Sunday, December 6, 2009

Christmas Tree Rejects

Many family arguments have taken place over what constitutes the best-looking Christmas tree, but there are a few things we all agree on.


Too fat


Too skinny


Too Charlie Browny


Too pants-are-falling-down


Too sparse on top


Too “outsider art”


Too rotund


Too many gaps


Too “hurty”


Too blue


Too yellow


Too purple


Ahh, the perfect tree!


Tag ‘er up.



Speaking of things rejected, every year we TRY to get a nice Christmas card-worthy family portrait taken at the tree farm, and every year, for one reason or another, something goes a little goofy.


Why should this year be any different?

If you want to read a really lovely post about a christmas tree outing, check out this one by June at Four Green Acres.


See also:
Fox Ridge Christmas Tree Farm

Lugging Home the Tree

The Environmental Debate: Real v. Fake

18 comments:

Lorilee said...

Funny! We are boring and use an artificial--allergies,falling needles and gobs of ornaments! I wanted to take a family photo for our card on Enchanted Rock in Fredericksburg, but the parking lot was already filled to capacity and the park was closed!
Blessings,
Lorilee

Joanne said...

Oh I had to laugh at this post. Haven't we all been there, searching for that perfect tree. But those outings,scoping out the trees, guaging, measuring, envisioning, are the source of many fond memories. Looks like you found the perfect one, enjoy decorating it :)

Lzyjo said...

LOL!! I love seeming families driving home with trees on the roof!

mayberry said...

I think that's a great family photo!

That and the "pants-falling-down" tree. LOL.

Anonymous said...

Hi Jen, I think your family photo is great! And the tree as well. If everyone in the shot is smiling happily, it is just too perfect, not natural or real. Just like the tree. :-)

Frances

TALON said...

What fun pics! You have a gorgeous family and you found a beautiful tree. Have fun decorating!

Ronda Laveen said...

Loved the "pants falling down tree." No, I don't want one, just never heard it described like that before. Your tree faller did a great job.

Ash said...

Finally the best was tagged..... Very unique post where I gotcha peek at the variants of a normal Christmas Tree that we are all aware of.....

Happy Celebrations!!!!

Ash.......
(http://asha-oceanichope.blogspot.com/)

June said...

What a lovely family, Jen! It is such a great family occasion...the search for the tree. I loved all the variations and could just hear everyone going back and forth.

Thanks, too, for linking to our outing. It was fun. But we got home with a bit of a Charlie Brown tree. Good thing we love it anyway!

Judith @ Lavender Cottage said...

I loved your description of the trees that weren't going to be invited to your house for Christmas.

Gail said...

I like the family tree and the portrait! Now the outsider art tree would be mr i's choice! gail

Pam J. said...

I love that family picture! And the photo essay, of course. I'm intrigued by "too hurty." 'Splain, please?

JGH said...

Lorilee - loved your photos of Fredericksburg anyway!

Joanne, when we got home we discovered our "perfect tree" had an S-shaped trunk and needed some serious trimming to balance it. So now it's a little smaller - oh well.

Lzyjo - that ride home always makes me so nervous. I'm always afraid the tree is gonna hit the highway and cause a pileup.

Thanks, Mayberry. Believe it or not it's one of the better ones.

Frances, good point. I should remind myself of that in every aspect of my life!

Thanks Talon - just coming up for air. I need to finish the outside now.

Ronda, you mean the "woodsman"! He wasn't too happy when we pointed him to a tree just about as far away from the checkout point as you can get. He recovered though - and got a nice tip.

Ashkuku - looking forward to seeing some of your celebration shots!

June, I love the Charlie Brown trees too. They just seem so happy to be chosen and decorated.

Lavendar Cottage, I wish I had room for more trees. There were families there buying 3 trees for their single family homes.

Gail, Mr. i must be a nonconformist! That thing wouldn't look bad with some spray glitter.

Pam, "hurty' means that that branches or needles are too sharp and hurt your hands when you try to stick them in there to hang something up. Maybe "pokey" would be a better word ;-)

Patti Lacy said...

What a blast! I laughed out loud!!!

Reminds me of the picture I took today of a gaudily decorated house.

What's too much? Too little? Justttttt right.

Oh, here I am, Ms. Eco Woman, but I LOVE real trees. However, we skipped this year and are pretending that our indoor Hibby and Fibby (hibiscus and ficus plants that have been soulmates for one and fourteen years respectively) have popcorn strands and gleaming red balls and homemade cookie dough ornaments.

Love this blog!

Patti

our friend Ben said...

Ha!!! Glad you found your dream tree, Jen! And I think the family portrait lloks fabulous!!!

Anonymous said...

Now this, made me laugh a lot...cause you captured every tree perfectly...too fat..too thin..ha! You have a very nice looking family including the cheesy grin on your son. All boys are full of life at that age and wishing we all had that much life--always. Your daughter is full of grace. She posed beautifully and looks like a ballerina.

I liked the way you phrased--the hurtful tree--they do hurt don't they?

JGH said...

Equal opportunity for ficus and hibiscus I say, Patti! Why should firs have all the fun?

Well, Ben, it may not be my dream tree, but it's the one we all agreed on. So in that respect it's dreamy.

Well, Anna, you would know (about the boys at that age) How old are your sons now? They do grow out of it don't they?

Stacey said...

This made me laugh. Especially since the past several years I struggle about getting a real tree - I'm having issues with the real vs fake but so far the kids still want real. It's not such a fun outing for us, this year we drove to Emma's middle school and took 5 min to pick out the perfect cut tree.