O Christmas Tree...
'Tis the season for chopping down a tree, or buying one from a local tree stand. I've done both, and honestly, neither is really easy (i'll explain) and the cost is probably about the same, at least here in the Pacific Northwest.
Rewind two years, because two years ago I would pull into the Christmas tree stand near our house and let the same guy as the year before load a tree hand picked by our daughter onto my front-wheel drive Volvo V50, tie it down and send us on our way. I'd get home and struggle to unload the biggest tree our daughter could possibly find. I somehow managed the strength to actually lift the tree off our car and possibly several swear words to myself, because after all I wanted this to be a *magical* experience for her. Getting the tree off the car wasn't nearly as difficult as getting the tree into the tree stand with the only help being a child too small to provide any thing than words of encouragement. My hands would be covered in pitch, my car had sap permanantly stuck on the hood and surely there is still a spot or two on my carpet.
Two years ago was my last time buying a tree. Sure, the tree farm tree is "perfect" and full and heavy as f***!!!! On average a tree farmed tree could be 7 to 10 years old. I am throwing out a weight estimate based on my experience, 60 to 80 pounds, for some of my friends this is *nothing*, but it was a huge frustration to me. Mark this with the responsibility of doing Christmas solo because my husband has worked in Iraq or Kuwait for the better part of the last 14 years coming home just a couple of times a year. So, last year I bought a saw! I really wanted a chainsaw, but I couldn't completely justify the purchase so I settled for something that would get the job done. And in case you are wondering, apparently you can use a .22 to shoot a tree down. my parents did it when I was a child. But that is a story for another year or never.
Know before you go. If you aren't a regular to the forest it's wise to get a map and ask for some areas to be highlighted where you might find a good tree. A permit is totally reasonable at $5, and $10 for a very large tree. Mark this with a little gas money and it's an incredible family adventure.
