Christmas trees

[Tink]

I've had live Christmas trees most of my life. I'm allergic to the needles so always break out while decorating them, but was too stubborn to give in and get an artificial one. Until this year...

Each year I get less and less help decorating the tree. Greg always grumbles about having to help get the tree in a stand. Decorating it by myself is a PITA; especially putting on the lights... so I just bit the bullet and ordered myself a pre-lit artificial tree so I can decorate it without such a struggle or spending days itching my hands and arms raw.

The tree I ordered is only 6.5 feet tall, so it's not huge... but it's very full and hinged, so I hope I'm going to like it. I was seriously dumb struck when I saw the prices on the trees! I've found several that were literally thousands of dollars! Being the cheapskate that I am, I bought one that was normally $400 but was way less than that including shipping.

So who else has an artificial tree?
Do you like it? What features did you look for when choosing it?

[DianaB]

I finally gave up and got an artificial tree a few years ago too. I was tired of waiting until really close to Christmas to put it up because of it drying out and leaving stickers all over the floor. I didn't have a clue as to what to look for when we bought but I ended up with a pre-lit tree that folds up. I ended up getting it at K-mart before ours went out. Anyway, I like it because it's so full. It is heavy to put together and I have to match all the plugs when I put it together but I like it. Mine also turns around but that wasn't a feature that I was looking for. It makes it very pretty but I put so many ornaments on it that it won't turn!!!! Anyway, I think that you did a good job of picking out a tree.

[katepoet]

As you all know, I gave it up - this is the second year without any tree or most decorations. I thought I had sold or given away all my ornaments but I found a couple of boxes the other day. Mostly antique I think, from the 1940s. Nice to see again but I will let them go too.

But, I love Christmas and I actually use my Christmas coffee mugs all year long as well as the bowls with the snowmen around the edge. If I find them, I know I kept my sleigh bells on red leather for hanging on the door...

Here's the message I like to put on my answering machine at this time:

'Twas the night before Christmas
and all through the house,
not a creature was stirring
not even a mouse.
But the telephone rang once
and a second time, too,
so our answering machine
is talking to you.
We wish you the happiest times
of good cheer!
Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah,
and a Happy New Year!

[Tink]

CSXHYLIGHTa.jpg This is the tree I ordered... DH might have a fit, as I never did get a straight answer out of him on whether I should buy one... but oh well that'll teach him not to answer when I ask his opinion, right? LOL

[Marilyn]

Tink, it looks like a beautiful tree. We're still buying real. My hubby has wanted artificial for years now. He wants one we can decorate with wheels on it & just roll it in a closet. However, so far, we've been able to convince him otherwise. I have to admit though. This year, or girls will not be home to help put it up. So this may be our last year for a real tree.

[katepoet]

What fun, Tink! Already to go! Seems to me it fits your plans for getting on with enjoying your life without the kids in the house. Now if you could just get the kids out of the house...

[Forgivenmom5]

Very pretty tree Tink. We have a big one we have used for years. I thought about getting a smaller one but Angie said it wouldn't be Mom's without our big tree.