How long does it take to grow a Christmas tree? (Eric asked the owner) "Ten years or so, but you can cut that in half if you keep all the weeds and grass out from underneath it." Really? Hmmm...so, by that account, this tree (much larger than the standard 4-5 footers we saw out there, has been there WELL over 10 years...
We headed out to Holiday acres, just West and outside of Grove City, to find our perfect tree. We wanted to get out there before it got "too cold," (thank GOODNESS) so we went on the Friday, a week after Thanksgiving.
I'm pretty sure we were the only tree-hunters, heading out into the back 40, to brave the cold and cut our own tree, but we did. We walked, and walked and hunted, and as Amara put it, they were "too little." We got to the VERY back of the property and there was a small grove of taller trees (and I mean 25 ft. if it was an inch)...and even though they were bare on the bottom 4-5 feet (for some reason), Beanie yelled "cut it, Daddy!"
We didn't. Those things were national forest quality. We kept going, and literally as we were making a full circle of the farm, close to the main barn, dad and Eric spotted a nice taller tree, that looked perfect for our new home. It was tall, but not obnoxious, with pretty limbs, medium length needles, and a little bare on one side (which, though, I'm sure was the reason it was still there after all these growing years, didn't matter to us, because of where we were going to put it!) and looked perfect!
Eric and dad hit the dirt (literally) and began sawing. One of those nice (old) manual saws that really make you work for the $26 "cut your own deal" they offer--but they got the job done. A quick tag, to make sure we didn't lose our treasure, and the 7 yr. old on the Gator (and Garhett) rode off into the dark with our tree.
Back in the barn, we grabbed a quick hot chocolate and cookies, a commerative ornament, etc. paid and were on our way. Even though it wasn't that late, it was one of those heavy cloud cover, Winter days, where it's dark super early, and you really can't tell what time it was--
Dad and Eric got the tree up in short order, and got her watered, while we all watched in wonder at our newest family member. We decided we'd let her rest, and the limbs relax, etc. before starting in decorating, but Amara grabbed a few new ones I'd purchased and dug right in! (Don't worry, they've been on and off the tree a hundred times since then.)
We LOVE our tree--i'll have to get a really good pic of it and update this, or just put some with the Christmas ones, but it's so cheery. Of course it smells amazing, but knock on wood, hasn't dropped a needle, and we had so much fun on the outing itself. Not sure if we'll be able to go to the same farm next year (they were a little think on the taller trees), but I think the tradition is a great one we'll all look forward to in the coming years.
We headed out to Holiday acres, just West and outside of Grove City, to find our perfect tree. We wanted to get out there before it got "too cold," (thank GOODNESS) so we went on the Friday, a week after Thanksgiving. 
I'm pretty sure we were the only tree-hunters, heading out into the back 40, to brave the cold and cut our own tree, but we did. We walked, and walked and hunted, and as Amara put it, they were "too little." We got to the VERY back of the property and there was a small grove of taller trees (and I mean 25 ft. if it was an inch)...and even though they were bare on the bottom 4-5 feet (for some reason), Beanie yelled "cut it, Daddy!"
Eric and dad hit the dirt (literally) and began sawing. One of those nice (old) manual saws that really make you work for the $26 "cut your own deal" they offer--but they got the job done. A quick tag, to make sure we didn't lose our treasure, and the 7 yr. old on the Gator (and Garhett) rode off into the dark with our tree.
Back in the barn, we grabbed a quick hot chocolate and cookies, a commerative ornament, etc. paid and were on our way. Even though it wasn't that late, it was one of those heavy cloud cover, Winter days, where it's dark super early, and you really can't tell what time it was--
Dad and Eric got the tree up in short order, and got her watered, while we all watched in wonder at our newest family member. We decided we'd let her rest, and the limbs relax, etc. before starting in decorating, but Amara grabbed a few new ones I'd purchased and dug right in! (Don't worry, they've been on and off the tree a hundred times since then.)
We LOVE our tree--i'll have to get a really good pic of it and update this, or just put some with the Christmas ones, but it's so cheery. Of course it smells amazing, but knock on wood, hasn't dropped a needle, and we had so much fun on the outing itself. Not sure if we'll be able to go to the same farm next year (they were a little think on the taller trees), but I think the tradition is a great one we'll all look forward to in the coming years.
.JPG)
No comments:
Post a Comment