Good Morning ... My Aruba friends.

Who has a Real Christmas Tree and Who has a Fake one.

Ours is Real...but am considering Fake in the future.

Maybe some have none at all.

__________________
I lead with my Heart and my Body follows

Dan & Sweet Georgene

Good Morning BP, we have a fake tree with the lights already on it. Up until 3 years ago, we used to get a real tree every year and fight with the lights. Put them on, no, doesn't look right, take off and try again. UGH!!!

This tree is really pretty with 600 multi colored lights and is 6 1/2 feet tall. I think it was the best decision and purchase I have made in a long time.

__________________
Carol

both.
living room has real
family room has the fake

honestly the family room tree looks better

i think this is the last year we will use a real tree.
the fake one was expensive and looks wonderful so that will be
the "one and only" from now on.

and the cat is still eating (16 yrs now) the needles from the real and
barfing them up on the oriental rug. i had thought she would have "learned" by now.
---------------------------------------------------------------------

we have a fake...fiber optic tree. It's really cool when it gets dark...turn on the lights. There ard many small white lights....then the fiber optic lights change color all the time....very pretty. During the day we can admire the ornaments!

Still stuck getting a real one every year! My husband and daughter beg for it, love the smell. Steve puts it in the stand, Jamie admires it, and then everyone walks away! I get stuck doing all the work. This year, I got it early and decorated it at my own pace.

My stupid cat drinks the water out of the stand and then pukes. Dumb!

__________________

For 34 years, when home, we have had an artificial tree. The last couple a fiber optics.
While in Aruba we enjoy a real tree at the A.M. brought in from Nova Scotia, Canada.

__________________
"El Muchacho De Eagle Beach"
Eagle-Beach Boy
Ontario, Canada

It's funny how traditions change... rarely, years ago, did anyone have an artificial tree... just as with our Mennorahs that symbolize the 8 days of Channukah.

I remember as a little girl, the family gathering around the Mennorah, saying a prayer, and lighting a candle each night until all 8 and the boss candle were lit and glowing.

In today's world it's rare to see real candles glowing. Most people have gone to electric... I'm guilty of doing this, too - but it's sad that the beautiful tradition is gone in this fast paced world.

__________________




The countdown's begun!
January 30th to February 27th!

Elaine, could this be a safety issue at well? People now put menorahs in their windows and light one bulb each night, its so pretty when they are all lit! You couldn't do that with candles.

__________________

Corrine,

My cat would always do the same thing. It drove me crazy! She died a couple of years ago, but not from the water.

Back to the tree...I fought long and hard with myself as to why I should not get an artificial tree. Then last Christmas I did it! I bought one. It was the best, lights are already on the tree, no water, not needles to pick up. The only thing I missed was the pine smell. But I went to bath and body works and bought this star that I can plug into the wall and lets out the pine smell. I also have some Pine scented candles. It seemed to work for me so I can have that smell.

I remember when I was little, my aunt had a silver tree and she had this gel light that would turn and it made the tree a different color. I alwlays thought of artificial trees like that. But now they are so lifelike it is hard to tell.

Change for people is sometimes very difficult. I felt having and artificial tree ranked right up there with me putting my thanksgiving turkey in a bag, as opposed to basting it. Or fried turkey vs Roasted.

__________________
Aruba, no other place like it!
Our next trip June 19 th - July 3rd 2010

I do both. I put my electric one in the window and I also light my other menorah with candles each night. It looks so festive when all the candles are lit.


Nat

Nat - I sometimes do that, too. You're right, it does look festive!

Corrine, I'm sure for some it's a safety issue and you should only have candles burning if you're home.

__________________




The countdown's begun!
January 30th to February 27th!

I grew up with a fake one and still have a fake one. Ours is beautiful and big...just a little pain to put up and down because it's branch by branch. I could never justify cutting a real tree down just to toss it to the curb weeks later. For goodness sake, I have 2 "cornstalk" trees in my house that my sis discarded...one is topping 15 feet...just because I don't have the heart to toss it.

Funny Story: We don't have kids so yearly I debate with myself if I'm even gonna put up the tree. Some years I do, some I don't.
This year I went down to the basement to contemplate it and I found a box I never saw before. It was a 2 or 3 foot Fiber Optic Tree with balls on it. Hubby swears he didn't get it (and I KNOW he never would have, but thought maybe he got it as a freebie from work) and I KNOW I didn't buy it...so where did it come from. Got me, but that's what's up this year!

__________________
Aruba, wine & dogs...Life is good!

That is funny! I sometimes find Christmas decorations I know I didn't buy. I assume I got them as presents!

__________________

For the past 15 years - When the Holiday Season is over - I have taken our tree to a ( farm pond ) and put out on the ice. When sping comes, and the ice melts ... it will sink to the bottom ... and give the fish cover.

I try to put it in a different spot each time.
Over the years I and my family have enjoyed ( catch and release ) fishing there. Kevin will like this ... several Large Mouth bass ( ranging from ) 2 to 8lbs have been caught, and at dusk - Catfish ( ranging from ) 2 to 12lbs. have been caught - along with SEVERAL ( bottle bass )

__________________
I lead with my Heart and my Body follows

Dan & Sweet Georgene

BP - I do the same thing each year with our trees at work - we get 3 or 4 to put around the office, and after the holiday I put them on my frozen fishing pond nearby, when the ice melts I've got a spot to fish. When I go back later, I can cast to where I know the tree is and feel my lure drag thru the tree...

We have an artificial at home, bought it last year. It looks great, and has already 'paid for itself' since natural trees cost more and more every year. It has lights already on it, we just add some balls and ornaments to personalize...

__________________

We don't do a tree as we go to Aruba right around Christmas, this year on Christmas Day!

__________________

Oh, sure, rub it in Divi!!! Have a great time!

__________________

I have basically decided that it is my favorite time of year and I love the fireworks so I will try to be there every year! Plus not having to decorate for Christmas is an added bonus.

__________________

We have a fake one with the lights already on. Although its a great looking tree I really want a real one. So do the kids. We beg and plead every year but hubby just won't do it. One good reason is that the only spot to put it is in the corner by the fireplace. Although its a stupid gas fireplace I wouldn't want the danger of it. I grew up with real trees and love the smell and loved picking out the prettiest fatest one! Our youngest said we should break this one this year so daddy has no choice but to get a real one next year, LOL...but our luck he'll just go buy another fake one! I guess I should be happy I don't have to keep watering it or clean up needles for the next 12 months!!!

__________________
"These are a few of my favorite things"
...Elisa
defecting to St. Thomas/St. John Oct. 10-17, '09, St. Thomas/St. John 2/23-3/3, 2010