We've got this old color coded tree that I've been putting up in every house I've been at since I was 4. Things got to be about 40 years old, and getting uglier by the year, but I never had the heart to throw the thing out.
Both. An 8' Frazier fir is the main one. We also have these "country" style small trees everywhere and a 4' fiber optic tree. My wife is nothing if not subdued in decorating.
Before kids, my wife and I would buy a cheapie wherever we could get one.
Now with the kids, it is a yearly event to go to the tree farm, take the wagon ride out into the fields and select the best one we can find. Then back in for some hot chocolate and home for the raising of the tree and decorating.
We used to do artificial back when we had an apartment and I just can't get into Christmas the same as with the real one. Both my wife and I just love the smell of the real tree.
The real one never looks perfect, but that's the whole idea. There is usually a hole on one side, which can be filled with the biggest ornaments.
Where the wild are strong, and the strong are the darkest ones, you're the Darkest One.
My wife and I got married Dec.22, so we bought an artificial tree together and we consider it one of our traditions to use this same tree and ornaments every Christmas. After 10 years, it's still holding up very well and the sentimental value is incalculable. We still add new ornaments once in a while to freshen it up, but there's just something comforting about being able to look at your tree and "feel" the memories that it evokes.
"The truth is often a terrible weapon of aggression. It is possible to lie, and even to murder with the truth." ALFRED ADLER
Seriously, I go with none-living alone and putting up a tree might be a sign I'm going insane. If I did have one, it would be fake. You can fold it up and put it in the box again for next year. Convenience trumps authenticity.
We drive to a farm a couple miles away and walk out with the tree farm dude and say "Sir, would you please take your chainsaw to that one there and loft it onto my mini-van?" I pay the guy $20 and the real tree is ours.
Now since we live in The Pine Tree State, I am assuming it is easier for me to acquire a real tree than some of you. But JJD, I am disgusted with you. Fake tree? For shame.
Originally posted by DrewDewceI would prefer a real tree with coloured lights. My wife prefers fake with clear lights.
Whipped you say? I say I can put up my old mini-tree with beautiful coloured lights in the man cave! Okay, I'm whipped.
(edited by DrewDewce on 28.11.05 1701)
Whipped? I'd say "honest married man" and one who tries to make his wife happy.
My parents always had artificial trees and it was actually fun to help put it up for the first couple of times when I was little.
We have an artifical tree with the built in clear lights. I just hope it survives Tank (6 month old and 50 pound Weimeraner) and the rest of our "furry children".
University of Kentucky basketball isn't a matter of life and death, it's much more important than that.
Originally posted by piemanBut JJD, I am disgusted with you. Fake tree? For shame.
Aw, c'mon now.
You:
Got to the tree farm, pay for it, take the tree, either put it on the roof of the minivan OR stick it in the back (leaving pine needles in there to be cleaned up, for sure), drive it home, carry it in the house, trim off the bottom, put the stand together, level it out, decorate it, keep it watered so the piehome doesn't catch fire, take the tree down, put it on/in the van AGAIN, and take it to the dump (I presume.)
ME:
Go into garage, take the tree, build it, spread out the branches a bit, plug it in, drink a tasty beverage I bought with the money I didn't spend on a real, new tree, repeat, leave tree alone, take tree apart, repack it in the box, and put it back in the garage for eleven months.
I like my way MUCH better. Of course, they make fake trees pretty darn real-LOOKING anymore.
Also, IJ likes the fake tree because of the built-in clearance for her many presents.
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Originally posted by JayJayDean and take it to the dump (I presume.)
You presume incorrectly. Open the door, walk out into the woods (seven steps from the door) and let the dead tree go back to the earth with the other four trees from Christmases past.
I usually go out and cut my own down, but since the fiancee broke up with me, I really don't feel like taking out the X-Mas decorations this year. But yes, given a choice, you can't beat the smell of a real tree in the home. Yum.
Originally posted by JayJayDean and take it to the dump (I presume.)
You presume incorrectly. Open the door, walk out into the woods (seven steps from the door) and let the dead tree go back to the earth with the other four trees from Christmases past.
I pitch mine into the woods as well - we also hang all of our old wreaths on all the trees back there - looks kind of like an ancient burial ground
Originally posted by JayJayDean and take it to the dump (I presume.)
You presume incorrectly. Open the door, walk out into the woods (seven steps from the door) and let the dead tree go back to the earth with the other four trees from Christmases past.
I pitch mine into the woods as well - we also hang all of our old wreaths on all the trees back there - looks kind of like an ancient burial ground
Same here....lol
"Oh it's on like Donkey Kong !!!" - Stifler, American Wedding
And If we didn't get a real one, my dad would fuss about it all Christmas. He knows it's a bitch to handle but it's worth it he says.
I am just waiting for the Clark Grizwaldian moment where he gets attacked by a squirrel.
And we were going to have a artifical tree last year. My dad was putting it together and said "That looks like shit" took it apart, threw it in the trash and got a real one.
We have a tiny fake tree that Aaron's mom sent him one Christmas he was in college (the kind you get at Michael's for a table centerpiece) it has colored LED lights and tons of tiny ornaments including a bunch of Harry Potter ones. I just recently moved it from the drop ceiling in SD to Oregon via checked baggage inside a duffle bag full of other christmas decorations. We also have a small black wire "spooky" tree that I put bat ornaments and snowflakes on to go with our normal HallowChristmas theme. Last year we put up a giant black clothesline spider web on one wall and when Thanksgiving rolled around we just put Christmas ornaments on it. I'm miserably allergic to real christmas trees of most varieties.
My absolutely favorite Christmas Tree (at someone else's house since it is horribly messy) is my friend James has gone out and found a tree from someone's Christmas the year before (ala pieman's backyard) which no longer has any needles and is just a dry christmas tree shaped bundle of branches... and then he uses about four cans of snow flocking to turn it into a glistening white masterpiece that he only puts white lights and white ornaments on. I think the final effect looks a bit like the white version of the castle at the end of Dark Crystal.
Definitely a real tree, although I have never liked the chore of taking it down and out of the house in January. And I never will. All that stickiness - yuck! I suppose I could just wrap it up in a sheet and throw that out too (as I've heard some people do) but that seems a bit wasteful.
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The only thing consistent in any of my dreams is the amount of distortion involved. Every place that I know in life that I dream about is changed in enough ways to be very different but stayed the same none the less.