topic Re: Well, we did it. in Holiday

Well, we did it.

this is my nic — Sat, 17 Nov 2018 03:22:20 GMT

After many years of having fresh Christmas trees, we bought a fake one. DH had a heck of a time getting the real tree out of the house last year, it was a real struggle. I decided then we'd look for the faux variety this year.

Last evening we went to Lowes and were lost in the profusion of trees. Fortunately, DH helped a woman getting a boxed up tree into her cart. I asked her about the tree she chose and she was very helpful. She had the same tree before and loved it. BTW, she has 4 or 5 trees in her home! It must be an enormous house!

So, this year we will decorate a hunk of Chinese plastic. Yes, it really bothers me. Maybe I'll pick up a small, very small, natural tree too. 🌲🌲

Re: Well, we did it.

faeriemoon — Sat, 17 Nov 2018 03:39:15 GMT

We bought a fake tree too this year. I have mixed feelings about it.

Re: Well, we did it.

ladycos — Sat, 17 Nov 2018 03:50:16 GMT

@this is my nic

The artificial trees have their plus and minus. Hope your able to enjoy the pluses. I've used one for years because I like to put my tree up pretty early. I don't miss having to string lights etc. And I burn candles to have that evergreen scent. But then there's the whole storage thing. Arg!

I'm sure you'll miss the real thing it's just hard to beat. Sounds like the small tree might be a good idea for you to slowly wean yourself off of the real ones. Good luck!

Re: Well, we did it.

Mominohio — Sat, 17 Nov 2018 03:59:10 GMT

I went kicking and screaming into the world of artificial trees, about 15 years ago.

Nothing is ever going to replace the smell and the feel of a real tree. But I have come to grips with a couple of things.

First, I can do the tree how and where and when I want. I'm no longer under the restrictions of timing and locations to have a tree that is dying within just so many days.

I can have different looks in different kinds of artificial trees, that just aren't affordable in real trees.

The work and the mess of real trees (trudging out to get them, cleaning up just getting them in and in the stand, needles till July in the nooks and crannies of the house, watering it everyday etc.) is now a thing of the past.

I make one investment, and have it for many years to come. Especially when my son was young, I was worried that we might face a Christmas where affording a tree would be a struggle, with all the other expenses that come with that time of year, and it felt good to know we would always have a tree, once an artificial one was purchased.

So I guess I just looked at all the positives of having one, and pretty soon, I got over the loss of the real.

And like you said, you can ease your way into the whole thing, by getting a small real tree for a year or so, to ease the transition. We did that for several years, a very small (like 4 foot) that we would go and cut, for the family room. I still miss that, but allergies put a stop to it.

Re: Well, we did it.

beach-mom — Sat, 17 Nov 2018 04:34:20 GMT

Like you @this is my nic, it gets harder and harder to get our trees outside. But it sounds like you found a nice alternative - and one that was recommended too!

I'm about the only one of my friends left who gets real trees. My closest friend pulls her out, shakes it, and it's up - with lights. They really have come a long way and look so realistic. Sometimes I wish I could do that too. The fun decorating times we always had have turned into "we have to do the tree tonight." I wish our children were still young and so excited to do this!

But I will always have real ones as long as I can - my grandparents had a Christmas tree farm. I remember following my one uncle who was in graduate school (he majored in forestry) around during the summer when I was 10 or so while he checked out some of them. Then later, as a teenager, drooling over the college boys who came to help! I also remember celebrating my birthday in December and having to wait to open my presents until everyone was there! My mother loved helping and loved the Christmas season.

So the trees and I have a special connection! After January 6 they go out back to spend the winter as a food source/resting place for the birds. DH feeds them well! The kitties enjoy sitting inside and watching the birds play there!

Re: Well, we did it.

Sooner — Sat, 17 Nov 2018 04:53:06 GMT

We haven't had a real tree in 25 years. I do NOT miss them: spilled water, needles everywhere, dust and pollen carried in, dying half way through the season, impossible to get a really big one home, tilting in the stand, falling over, scratching up hands, having to string lights, etc. etc.

