When we moved to Maine, we didn't know much about their Christmas Tree rules. You see, when we lived in Idaho...you'd go to the local forest service building and get a Christmas Tree permit for like $3. Then you'd bundle everyone up, smash them in the front of the single cab Silverado pickup (sisters sharing the middle seat belt) and truck up some dirt mountain road looking at all possible Christmas trees. We often would get out and hike a little ways through the knee-deep snow to find the best one we could. Dad would chop it down and drag it back to the pickup, then we'd wrap the hunter orange permit tag around the trunk...just in case we got stopped by the Forest Law Enforcement Officer.
It was always a disappointment to get home and not be able to put it up right away. It had to sit outside for a few days to "dry out." With all the snow on it from the woods, and then dragging it through the snow...my mom didn't want the house all wet....understandable now as the housekeeper of my own house...but when you are a kid...all you dream about is putting those special ornaments on the tree.. The one that said "Baby's First Christmas 1979" or the one with your name engraved on it...and you know it must have been made special since no store EVER had the correct spelling of your name out on the shelves.
Then, after Trevor and I were married, we went out and got ourselves a couple trees while we were still in Missoula. We must have gotten one in 2001 & 2002. They'd always look so great in the woods...but when they were set up in the living room...can you say "Charlie Brown"?
So anyway...back to Maine. We moved there in 2003 and when Christmas came around, we didn't know where to go to get a tree...what forests, etc. and we didn't research it either. The local Hannaford was selling them for $25. We figured...Hey! If we got a fake one at Target, we could pay it off in 4 years! So that is what we did! Now we have a free, fake tree in our home! I don't miss having to water it, vacuum up needles all the time, bare spots and skimpy branches. I do miss, however, that wonderful smell. I melt my Scentsy Spruce Berry wax bars and it kinda reproduces the smell...but not entirely. Oh well...I suppose it's a trade off I'm willing to endure.
So...all that said, here's our tree:
Posts
Your Idaho sounds like my Northern Maine! We (my brothers and I) take turns each year trying to beat the record for sawing down the (completely legal) tree, drag it home, etc. This year, now that I'm living in Jersey, I actually had my parents throw one on the roof and bring it down for a recent visit. My wife was, well, "surprised."
ReplyDeleteSo, point being, I can relate. I'll post a picture once it's decorated...Merry Christmas!