Christmas Tree Shopping

We went Christmas tree shopping Friday. It was a first for all of us! I prefer fake trees.

But going on an outdoor adventure is great in a pandemic. We wanted to go weeks ago, but we had visitors one time, contractors were late another, Shane had an infection, etc, etc.

We made it happen this time.

I had a department meeting to dial into. The reception was bad, but I stayed for half the meeting before being disconnected. One of the department heads is in my PLC, so I was able to ask what I missed without issue.

But back to the tree hunt. It was my first trip driving down south on the road by our house.

We went to Foxfire farms. They gave us a saw and a cart and we were on the hunt!

Shane and I saw a tree we liked right away. Our adventure may have ended right then if we had our way!

Carrie was appalled. "We haven't walked around yet!"

So we did!

The woman up front warned us that they lots were a bit picked over. There had been some sort of needle blight this year, as well. Artificial trees and TV can give people unrealistic expectations. 

It was all about the experience for us. The tree was bonus. Carrie and I cut it down while Shane messed with it afterward!

He stole my hat, too.

The tree was $45 all said and done. We wrapped it up for transport while Shane socialized.

I wish I could recall Shane's exact words during the small talk, but he said something like "...and I'm becoming a man" and struck a pose.

We all laughed and I got a picture to remember it by!

Maybe if I wasn't writing this weeks later, I would've remembered his words! Ack!

Carrie grabbed a wreath for the barn on the way out.

It was the only purple ribbon left. We were both in purple, so I guess she had purple on the brain!

We had fun, but the cats were the real winners from our trip.

"You brought the outside inside?"

Happy held back, but the kittens and Max were fascinated.

And hungry?

We decided to leave the tree where it'd be easy to clean up the mess (a pro of artificial trees!).

We found a couple of eggs sacks we relocated outside. We think they were for praying mantises. 

It's a good thing we didn't try to decorate. The cats were curious.

Climbing curious.

Carrie and I looked at each other and came to a joint decision: The tree would serve us best outside. 

But there was time for some photos beforehand!

Carrie took some glamour shots of Tsuki and Shane chortled until his attention wandered.

That was when Carrie and I took it to the deck.

I expressed a desire for decorations, so Carrie put up lights beforehand. We have some on our front porch, but the deck lights are actually useful. They look nice coming up from the barn at night.

Carrie added lights to the cat-free tree,...

...and it joined the show!

I've pushed for Christmas movies and other ways to make the season feel different while we're all home. Carrie and Shane have pushed back on those (except for Home Alone), but we've got a tree and lights!