I know something you don’t know. I know something you don’t know. I know exactly how many cars turn both left and right off a southbound exit ramp and turn left onto a southbound entrance ramp at a certain road on a US highway, between noon and 12:30 p.m. on a typical Saturday. How is that? Because The Boy and I went counting cars this weekend with The Dad. Oh, yes, it’s true. Our lives are completely crazy. As it turns out, a fair number do but the exit ramp does not backup excessively, even though the wait can be a couple of minutes sometimes. It’s really a perfect place for a roundabout…
After that adventure, we headed off to find a Christmas tree. The Christmas tree. The one Christmas tree to rule them all. Ok, maybe not to rule them all, but definitely the best one to dominate a corner of our living room for the next several weeks. I think we succeeded. In our quest to incorporate the brightly lit evergreen into the dark, and only getting darker winter season:
The Boy tested out the all-important huggableness factor (huggability?) of different trees.
We agreed to take this little number home. Thanks to the anonymous stranger that took our picture.
The Dad gave The Boy some tips and held the tree as The Boy worked the handsaw.
After setting up our new friend, and having a little discussion about how friends don’t let friends run out of water or drop needles all over the floor, we gave the tree some time to settle in and shed any extra ice or snow still clinging to its branches before moving in for the decorating session.
Ah, yes, the decorating session. I plugged in all the strands to make sure they were operational. We were go for lighting. The Dad hung the first set of lights. We plugged them in to see how they looked. And then there was… no light. He took them down and we tried various methods of reviving the strand: check for loose bulbs; check for missing bulbs; check the outlet; shake strand vigorously; swear under breath. Nothing. Hmm, how odd. Hmm, soldier on.
I checked the second stand and we were once again operational. The Dad hung the second set of lights. We plugged them in to see how they looked. Again, no light. This time, however, we did find a bulb that had fallen out while they were going up onto the tree. Eureka! Back up they went and this time they worked perfectly. Ok, we were on our way with the lights – right up until the point where we ran out with still a full third of the tree to go. Conveniently, we live within walking distance of a store that sells tree lights. After finishing the lighting, we dug out our tree garland, ornaments and tree skirt and went the distance. With all three of us hanging things, it took no time at all.
When all was said and done, we turned out the rest of the lights, turned on some Christmas music and relaxed in the glow of our happy little Christmas tree.
Let the baking begin!
ohhhh it’s snowing where you are!!!!
and nice job on the *real* tree. my parents went out and bought a plastic one last year and I can’t even bring myself to think about the carbon footprint. even if we recycle it we’re still in a surplus of being neutral. *sigh*
It looks so festive. And the boy is using sharp hand tools. Who said he could grow up? Is there where I turn old and start telling tales of how I remember when we used to be able to give him a bath in the bathroom sink?
Very nice tree! I love your pics were you guys are picking out the tree! I miss the snow this time of year!
Hi Disco! What a great surprise to see that you stopped by. I’m really enjoying the snow right now, we got a good dumping last night, but I’ll be coveting your warm sunshine something fierce come the end of February, I’m sure.
Your tree looks great! I loved everything in your post (esp. the pictures) EXCEPT the baking comment at the end. I just don’t enjoy baking, so I never do it. Each year that I’m on the receiving end of various friends’ homemade gifts, it just makes me feel inferior ~ and to think you’re actually excited about it, too?! Now I REALLY feel undomestic.
Sherry: you needn’t feel bad about not liking to bake or such; sometimes people just don’t enjoy it. My mother would rather wash walls, clean toilets or shovel the driveway then grab a bowl and a wooden spoon or a pair of knitting needles, but she had the most wonderfully welcoming home of any I knew growing up. We all find our own way – mine just entails flour and double strength vanilla.
Lucky girl. I got Film Chris to put up two ornaments this year, then did the rest myself (including wrestling with the lights.) Tree-decorating just isn’t his thing. But he was quite proud of himself because last year he only hung one ornament. I’m no math whiz, but even I know that is a huge statistical increase year over year.