Real or Fake?

Cass · Post by **Cass** » Sat Nov 27, 2004 5:03 pm

I know what you are all thinking.... but what I am talking about - is your Christmas Tree.

Who gets a real one... who gets artifical and why..?

I have to telll you, I am a real tree person, I like the smell of pine, and I deal with the pine needles and sticky sap.... but this year because I am so busy and we are going to Disney.. I bought an artificial one today... it is pre lit, 8 feet tall - and

it spins

but I don't think I will use the revolving feature - because my cats already think its a toy when it doesn't move

So tell me about your tree? my ex husband would always say... an artificial tree means an artificial christmas... notice he is my EX Husband.

__________________

abbey · Post by **abbey** » Sat Nov 27, 2004 5:16 pm

Real one every time, you can't beat it, decorating it, smelling it, feeling it, sweeping the needles up, picking it up when the dog's knocked it over, trying to load it into your nissan micra after xmas!

Give me a real one any time............Aaaaaaaaargh...reading this, think i may go for a spinning, dancing, singing pack me away & use me again next year tree L.O.L X

valerie · Post by **valerie** » Sat Nov 27, 2004 5:49 pm

I have always gone for real, and most years try to do the "Choose and Cut"

because then I feel it's one person one tree. I have never seen a completely

empty Christmas tree lot after Christmas, and that seems very wasteful to

me. Last coupla years the budget has been a lot tighter, so I try to go to a

very popular place that nearly sells out.

Artificial trees have come a long long way, but my CURRENT (and ONLY!)

husband has put his foot down. I don't blame him, they have that stuff

you can spray for the smell, but that is still one thing I really love about

the real ones. I don't mind the sap or the needle cleanup, either.

Doug Firs are my top choice, others being too pricey and I don't like the

long-needled Scotch Pine.

koan · Post by **koan** » Sat Nov 27, 2004 8:10 pm

Must admit I go for fake. I plead allergies. I do add pine essential oil to give fragrance. It's a lot less mess to clean up too.

But when do you put up a tree? Can't remember the code. It's bad luck to take it down too late too. Can't remember when...good thing I don't believe in superstition.

valerie · Post by **valerie** » Sat Nov 27, 2004 8:48 pm

I do "Up on the First, Down on the Second" and have for years. (December

First, January Second). It's an awful lot of work for a week, I think. Cut the

tree a new end when you get it home, and never let the water level fall in

the stand. I've heard all the tips for floral preservatives, aspirin, soda and

I still think plain fresh water is best.

And I must say, I have 2 of the best pets around, never even so much as a

hint of the kitty climbing it or the dog knocking it over!

YAY!!

valerie · Post by **valerie** » Sat Nov 27, 2004 8:50 pm

Hmm well with an artificial tree you COULD leave it up longer I know.

But I kinda like the New Year to be a little fresher. All those poor tired

old dead trees I've seen at Super Bowl parties... I kid you not!!

Cass · Post by **Cass** » Sat Nov 27, 2004 8:54 pm

I am very good about removing every trace of Christmas immediately following it. I have never had a tree make it to new years LOL

For me, Christmas is all in the anticipation in the weeks that proceed it, onces it transpires I feel down.. time to get rid of everything and get the house back to normal.

Peg · Post by **Peg** » Sun Nov 28, 2004 8:51 am

I always go artificial. I hate stepping on the needles! I usually put it up around the 13th and take it down Jan. 2

Bill Sikes · Post by **Bill Sikes** » Mon Nov 29, 2004 3:19 am

>>^..^ Who gets a real one... who gets artifical and why..?

A real one. I don't like artificial ones. Why would I want to look at a fake? It should

go up on Christmas Eve, and come down on 12th. night.

Cass · Post by **Cass** » Mon Nov 29, 2004 5:45 am

Bill Sikes wrote: A real one. I don't like artificial ones. Why would I want to look at a fake? It should

go up on Christmas Eve, and come down on 12th. night.
Go up on Christmas Eve? That does not sound like a good plan.

Bill Sikes · Post by **Bill Sikes** » Mon Nov 29, 2004 5:47 am

>>^..^ Go up on Christmas Eve? That does not sound like a good plan.

Why?

Cass · Post by **Cass** » Mon Nov 29, 2004 6:00 am

Bill Sikes wrote: Why?
It would not work well for my family... I have a 10 year old girl who is asking 'can we put the tree up today?" everyday :-5 since Nov 15th LOL

Also Christmas Eve - we are not home, we celebrate at my parent home 3 hours away.

and last but not least... I take my tree down on December 26th

Bill Sikes · Post by **Bill Sikes** » Mon Nov 29, 2004 6:18 am

>>^..^ It would not work well for my family... I have a 10 year old girl who is asking 'can we put the tree up today?" everyday :-5 since Nov 15th LOL

Also Christmas Eve - we are not home, we celebrate at my parent home 3 hours away.

OK, I can see your point.... a few days leeway in your case, but:

>>^..^ and last but not least... I take my tree down on December 26th

That's just plain odd. Still, if you've been having Christmas for a month or so

already, I can see why.

