The Tree Saga

The Tree Saga began with my post on Facebook about whether to go with an artificial tree or fresh.  Turns out that people have very strong opinions about this.  The fresh voices shouted down the artificial devotees, but the convenience factor won me over.  Pre-lit was the swing factor.

I figured if you're going to buy a fake tree, it better be a good fake.  So I ordered fancy 9' tree from Tree Classics and waited.  Two HUGE boxes arrived and I managed to drag them into the house only to discover that one section was defective.  Even worse there were fake little pinecones on the tree that I didn't see in the web photos.  So while the customer service agent very nicely offered to send a replacement section, I opted to return the whole thing and go back to fresh.  Friends were not shy about their reactions to this change of heart. 

Truthfully my big issue with getting a fresh tree is the challenge of putting it up by myself (and my fears about that).  But a friend told me about a tree stand that could change all that.  I searched the internet and found only one left through Amazon.  And then my order was canceled as "out of stock" two days later.  The search went on.  And on.  Until I found myself on eBay buying one second hand.  Finally I had found the elusive solution to a single gal's holiday dilemma.

As it turns out I did have help putting it up, but I think it's totally viable to do by myself next year.  Who could have predicted that it would be my oldest friend's father's partner who was visiting from California?  Random.  Perhaps that will be the real gift of the perfect one person tree stand - a helper materializes right when you might need one. :)


Last night I finally was able to trim my first tree.  It turns out that putting the lights on is not that bad if there's no one else nitpicking at the way you do it.  Thanks to Stephanie for the suggestion cascade the ribbons and to Melissa for her impassioned plea to avoid LED lights.  (I did look for the "warm white" LED lights but they were sold out).  Without further delay, here's my first trimmed Xmas tree!

Now to turn on some Christmas music, warm some cider with rum, and finish wrapping the presents.  Trees always look best with pretty gifts below.