Husband forgot to get up super early, but called to say he got the tree we wanted. He got nervous because as we was walking in from the parking lot two people were coming out with trees. We only saw a couple of boxes of "our tree" in stock last time we were there..Right now he is waiting there because it just starting pouring down rain and the box would be ruined in the back of the truck. So this tree better be the best thing ever or I will never hear the end of it. It will probably be one of those stories that grows and grows as it is retold!

Please let us know what happens.

pepper23 said:If anyone is looking for an artificial tree today is the day to get one. They're all on sale and will go fast in some places.

The best way, from experience, is to get a real tree this year, then after Christmas get one on clearance sale for next year.
You can save a LOT of money that way and it you get a pre-decorated one, learn ahead of time of the misery of storing one of those.

@Rpr That's a good idea and we tried it last year, but they sold out of the nice ones in our town. Not a lot of places to shop. Anyway I got it put together and it sure was easier on these old bones. I was able to do it myself except for the top section because I have trouble lifting things above my head. need to fluff it out some but we are both happy so far.

Very nice!

Karen

Definitely a nice tree!!!

That tree looks pretty perfect!

Thanks everyone. I got about half of my ornaments up before I gave up for the day..pecan pie was calling to me. But I should be able to get the rest of the ornaments and the house decorations up by the end of the weekend. That's the earliest ever. With that done it will be less stressful trying to get things done in the few weekends between now and Christmas.When the kids were growing up we went to the same Christmas tree farm for almost 20 years and have many happy memories of those times.
At this point it was artificial or none at all, though my husband said he should go sweep up some dropped Pine needles and throw them on the carpet just for old times sake.

We ALWAYS had fake trees growing up. Never once did we have a fresh cut at either my mom's or my dad's (they were separated). In my adult years, I have had a fresh tree every year. I prefer the fresh, by far. I love indoor plants, I love the smell, I love the natural green, I love not having to disassemble and find a place to store for an entire year untouched. In my opinion, I've never found a con to fresh trees. I've never heard of anyone actually catching a tree on fire. We have tree recycling/pickup by the city, and actually receive a desert willow and afghan pine in return for recycling--if you don't want them then the city "donates" them and plants them in your honor. I also do not have children or cats, so I don't have to worry about the tree being messed with either.

Sad, this story was in the local news yesterday
http://www.wcpo.com/news/local...

Karen

So sad about the girl and the tealight candle.

That Christmas tree that they lit up took two minutes to catch fire and that was a flare that they put in it? A flare (they're all slightly different dependant upon chemical content) burns at about 2900 degrees Fahrenheit. Your Christmas lights will never burn that hot. Of course, always keep your tree watered and happy and always be safe and use common sense.

Got my potted island pines decorated on my balcony. Haven't picked up our house tree or started decorating inside yet. Just have the balconies decorated and my pine.

Growing up, we always had a fresh pine tree. My mother would go "across the bay" and cut a tree she had watched since summer. It would be right by the fence on a two lane road. I was maybe ten when I went with her one time. She hopped the fence, and I waited to pull it over the fence. At the house, she put it in a tree holder and "fluffed" the needles.

I never thought much about it. There were thousands of pine trees along the roads in south MS. That tree belonged to someone, however, that had relatives down the street from us. My cousins and I were sitting on the neighbors' porch, and their visiting daughter was complaining that people were still hopping the fence and cutting trees on their property "across the bay." I was convinced it was my mother and after that would always have an excuse not to go with her looking for a tree.

I don't remember who she dragged with her after that, probably one of my nieces, but she always had a fresh pine tree. And never got arrested....that I know of.

Yikes.

James, I never thought that the fire hazard came from the temperature of the bulbs. I've always thought it was an electrical hazard of the light sets: cheaply made products, (now all made in China), scrunched in a box all year with kinked cords which can dry and crack and fray; people chaining endless sets together and overloading the outlet... and putting these things on dry trees which are so combustible.

And I understand that most trees bought in lots are extremely dry from having been cut months in advance...

I've heard of lots of warnings about artificial trees too, (chemical warnings) and most of those are made in third world places too, I imagine. Still, the artificial tree feels safer in my house than a real one.

Karen

[quote="kqcrna"]Yikes.



And I understand that most trees bought in lots are extremely dry from having been cut months in advance...

I can tell you that many of the trees sold in the cities in the tree lots have been cut since October, shipped and had not seen a drink of water in weeks. My friend owns a farmers Market and the first few years they sold trees. They got them from up North and had them shipped. By the time they sold, they were very dry and after two years of complaints they stopped selling trees and now they send their tree customers to us (we are just up the road) and of course our trees can't get much fresher. Your best bet is to buy from a Tree Farm directly if you can. And, make sure they have not shipped it in and you see them being cut.

We buy a few frazers which we do not grow here in NJ. Ours came from NC and were cut the Sunday before Thanksgiving. They got here and we immediately put them on the shaker, and then put them in buckets of water. Our customers know they are not our trees. They are also more expensive than our field trees.
We have families that bring their pets and they cut their own or ride here on horseback.. everyone enjoys their visits. We even help the people put their trees into the stands. All at no additional cost but we try and make their tree buying a special experience of an Old Fashion Christmas.

Your trees are gorgeous, JB! If we lived anywhere near you, we'd be there and have a fresh tree. The last ones we bought fresh were several hundred dollars and we just couldn't keep doing that. Yours are priced way low for all the work you put in, but I can see how you'd have long time very loyal buyers.

We have gone from the large fresh tree to a large artificial tree to a small table top pre-lighted pre-trimmed tree. When the kids were small we went all out with the decorating and until we retired there were always kids and grand kids in the area, so we always had a tree plus other decorations. For the first 19 years we were retired, we still put up a lot of decorations because our street had luminaries. Three years ago, it was unanimously decided that because most of us were 80 and beyond, we would discontinue the luminaries, therefore, we went to the pre-lighted pre-trimmed tabletop.

Sure wish I lived close enough to you JB to get one of your fresh trees. We will have to settle for a 'stale' tree probably at Home Depot.

@JB I think of you each time we pass a small Christmas tree farm on our way to and from Florida. The last year mother and I had a tree before I was married, we had my brother dig a small tree which we planted in our back yard after Christmas. I wonder what has become of our tree. If it is still living, it should be huge by now because we have been married 60 years.