Opening Weekend to Seasonal Events

Ever since Bruce and I have lived in our current home, we have gone to Pinecrest Tree Farm and purchased a lovely tall tree...usually around 8' tall or so.  The first year we lived here, we did not have the wood stove on the tiled platform, so that provided a perfect "stage" for the tree (I think it might've been taller than 8' even).  When we got the wood stove, the tree had to move.  It's in the corner of the living room in front of one of the windows, and next to the TV.  It fits there, and it is fine.  I would not mind at all being able to move the furniture around here, however.  We moved in 8 years ago, now that I think about it; it was December 2002.  We still have the furniture in the SAME place.  Bruce is NOT one for change, obviously, and he won't let me move stuff around, change things up a bit.  I'm kinda getting off the initial subject here, but I suppose that's okay, too. :)


Anyhoo....We got the real tree on Saturday afternoon, got it up, decorated, etc.  We also put an artificial tree up on the second floor, by Allison's bedroom.  It's an "old" artificial tree with a lot of sentimental ornaments on it.  I have a Garfield ornament dated 1983, which is the oldest one that I can verify.  There is flat wooden painted cat that I have to almost wonder if it is even older than that...the kind that I remember having that was kind of like a paint by number thing.  Pretty much all of the ornaments have some type of story or memory or sentiment to it...whether it be something a student gave me while I was teaching, a gift from someone, a reflection of an important time in my/our lives, a representation of something, etc.   I have become more and more fond of Christmas ornaments as I get older.  While not a fanatic by any means, I have really started to enjoy the Hallmark ornaments. I wish I could afford more of them or justify paying that much for more of them.  I get a couple each year, and maybe one from the previous year now that it is on clearance, but I can't justify much more than that.    Of course, we have lots that represent Allison's place in our lives....:)