tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post7540217664866588777..comments2024-03-28T22:21:46.973-07:00Comments on Tossing It Out: A Christmas DebateArlee Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-18574058901113415112009-12-04T03:50:59.791-08:002009-12-04T03:50:59.791-08:00I still have kids at home, so I think we'll be...I still have kids at home, so I think we'll be going with the real tree at least until they're out on their own. I do love the smell and the look, but the watering and the mess I could do without. My parents have a small potted "tree" that they decorate and use as a Christmas tree, but it's a potted plant the rest of the year. I'm not sure what kind it is, but it's a pine of some sort.<br /><br />Thanks for checking out my blog! I love yours - going to become a follower. Hopefully I won't get lost in blogspace like Sharon!Susan Fieldshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02433408456603462774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-1291823411336434112009-12-03T18:35:52.966-08:002009-12-03T18:35:52.966-08:00I love the real one for the same reasons as you. E...I love the real one for the same reasons as you. Each year, the tree has a differnet personality. But they are getting expensive.<br /><br />Last year we did not do a tree at all. Just decorated the house. Even though I came from a traditional (Lutheran) family, my own belief systems see christmas as something else anyways. I have always found it ironic that Christians participate in a Pagan rite (bringing a tree indoors) on one of Christianty's Holy days....but then...iChristmas was built around the soltice anyhow....<br /><br />This year, we have a fake tree.<br /><br />Also, I think how much someone decorates might be dependent on if children will visit too.Sig Wynne-Evanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17758754941954867390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-30664693881853728982009-12-03T18:19:11.950-08:002009-12-03T18:19:11.950-08:00When our children were little we would travel to a...When our children were little we would travel to a tree farm and hunt and cut down a tree. That was fun.<br /><br />But, I opt for an artifical tree. I've had both. To me it's not the tree, it's how I feel about the tree. No, I'm not into tree hugging. It just sounds like it.T. Powell Coltrinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02160774009926623671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-24253395200501867472009-12-03T18:17:23.121-08:002009-12-03T18:17:23.121-08:00We always went with a real tree until retiring in ...We always went with a real tree until retiring in Florida. Since moving here, we have a fake Christmas palm tree. I love it. We decorate with ornaments that we have collected from the many places we lived and visited so it becomes a 'good memories' tree.Jane Kennedy Suttonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12519340747761460017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-57024817291807658862009-12-03T17:35:22.373-08:002009-12-03T17:35:22.373-08:00We really don't get a choice here in Australia...We really don't get a choice here in Australia. It is too hot for a real tree to survive (unles it was planted in your backyard! But then it wouldn't be apine tree, it would be a gum tree of some sort or a native bottle brush or something. Not a pine. A palm maybe. Especially in Queensland. But no, still not a pine. So we go fake. At least fake does not wilt in the heat.Tabitha Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08196816108272065974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-72603958026271344322009-12-03T16:20:42.528-08:002009-12-03T16:20:42.528-08:00I'm very surprised -- looks like the fake tree...I'm very surprised -- looks like the fake trees are winning, but we all love the real thing.<br /><br />Sharon-- Maybe your "follower" add-on got lost in Blogspace somewhere and will show up later. I just loved the serendipity of us both being #60 on each other blogs.<br /><br />LeeArlee Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-3201823721766762302009-12-03T15:54:24.287-08:002009-12-03T15:54:24.287-08:00I have a fake tree, mostly for convenience. Livin...I have a fake tree, mostly for convenience. Living alone one tends to go for the easy. I love the real tree though, except at clean up time when I have to sweep up the needles, and still find them throughout the year!JudyH329https://www.blogger.com/profile/04169383110345540966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-14273186806156047562009-12-03T15:49:04.006-08:002009-12-03T15:49:04.006-08:00I don't know why your blog is still showing 59...I don't know why your blog is still showing 59. I show that I'm a follower. :)Sharon K. Mayhewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07799235347319851345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-6521970997622477602009-12-03T15:41:04.702-08:002009-12-03T15:41:04.702-08:00We have a fake one for practical purposes. Still m...We have a fake one for practical purposes. Still miss the real one - especially the smell. Hmmm, nothing better :)Jemi Fraserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02214408467456320167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-63480752051029356152009-12-03T15:07:55.034-08:002009-12-03T15:07:55.034-08:00Arlee,