Nope, don't miss the a bit. We have a big artificial tree and it is beautiful!

Re: Well, we did it.

hopi — Sat, 17 Nov 2018 04:53:26 GMT

@this is my nic

Feeling your pain.

You saved a tree... that's a good thing.

Re: Well, we did it.

phoenixbrd — Sat, 17 Nov 2018 05:27:11 GMT

Enjoy that "hunk of plastic"....the christmas spirit isn't defined by the tree, but I know what you mean. I've been a holdout but every year i think about it. Bringing in a small real tree or fresh wreath on the door may lift your spirits.

Re: Well, we did it.

hellodali — Sat, 17 Nov 2018 06:14:18 GMT

Living in a mid-rise condo it is not easy to have a real tree. In fact, even though management cannot tell a resident not to have one, it is frowned upon. There is always the fear that someone may not pay attention to how dry their tree may be and naturally there is the worry of fire.

Plus we are at the other end of the long hall away from the elevator. To get the tree out of here, down the hallway, into the elevator and out the back would be a total mess. So when we moved here I gave up on the idea of having a real one.

We have learned to love our artificial one. In fact, we put it up today. I don't know when we are actually going to decorate it (hopefully before Thanksgiving), but it is ready.

Re: Well, we did it.

Kitlynn — Sat, 17 Nov 2018 06:25:13 GMT

The artificial trees are so realistic looking these days that when they are decorated they are gorgeous. We have had one for thirty two years and it is wonderful because we put it up at Thanksgiving and ours is nine feet high. We get so many compliments on it and it is really nice to have it be prelit.

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qualitygal — Sat, 17 Nov 2018 11:03:17 GMT

you can get tree trimmings at the tree farms and decorate with those and have the scent.

Re: Well, we did it.

violann — Sat, 17 Nov 2018 12:19:15 GMT

@Sooner wrote:
We haven't had a real tree in 25 years. I do NOT miss them: spilled water, needles everywhere, dust and pollen carried in, dying half way through the season, impossible to get a really big one home, tilting in the stand, falling over, scratching up hands, having to string lights, etc. etc.

Nope, don't miss the a bit. We have a big artificial tree and it is beautiful!

Laughing at myself.....your list, @Sooner, comprises the reasons why I strongly PREFER live trees.

Still have a little while to decide I guess. My strong preference would be one live and one artificial tree, but too many crawling and rambunctious grand babies in the house at present.

A THIRD alternative, which I’m considering, is to use combinations of all sizes of ceramic trees in each room, which at this point is still possible to do while still having everything comfortably out of baby reach.

We’ll see......

Adding- we’re seeing a LOT of both indoor and outdoor Christmas decorations already in place this year. The early snow storm on Thursday got the (snow)ball rolling, I guess.

Re: Well, we did it.

Hoovermom — Sat, 17 Nov 2018 12:26:05 GMT

I feel your pain but don't have to worry about anything leaking accidentally on my hardwood floors.

Re: Well, we did it.

kelsey17 — Sat, 17 Nov 2018 12:35:21 GMT

We changed to artificial trees many years back when our children were young .................it was very difficult for me because just going to pick up a fresh tree was so much a part of the "tradition"..............but once bought it took only a short while for me to realize how much better it was......my children when they were young wanted to see the lights ON......with the real tree we could only keep the lights on

for short periods of time to prevent dryness and hope that the tree would last longer........remembering to water it....

putting on the lights that would sometimes have to be done again if not put on evenly the first time...the sap....

the needles found afterwards for months and i part of me

even when i was young would feel sorry that the pretty tree was cut down and laying at the curb a couple weeks later......................I just felt we enjoyed the tree alot more and once decorated i always felt it looked very real and

just as lovely as my siblings "real" tree..............My sibling still refuses to get a artificial tree and i feel looks down on

my choice......but i have never regretted artificial choice...

