Pride goeth before destruction...

but I have to brag on my boys anyway. They both made Dean's list this semester! Chrish even got a fancy little certificate in the mail.  But enough about the brilliant, handsome, and responsible young men I've raised. When I was downloading the picture of the certificate to share with Chrish on fb, I found this picture. This is my brave little Christmas tree. For the second year I've bought a live tree to plant for my Christmas tree.  It cost about $30, it might have been $34, and I'm sorry to say that many years I've spent much more for cut trees. I bought it at Koontz Tree Farm on Huguenard, which is a small family owned operation. I've gone there for 4 or 5 years and they are nice people.  The tree can only be in the house for about a week and then needs to be gradually reintroduced to the cold  (via the garage) and the base needs to be protected by mulch or leaves or straw. Last year's tree went to my sister who lives out in the country. She planted it  in a row of pines for a windbreak. But this one is different. This tree,  I'm keeping.  I'm planting it right smack dab in the middle of the front yard in place of the flagpole that's there. When I was a kid, Dad took us out in the woods and dug up some saplings to plant in our yard, a couple of Pin Oaks. We already had a Cherry and an Apple. Then my Dad started planting pines. I think he got a little carried away and planted them too close, but he nursed them along with plant food, and a couple of them are still there, 45 years later. Holy Cow! I'm old. Anyway, I really enjoyed the tree this year. I was off work for a stretch over Christmas and it was a wonderful relaxing time (except for all the cooking and dishwashing) and I really loved anticipating bringing the tree in, and enjoyed seeing it in the house decorated. Since it is a smaller tree I went through all the decorations and selected the nicer smaller ones and the boys decorated it for me. I don't know why I didn't take a picture of it, they did a great job. Ben even painstakingly went through the light strings and replaced bulbs to get enough lights.Despite its diminutive size, it had a beautiful shape and made me feel a little larger and greener. I like thinking that this tree I plant may very well outlive me, and I hope Dad is complimented that his tradition of tree planting is being carried on.