Due to DH's allergies, we've put up artificial Christmas trees for the last thirty plus years. I'd prefer to have real ones but didn't want him to be miserable. Unfortunately his allergies have been worse the last few years even without a live tree in the house. Since he is taking so much allergy medicine anyway, we've decided to try having a live one next year, though. Just a trial run because our current artificial one is ready to be replaced. If it doesn't work out, we can always haul it outside to the goats, trees are a special treat in the wintertime, and pick up another artificial one.
I'm over the moon ecstatic just thinking about having a live tree! There are so many reasons why I think they are better. First, we plan to purchase one from a local grower which will put our money into the local economy instead of the big box store's pocket- where most of it would be returned to China and a very small amount trickling down to the employee. And when we are finished with it we can "recycle" it in the goat pen instead of leaving a plastic pile of fake limbs in a landfill to sit for years and years.
Yesterday I had some errands in town and stopped by the Goodwill store to look around. Just as I was about to walk out, without purchasing anything, my eyes caught a glimpse of two Christmas tree stands, one tall and skinny, one short and squat. We'd given ours away all those years ago and I wasn't looking forward to buying a new one next year. But these were priced at $2 each! I snatched both of them up and did a happy dance when I got to the car (they frown at you if you do it at the register- don't ask me how I know.) I'm ready for Christmas now!
