Sunday, December 7, 2008

A story told in reverse

Is it just me? Is there a manageable way to re-arrange the order of photos in Blogger after you've uploaded? The photos load in to the "compose" box in the reverse order that you upload them -- I struggle with that every time, and then find it fairly impossible to re-order the pictures.

Thus, the story of yesterday's tree shopping, told in reverse:

Fraser firs cost more than balsams because they are much more lush and full -- the needles grow out in an arc around each branch, rather than just in two flat parallel lines. They smell more heavenly, and the needles stay on the tree longer. Every year, I think we should not spend the extra money and just go with a balsam. Then we go to the tree lot to look and once we see the frasers we can't give them up. The cost is relative, though; I never cease to be amazed that what we pay for a tree ($60) is exactly as much as we would spend in Chicago back in the late seventies/early eighties. The difference between living in the midwest, in a city, and living out east in the land of Christmas tree farms. Early in our marriage, Ken and I would buy a live tree and plant it in our yard after Christmas -- we still have them all, some reaching now nearly 20 feet tall. But the challenges of a live tree (dig the hole for it in October before the ground freezes! keep the hole covered and free of accumulated water so that it doesn't turn in to a tiny ice rink for birds! slowly acclimate the tree to indoor temps, then slowly back to outdoor temps, and don't keep it in the house for more than a week! keep the soil for planting in the garage so it doesn't freeze! remember to get a tree small enough to handle, since they are HEAVY with the root ball attached!) and the desire to enjoy the tree longer have us back to cut trees. While I don't question environmental arguments against cut trees, I recognize how very many local tree farms are kept in business -- and kept as farm land -- because of cut tree sales.

Surveying the stock....

Ken was proud of Dean and me for passing this moose by; we loved him, but knew we didn't need him. We, Dean and I, are getting so much more reasonable as we age....

A dusting of snow overnight leaves us with a very Christmas-y looking afternoon to put the lights on and decorate.

5 comments:

Unknown said...

That photo thing is annoying isn't it! But in Internet Explorer I can just click and drag them around to drop them where in the text I want them. In Firefox thought that wouldn't work so I went back to IE.

Lesley said...

Today we're off to get our tree. I tend not to have real ones in Australia, because they're just not teh right soecies or shape, so we always have a fake one.
But this is my last US Christmas, so I'm out to get a beauty. I shall look for the ones you recommend, thanks. jen!
BTW: Can't you just drag and drop your pics in Blogger? I also click on them, which 'highlights' them, then copy, delete and paste them to where I want.

Gina said...

well done for leaving the moose. I'd find it hard aswell.
We have a fake tree as I'm afraid I don't fancy all the dropped needles.

Love and hugs Gina xxx

Natalie, the Chickenblogger said...

What an undertaking to manage a live tree... I never considered, since we don't have real winter to contend with.
I am taking a new CD to the car with me today... a very thoughtful friend sent it and I cannot wait to listen!

You can call me Betty, or Bethany, or Beth ...Just don't call me late for dinner. said...

firefox works better for mac, than IE or Safari..
i don't know what you are composing on thogh so that may be irrelevant.

I am working on Safari today and it all has to be done in HTML edit and it is making me nutty...

so with that I ma off to get caught up with your lovely posts as I am WAY BEHIND...

happiness to you and Dean!