Husbands and Trees

My husband loves me. I am not sure why at times, but he does.

Last weekend was our annual outing for the "Christmas Tree Find." We go to the Roosevelt National Forest about an hour away from Fort Collins and "hunt" the perfect tree.

Our day goes like this...

We get up early; we want to make sure we are one of the first up there - someone else might find our tree in the vastness of the forest.

It is ALWAYS cold and windy...so there is a mad dash around the house to look for long underwear, make coffee, pack snacks. Did anyone pack the saw? Do we have something to tie in the tree?

We load into the old Toyota pickup. The trip is sure to be rough, and 4-wheel drive is required.

Then we stop here. Vern's has the best cinnamon rolls in Fort Collins. They are delicious. This is a mandatory stop. The cinnamon rolls are so big you will need a big cup of coffee to eat the entire thing. And then just as the sugar threatens a nap, you arrive at the forest and the dog in the back seat goes wild!

And then we look, walk, look, hike uphill, hike downhill looking for the perfect tree. See, it's hard looking for one in the natural setting. It is very easy to find a Charlie Brown tree. And when you think you have found the perfect one..
You realize it is actually THREE trees!

We make this harder because I like Spruce trees, not pine trees. So we have to look in the valley's where water is a bit more abundant. And then we spot it. Mark looks anxiously at me...is this the one? I give it my seal of approval...and Mark's work begins. He cuts and hauls...I take pictures.

So, this is how I know Mark loves me. I get two trees. Yep. TWO. Why? Not sure - probably because I have enough decorations for two. Last year I decided I needed two - one for each level of the house. But they don't really fit upstairs...so I have two in my living room. And I got two this year, also. He must love me...

Because this year when we got the trees home...they were too tall...for even our vaulted ceilings. It is hard to keep a spindly tree strait in these situations. It took a LOT of time, to get them in the house, and somewhat upright. And then...well we don't have a ladder. I know it is so urban of us (where are our country roots anyhow?) So this year we had to move the trees over to the balcony...so we could decorate them from the upstairs (I am not kidding). We couldn't even reach the top from standing on a bar stool.

I forgot to mention that our tradition is to drink (red wine) while decorating. It is a dangerous situation in our house!!

They never really look this tall in the forest.

And then the decorating...Mark doesn't really get my creative vision (yes, honey, I mean to put those pheasant feathers on the tree), but he tolerates me just the same. And in the end, he always thinks they "look good." I think he might secretly be annoyed with me. I think he believes that we have taken the "Christmas Thing" too far. But he loves me...so he moves trees, hangs lights, asks if this is where I want the ornaments.

And then they look like this...

And all is good in the world.

I love Christmas. I love him too!