I haven't read your post (yet) as my ca...Arlee,<br />I haven't read your post (yet) as my carpets are being cleaned tomorrow and I'm in a mad frenzy moving things....<br /><br />So cool...we are 60th followers for each. Thanks for pointing it out. I wouldn't have made it to your blog until much later this evening and I might have missed the momment. :)<br /><br />Thanks for checking me out!Sharon K. Mayhewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07799235347319851345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-66635345355685893752009-12-03T10:36:45.139-08:002009-12-03T10:36:45.139-08:00I love having a real one. Fake doesn't feel th...I love having a real one. Fake doesn't feel the same to me. :-)Jessica Nelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12365768876905444157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-61606321581627083822009-12-03T09:08:54.091-08:002009-12-03T09:08:54.091-08:00We've been using fake for a long time now, Sa...We've been using fake for a long time now, Saves killing a live tree and we don't have to worry about the real tree getting too dry and etc. We also have some pine scent that smells like a real tree, but in my case, I no longer can smell it anyway. LOL First year we lived here we got a live tree so we could plant it later, It is still in our backyard, drops pine cones like crazy, but it's been way too tall for anyone to decorate it any longer. When kids were small we use to string popcorn and cranberries for the birds to eat.Pattyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16106461789118388241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-57920574903036675732009-12-03T08:30:09.927-08:002009-12-03T08:30:09.927-08:00Stephen-
Maybe that's how it is with me -- I&#...Stephen-<br />Maybe that's how it is with me -- I'm at the age of soft convenience. It's a hassle to get the real tree, tie in on my vehicle, take it home and battle with pine needles sticking me in the eye while I set it up.<br /><br />Don't worry about the scent-- I'm sure you can go over to Fry's or Basha's or whatever store close to you and get some of those industrial strength scented pine cones. They smell pretty good.<br /><br />And actually we're not putting our fake tree up this year. Didn't do it last year either. Now we'll really make it last a long time. Pass it down to one of our kids to use for when they get old.<br /><br />Merry Christmas and a Tip-toe thru the tulips to you,<br />LeeArlee Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-41232793735406823462009-12-03T07:40:50.292-08:002009-12-03T07:40:50.292-08:00When I was young, I was staunchly pro-real. In fac...When I was young, I was staunchly pro-real. In fact, only my Pa argued for a fake tree every year - and he lost the argument "traditionally." There's just no substitute for that Douglas Fir Tree (not Pine) scent that a real Christmas tree brings into the house.<br /><br />However, a few years after my Pa passed away, my going out alone every year to find a tree, bundle it up, and tote it home got to be a drag. I finally gave in and got a fake one (made in Mexico). I could almost hear my Pa turning over in his grave and shouting, "Oh, so NOW it's a different story, eh?!" (I say "almost" only because he ain't got no grave. His ashes were mixed into The Winner's Circle at 'Turf Paradise' horse racing track here in Phoenix.)<br /><br />I think one way to answer the "Real Or Fake?" question may be to first ask a different, preliminary question: "HOW OLD AM I?" For a lot of folks, this might determine whether or not the individual has enough energy and tolerance for hassle to go "Real."<br /><br />I'll confess, I still have a slightly guilty conscience about this phony tree (and I sure do miss the wonderful Fir scent at Christmastime), but the conscience is not so guilty that I can foresee myself driving to a Christmas tree lot again anytime soon.<br /><br />Well, I'd better run - still haven't put this fake tree up yet. Hmmm... Maybe I'll just skip the whole tree thing altogether this year.<br /><br />~ Stephen, the pooped Doggtor ChristmasboyStephen T. McCarthyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00249125637725791567noreply@blogger.com