Cass · Post by **Cass** » Mon Nov 29, 2004 6:26 am

Bill, for me (and my family) the fun of Christmas is in the anticipation... once it has passed I feel really down and just want rid of everything immediately.

I have never had a tree make it to new years.

greydeadhead · Post by **greydeadhead** » Mon Nov 29, 2004 6:30 am

Hmmm.. real tree put up around a week before the big day and taken down just after the new year. Then it is stuck in a snow bank behind the house so the birds can hang out in it while they use the feeders. Then... out to the brush pile in the woods to return to the earth..

Bill Sikes · Post by **Bill Sikes** » Mon Nov 29, 2004 6:47 am

>>^..^ Bill, for me (and my family) the fun of Christmas is in the anticipation... once it has passed I feel really down and just want rid of everything immediately.

Yup... I quite like the tradition of putting decorations up on Christmas eve,

the delicious anticipation is well worked up by then! However, I'm curious

as to your traditions... no 12 days?

>>^..^ I have never had a tree make it to new years.

I'm not surprised if you put one up in November

There you are, there's a "smiley", I don't often do them...

Cass · Post by **Cass** » Mon Nov 29, 2004 7:00 am

Bill Sikes wrote:

There you are, there's a "smiley", I don't often do them...
A very fine gift, thank you

CountryDweller · Post by **CountryDweller** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 12:27 pm

Real for me. We buy a live one with a root ball, place it in a large planter, bring it in, decorate it, then when the holiday is over, we plant it outside, which adds another tree to our property.

Nothing like the fresh smell of pine and trying to keep the dog out of the pressies! He thinks everyone is his! :wah:

minks · Post by **minks** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 12:32 pm

CountryDweller wrote: Real for me. We buy a live one with a root ball, place it in a large planter, bring it in, decorate it, then when the holiday is over, we plant it outside, which adds another tree to our property.

Nothing like the fresh smell of pine and trying to keep the dog out of the pressies! He thinks everyone is his! :wah:

Fake for me, saves money, cat and dog won't have needles to eat, no watering needed, can put it up in September and it still looks fresh in February hehhehehe

lady cop · Post by **lady cop** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 12:33 pm

minks wrote: Fake for me, saves money, cat and dog won't have needles to eat, no watering needed, can put it up in September and it still looks fresh in February hehheheheor june! :wah:

minks · Post by **minks** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 12:36 pm

lady cop wrote: or june! :wah:

heading for lunch but will tell you my christmas wreath story upon my return

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 12:48 pm

Oh, tell your kids that Far..............................

:)

We have a fake tree, my husband got it the first year we were married.

I really hate it.

I have never had a fake tree in my adult life, despising the shimmer of tinfoil trees and plastic firs my mother always had. We always had a real tree, a live tree-not cut. In a pot, to plant in the mountains after Christmas was over and spring was in the air. That is what I had last year when my husband was in the nursing home, and I got him a little fakey tree this year to have downstairs with him-the kids and I want our real tree again! Plan on going out and getting it this weekend.............

jennyswan · Post by **jennyswan** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 2:00 pm

I prefer real but our apt is not so big and is on the 3rd floor (no lift) so practicality calls for a fake one. A real one is much nicer though!

CountryDweller · Post by **CountryDweller** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 12:09 pm

SnoozeControl wrote: Look at it in all its majesty!

My grandparents had one of those trees.

minks · Post by **minks** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 12:25 pm

CountryDweller wrote: My grandparents had one of those trees.

Lordy we had one of those as our upstairs tree for ages as kids, the real tree was always downstairs in the rec room oooo yeah I loved that baby. Until the foil started to unwind off the ends in chunks.

Bez · Post by **Bez** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 1:40 pm

Fake for me I'm afraid....and small...but perfectly formed of course. Each year I do a different colour theme...gold, silver, white, maybe blue. I just don't have the room to have a large or a real tree. If I did have the room, it would have to be a rooted tree. It is so sad to see them all chopped down.....and then discarded. I prefer to see things growing which is probably why I have loads of plants but never have cut flowers unless someone gives them to me.

Probably put it up a couple of weeks before Christmas and take it down after new year.

booradley · Post by **booradley** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 3:15 pm

abbey wrote: Real one every time, you can't beat it, decorating it, smelling it, feeling it, sweeping the needles up, picking it up when the dog's knocked it over, trying to load it into your nissan micra after xmas!

Give me a real one any time............Aaaaaaaaargh...reading this, think i may go for a spinning, dancing, singing pack me away & use me again next year tree L.O.L X

lol..I've got a micra. Last years tree was so big it had to be cut into lots and lots of little bits and took two journeys to the incinerator.

Post by **Betty Boop** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 3:52 pm

I've always had everybodies cast off fake trees, so this year I'm currently looking for a good, nice and full fake. Haven't found one yet so I suspect we'll be having a real tree and as my living room is large, for the first time ever we'll have a LARGE tree.

Going to pull out all the stops this year, it'll be the first christmas in ten years with no bah-humbug ruining all the fun!:-6