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.