Re: Well, we did it.

haddon9 — Sat, 17 Nov 2018 12:48:40 GMT

When the kids were little we used to go out to the tree farm and choose a fresh one. We would cut it down then put it in the garage in a bucket of water until we were ready to put it up.

For several years in a row I would notice these little spiders coming out of the tree near the top (and some up on the ceiling) when we placed the tree in the living room. I guess the warmth of the house brought them out but it would freak me out a bit. After a few years I talked my husband into getting a fake tree. I hated dealing with those little spiders!

We had that fake tree for many long years (at least 20) and just replaced it with a pre strung tree from Balsam Hill two years ago. I will get a real wreath for the front door, and will burn evergreen candles & essential oils for that real tree scent. We have a basement so we store it under the stairs down there.

Re: Well, we did it.

Beauty Maven — Sat, 17 Nov 2018 12:49:21 GMT

I grew up in Michigan, and we enjoyed a real tree every year. The trip to the Christmas tree farm to select our family tree is a cherished memory. Now I live in Florida, and it's difficult to get a good, quality real tree. I held out for several years, but down here they die quickly and they can have bugs in them -- YUK! So now I have a Bethlehem lights tree, and I really enjoy it. Plus, I order Valerie Parr Hill's box of greens which I scatter throughout the house. The greens satisfy my longing for the real thing!

Re: Well, we did it.

PA Mom-mom — Sat, 17 Nov 2018 12:53:26 GMT

@this is my nic As someone who longed for a Christmas tree my whole childhood against the wishes of my religiously strict dad, and who finally was allowed to have one at the age of 14, I didn't think I could ever give up the real tree. The experience of picking out the 'perfect" tree; getting the lights evenly strung; finding just the right ornament for that weird hole near the top of the tree; sitting in the glow of the tree at night and hearing the "pop" of the tiny cones as they opened up in the warmth of the house; I could go on and on. Well, 3 years ago, my DH went on strike until we got an artificial tree! Sure, I miss the real trees. But I still have the ornaments we've collected over a lifetime. Each one carries a memory with it - especially that yellowing paper dove with one sequin eye and raveling yarn hanger my DD brought home from Sunday School so many years ago.

Re: Well, we did it.

kaydee50 — Sat, 17 Nov 2018 13:39:27 GMT

In our 39 years of marriage, we never had a real tree. And now we don't even have a tree and I do not miss it at all. I have my nativity set and a couple of metal "trees" that I display our collection of ornaments on. I do try to get something that smells like pine, melts or candles, which is what I really miss. Love that scent!!

Re: Well, we did it.

Eileen in Virginia — Sat, 17 Nov 2018 14:23:46 GMT

We eased our way into artificial trees years ago when we traveled between Christmas and New Years Day. If we were home for Christmas, we got a real tree; if we were traveling, we used the artificial one. After a few years, we went with artificial every year. The newer ones really look good and you can’t beat them from a safety perspective. While others miss the pine tree scent of a real tree, that wreaked havoc with my sinuses, causing sinus headaches when I really didn’t need them. If you see a bald spot, you can work with the greenery to fix it. We like to leave our tree up u til early February and that’s not a problem with an artificial tree. We’ve had a few hiccups over the years, but we’d never go back to a real tree again.

Re: Well, we did it.

Liverbird1 — Sat, 17 Nov 2018 14:39:31 GMT

We always had an artificial tree until we sold our house and the tree was in storage . So we got a real tree .

It was a disaster , We got it from a garden center . It looked beautiful . Got it home and decorated it . After a few days we noticed some small flies on the window , gradually we got more and more in the room . We looked at the tree . oh no , the fairy was covered with what looked like black marks , but it was groups of insects , the baubles covered too .

We took it back and got a refund , the owner would not let us bring it inside .

So it is back to our artificial tree for us .

I do love the scents of the tree , but have some candles which give a slight glimpse of the real aroma of christmas trees .