Who has an Artificial Christmas tree Who has a Real Christmas tree?

[misschickenlittle]

We have artificial only because we have family memebers that are way too allergic to the real ones to come to dinner at our house. I would love to have real ones every year. Although, this year... Not wanting to put up anything!

 

[babylady4]

Real here!

 

[thebirdguy]

Used to do the live trees when I was a kid but every since I've been married.... Artificial all the time... Christmas tree that is...

 

[woodmort]

Here's my tale: 18 years ago I planted a mixture of 25 Christmas trees(spruce, fir and Scotch pine) on a piece of my land. When the grandkids got to be about 4 or 5 they'd come here Christmas eve and we'd go out and cut one, I'd drag it home, spend an hour getting it into a stand, trimmed and pulled through the door so they could decorate it. This was assuming it wasn't a spruce which everyone complained cause a rash if they touched it--except me. A week later, they'd leave, I'd take it down and vacuum up the needles. We were making nice memories--I guess--but for the past couple of years my older, divorced daughter can't get here until Christmas Day because her daughter has to spend Christmas Eve with her Dad and my 12-yr old grandson could care less about beating through the rose and blackberry thorns to help pick out and cut a tree. So it has been my solo job. (I should mention that the last couple of years it's rained/sleeted on Christmas Eve Day.) Today I had to stop into Lowe's for some stuff, saw their artificial trees were on sale and said "to heck (ok not heck but this is a family forum) with it" and bought one with stand, lights and the whole works. Now all I have to do is find a place in the attic to store it.

 

[3goodeggs]

Quote:
I thought it was just me.... I feel like I just got it put awaaaaaay! whimper, sniff.

 

[i<3chickens]

I always get a real tree----I love stepping in the house and smelling christmas tree smellplus it covers up the animal smells

 

[Cats Critters]

Real here is a picture when we were cutting it :

 

[woodmort]

Quote:
Been there, done that although usually there was a big load of snow on the tree that fell on me as I cut it down, generally landing where my jacket and shirt had pulled up from my jeans. Oh yeah, the tree always fell toward me too.

 

[biddyboo]

We have vascillated back and forth through the years between real and artificial, though now, more and more, artificial wins out over the messiness of needles and water with a real tree. This year after cleaning out our barn, I put two lovely but slightly weary artificial trees out for trash haul with signs inviting anyone to take one home. No takers To replace these, I just found a 7.5' tree at Hobby Lobby that is a green spruce type with white snow crystals and red berries clumps all over it. It is just so pretty, I'm wondering if I'll put any of our old loved ornaments on it at all. Maybe instead I'll hang a garland around the niche where the tree will stand and hang our ornaments on the garland. Different...but could be nice. As for those of you with live trees, after the outdoor stage with treats hung for birds, haul your by now worn out tree to your pond, weight it and sink it for fish shelter and spawning. Good to the last drop...er, needle! Merry Christmas, all ~G

 

[Raen]

I like both, but have never had a fake tree. We're military and move around a bit, and don't know what the storage situation is going to be like in the next place. This year, in Maine, we have a cut-your-own tree farm down the road ($35 for any tree you want-- Awesome!) I'm so excited to be back in the States for Christmas--Japan just doesn't do it right!

Here is this year's tree:

Merry Christmas, everyone!