An Alternative Tree

Inspired by some ideas in Bill McKibben’s book “Hundred Dollar Holiday,” we’re trying to scale back a little bit this year.  Much to the dismay of my kids, we started with the tree.  This meant breaking our regular tradition of cutting it down at a Christmas tree farm up in Warwick – a family event that usually ended up being an exhausting full day outing.  At first I tried to interest them in assembling some decorated branches – like these that I saw in Restoration Hardware.  I thought they were beautiful, but the kids were less than impressed. 

I thought about buying a small living tree, but they’re not inexpensive, I found.  Then one day when I was chasing chickens around in the backyard, trying to figure out why they don't have the sense to go back in their coop when a freezing wind is blowing, I saw this cedar and figured it was just about the right size - and price.   The S. man put on his red plaid.  

It’s not perfectly shaped.  I'd go as far as to call it Charlie Browny.

  

We do have a beautiful angel for the top to distract from the spindlyness.

Once the lights and ornaments are on it, it’s almost ready to pass for store-bought.  If you squint a little.  In the dark.

See also:
Christmas Tree Rejects