[photo by Gary]
We put up our Christmas tree this weekend--we always do that the Saturday immediately after Thanksgiving.
We have a regular ritual. We go the the tree farm in October to pick and tag a tree, then return Thanksgiving Saturday to cut it and bring it home. I put the lights and garlands around it, then push it back into the corner of the great room where we attack it with ornaments.
Mister Tristan--the 3-year old human, not the blog--really got into it this year. Of course, when I got the stepstool to reach to the the top of the 9' tree, also climbing the stepstool became a high priority for him.
Oh, and laying under the tree becomes a priority for the cats. This particular feline is called Amanda--Mana for short--and has staked out the under-tree region as hers. That is, until she goes outside, in which case the area is up for grabs.
Oh, and the link to Ultrarunning? This tree is a Douglas Fir. Here in the East, people know it only from Christmas trees, where it is very popular because it retains its needles very well even when cut and indoors.
I can't ever forget my first time on a trail out west seeing mature, old-growth Douglas Firs in their native habitat. I mean, these trees were real giants--6' or more thick and 150' tall--like smaller versions of a redwood. I was in utter awe of their majesty, and couldn't help but be compelled to use my library voice when I spoke.
No comments:
Post a Comment