to his tree and opted to use a real tree stand and after an hour or so and the tree still not straight he was frustrated.  The second year we were together it still didn’t get any better.  The first Christmas we were married he chose to use the spiky tree stand but he drilled his own hole in the bottom of the tree.  Last year he finally figured out that I really wasn’t lying when I told him it was just easier to let them do it all for you.  But I’m not saying, ‘I told you so or anything.’)

Anywho.

So, yes, we drive an hour to Floyd to get our tree.  All six of us.

Last year, it must not have been very cold as we’re wearing sweatshirts.

Today was cold.

And I mean FRIGID.  AS in 30 something and then howling wind that creates a number even colder called a windchill.

When it’s that cold who cares what the number is?

It was cold!

But we did it.

We found the tree.

(Do you know how hard it is to find a tree that everyone agrees on?  It’s easier when it’s cold and you know that the sooner you find it, the sooner you can leave.)

Thing 1 and the hubs cut it down with the hub’s grandfather’s old saw.

(Yes, I know a chain saw would be easier.  I attempted to persuade it’s use.  I failed.)

They did their best to wait patiently while the tree was cut.

A bee’s nest on her head…

…and slippers on her feet… ::sigh::

I call them the tree huggers….

and of course, after it’s cut…

…you have to haul it back to the place where they drill it and put it on your car…

Except, someone who was smart and DROVE up the hillside might stop and feel sorry for you and ask you if you want to throw the tree in the back of their truck.  (The hubs and Thing 1 looked at one another and it took them all of 2.4 seconds to say, “yes!”)

Note:  We do not own a truck like that.

But we do own a van…

So we strapped that puppy down (I say we like I had ANYTHING to do with it…) and off we went to Floyd to do a little window shopping and visit Nancy’s Candy Co. (which is also part of our new found tradition.)

The problem is that it was so cold and the wind was blowing so hard that walking through the quaint little town of Floyd wasn’t as much fun.

We decided to decorate the tree tomorrow night as I know there is such a thing as TOO MUCH family fun… and since the afternoon went so well, the girls went to a friend’s house for a few hours and the hubs, boys and I went shopping at the mall.

So how about you?  Do you have any Christmas tree traditions?