It is now a fine family tradition. The trip to Kadee Farms 60 miles from home to where all four Sunesons wander about the acreage, shouting to one another, "Come look at this one", then we all gather and circle the tree, debating.
"It is not green enough."
"It looks sallow, I don't like it."
"It does not have a good top."
"Its branches are not well balanced."
"No, too scrawny."
All reasons to exercise a veto. The process continues as someone else shouts, "Come look at this one!". We circle again until it is unanimously agreed, this will be our tree. We have been doing this for most of the past 18 years. This year, Inga did not arrive into town until December 17, so selecting our tree on December 21st was cutting it pretty close to being able get a live tree before Kadee Farms closed for the season.
The hand saws that we pick up at the processing shack that are used to cut the tree are all very dull now. I think next year we bring our own saw. Once the tree has been felled, the tree-farm hands tie the netted tree to the rack on the roof of the 4Runner. Then we head for the second half of the tradition, a Texas barbecue dinner. In the beginning this meant a stop at the Double Deuce BBQ (home of the secret sloping bathroom). The Double Deuce was razed some years ago, so we switched to Big Daddy's Texas Smoke House. Last year I thought we found an upgrade at Big Baby's BBQ in Greenville, but this year Big Baby's was out of business, so it was back to Big Daddy's. The tradition survives, it may change location and sauce, but the tradition must survive.
We ended up with a taller tree than usual, but what the heck, it's Christmas. Once the living room furniture was rearranged, Grant and I balanced the tree in the stand and cut the netting off, allowing the branchs to unfurl and fill the room with evergreen holiday spirit and the scent of pine.
Now it is Christmas!
"It is not green enough."
"It looks sallow, I don't like it."
"It does not have a good top."
"Its branches are not well balanced."
"No, too scrawny."
All reasons to exercise a veto. The process continues as someone else shouts, "Come look at this one!". We circle again until it is unanimously agreed, this will be our tree. We have been doing this for most of the past 18 years. This year, Inga did not arrive into town until December 17, so selecting our tree on December 21st was cutting it pretty close to being able get a live tree before Kadee Farms closed for the season.
The hand saws that we pick up at the processing shack that are used to cut the tree are all very dull now. I think next year we bring our own saw. Once the tree has been felled, the tree-farm hands tie the netted tree to the rack on the roof of the 4Runner. Then we head for the second half of the tradition, a Texas barbecue dinner. In the beginning this meant a stop at the Double Deuce BBQ (home of the secret sloping bathroom). The Double Deuce was razed some years ago, so we switched to Big Daddy's Texas Smoke House. Last year I thought we found an upgrade at Big Baby's BBQ in Greenville, but this year Big Baby's was out of business, so it was back to Big Daddy's. The tradition survives, it may change location and sauce, but the tradition must survive.
We ended up with a taller tree than usual, but what the heck, it's Christmas. Once the living room furniture was rearranged, Grant and I balanced the tree in the stand and cut the netting off, allowing the branchs to unfurl and fill the room with evergreen holiday spirit and the scent of pine.
Now it is Christmas!
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| Oh Christmas Tree! Filling the house with the 'smell of Christmas' |
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| Last Minute Addition Live Tree Cut December 21 |
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