Memories are so wonderful. How lucky we are that somehow we can form and retain them. I wonder if other creatures do

I think dogs definitely remember. If they've had a bad experience or a good one, they seem to know. If they see someone they don't like, they always remember!

Cats have an elephantine (is that a word??? LOL) memory too. Mess with a kitty once and they will never be your BFF.

MISSINGROSIE said:Memories are so wonderful. How lucky we are that somehow we can form and retain them. I wonder if other creatures do

Not only memories but they can calculate in some forms.
Many years ago I was reading a book on wolves; a researcher who had been observing a pack for years related how he was surprised one time when a pack was stalking a herd of Caribou.

He had been following them for a long time so he knew where they went but the Caribou were in an area where a simple chase would have been a failure as the caribou had enough open ground to simply out run the pack before they could catch up.
Now he knew the area and there was a pinch point down the way; the wolf pack split. A few went after the herd , more or less herding them like cattle while the others headed off to the pinch point to ambush the herd.

In the years he had been following the pack they had never gone to this particular area before so he was amazed how they calculated the ambush.

Interesting about the wolves. Almost like the pack communicates as one

Re: the dogs ...
Dogs know up front if they like..they don't need past experience. Don't know if it is odor ..or what.....I think they can sense or read minds!

Yes, it's fascinating. I read this book all about it:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1416583408/

Karen

I've said above we use real trees. But, Please don't discount the chance of fire with a real tree. There was a terribly tragic fire near here with one. The family was well-off, and one would think they had a good setup and materials in good condition.

And now for the biggest real tree of all
https://www.nps.gov/seki/learn...

Love those big trees, Sally.

Real tree for me, but we set it up out on our deck and decorate for the birds.

How wonderful to decorate a tree for the birds! What all do you put on it?

What an awesome idea, Deb!
Yes, please share!

We used to get the trees that were leftover after Christmas for free from stores and plant them in the ground at my grandma's house. They would last until Spring time or close to it and the birds just loved flying in them and having shelter. My grandma always enjoyed watching them too.

On the bird tree: seed ornaments (if I get around to it), bread cut-outs, berries, popcorn, sliced fruit, seedheads from perennials. Rather than stringing the popcorn, I just pop regular popcorn on the stovetop and toss it by the handful into the tree. Same with loose birdseed. Most sticks, some drops to the deck, but the ground birds get those. I especially like the little chickadees, they look like ornaments. I do put up a couple strings of lights to jolly it up. We've done this since 2012. No worries about watering the tree, no mess in the house, and the deck is just off our living room with a double glass door so it's ALMOST in the house with us.

What a wonderful...wonderful...WONDERFUL IDEA!

I finally went to Menards and bought a tree.
Last year they had a lot of trees two weeks before Christmas, this year I got a good a scrubby one as they had. I had other things on my mind so sadly the Tree was not my main thought but after I bought it I saw the few lots that are still around had some nice big trees and I wished I had waited.

My dad had scrubbier trees but this is the least impressive I ever bought. I put it up Monday and slept by it with the lights on, so waking up in the morning to a decorated Christmas Tree made things a good bit better plus my mood finally changed so I put Christmas records on the record player all day long.
I bought some new old ones this summer at an antique store. For the price no loss but if I had not bought at least one of them, I would not miss it.
When singing Christmas music, to me, it is not the thought that counts if you are going to record it.

I sing and be damned if it aint record worthy...and I don't always know the words either!

Our tree is 5 feet..give or take a foot! Take!

We are heading out after spending the eve with the kiddies and I put it up for them this year..at 7 and 4 ... what could I do?


It isn't perfect..it has a center star holder that is stubby..like a dog with its tail clipped...only no wagging...

I told my hubby..lif I dont buy it who the hell will?? And this wee tree (likely my last fresh tree) will have grown up ( barely ) and been cut in its prime...just to wither and wilt on a lot with nary a fancy pretty to adorn it! I am going to dress it up pretty and if it don't have a straight and proud tip stick to perch that star upon..well, I will stick it elsewhere!

Deb, I LOVE your tree for the birds!
I take my used tree out back for the birds to shelter in. Eventually it dries and we burn it.
Hubby got a real tree last weekend, latest ever for us, I thought the lots would have shut down, but anyhow, its nicely shaped and it is still a must even with kids all 20 and-plus and no grandkids, nieces or any little ones expected. I shoved the lights in and could possibly be happy at that, but did get ornaments put on over several days. Nothing fragile below four feet from floor (tail wag zone)

Went home yesterday and exchanged Christmas gifts with my brother and cousin.
It turned out to be a very nice day sitting by the lit Christmas tree with evergreen scented candles burning and Christmas records playing on the stereo and bullshitting.
The little tree is actually very, very nice as I look at it now.
Tonight Sharon and I will go to church and out to Red Lobster to eat then tomorrow we will drive into the Twin Cities to celebrate with her niece but there was something very wonderful but yet sad yesterday as my brother did not rush to go home as he often does but we went out for supper and then just sat there for an extra hour or so and talked.
At first this Christmas , mainly due to other serious problems, was far from jolly but now I am the in spirit that usually hits me this time of year and I will miss it when I finally take the tree down in a few weeks.

If anyone is looking at getting an artificial tree from Balsam Hill, this weekend is the time to do it. They are on sale and there is a coupon where you save $225 on a tree. Coupon code is: BHSAS225OFF

Living on a Christmas Tree Farm you would think we would all have real trees. Truth is, we all do except my place is really too small to put up a real tree so I just enjoy my daughter's which is in the same house only separated by an office. Anyhow, my girl who works for me decided I needed a tree so she brought one she made a dozen years ago as a craft. It is really so cute but we had to do some repairs to it before we could actually use it. It is just my size.

Wanted to share it with you along with my best wishes to you all for a Merry Christmas and a Happy Hanukkah.