Years ago, we couldn't afford to buy a real tree, and the only ones we had close enough for us to cut ourselves were cedar trees in our fields (when you're allergic to cedar trees, this is not a good idea, ask us how we know).  One  year, I did buy a real tree from the grocery store, but it died within a week or two, we couldn't even turn on the lights for the week or two before Christmas.  Most of our 23 years of marriage, we've had fake trees.  Last year, my son went to a friends house after school.  When I went to pick him up, I saw their Christmas tree and it was so pretty!!  A real one too.  I found out that they go to the Christmas Tree Farm each year to cut a tree.  I checked into it this year and my son and I went and chose our tree.  It had to be short enough to fit in the back seat of my Grand Prix,  it's about 4.5 to 5 feet tall, and it's so fat, it's gorgeous!!  We've had it for 2 weeks almost and it's still alive and doing very well!  We will get a real tree from the Christmas Tree Farm each year from now on.  We had a wonderful time searching for the perfect tree.  I was afraid for awhile that my son would choose a Charlie Brown tree, but he made a good choice.  After our tree was shaken and baled, the young men who work at the farm placed it in my back seat, and my son and I went inside the gift shop for a cup of hot apple cider that was so good!  Next year, I will remember to take my camera to the tree farm!!

I wanted to post a reminder for the Christmas Tree Traditions post.  You can find it here:

http://www.homesteadblogger.com/OklahomaJamie/116492/

I added a Mr. Linky for those who have posted about your Christmas Tree Traditions.  I hope you'll all go add your link!!

Country Blessings,
Jamie

What kind of tree does your family use?
We started out using a cedar tree that we would chop down from the fields, but soon discovered that we were allergic to cedar, so we started using fake trees.  This year, we are going to the Christmas tree farm to choose a real pine tree.

When do you put your Christmas tree up each year?
It varys some years, but we really like to put it up shortly after Thanksgiving.  My son's birthday is always right around Thanksgiving, so we want him to be the focus.

What kind of traditions do you have when putting up the tree (if any)?
My Grandma knew how I loved decorating her Christmas tree, so every year she would let me decorate it.  I got to be quite good at it.  My husband doesn't seem interested, and my daughter is now a wife and mother, so she does her own tree.  So that leaves the decorating to my 8 year old son and me.  If the weather is the least bit chilly, we like to have some hot cocoa or warm apple cider to drink.  We play either a Christmas CD or turn the satellite TV Christmas music station on.  I put the lights on, then my son and I both put the decorations on.  Last, the tree is scooted into place, and the tree skirt is placed beneath.  Then, we turn out the lights and sit and admire it.

How do you like to decorate your tree?
I've had so many themed trees.  For several years, quite a few years back, I had all mauve, sage, maroon and cream decorations.  I think that was my most gorgeous decorated tree.  The year my son was born, I used only our tree top (fake tree) and put cinnamon applesauce ornaments on it with pieces of gingham fabric strips and raffia tied to the branches.  It was really quite cute.  I love to snow ski, so I have been collecting snow skiing type ornaments for years and I have quite a few of those that I put on our tree, along with lots of homemade ornaments made by the kiddos.  Last year, in an attempt to make our fake tree look more Christmas-y, I purchased all new red, green, silver and gold ornaments.  They're really pretty, but the fake tree didn't do them justice.  I think they will look alot better this year on our real tree. 

Do you have any other interesting things that you would like to share about your Christmas tree?
hmmm, I think I got it pretty much covered in the last question.  I love homemade ornaments and think it would be nice to have a tree full of them.  I would also like to have some themed trees, like one specifically for my snow skiing ornaments, one for John Deere ornaments, etc.  But that's just too much work, so I'll stick to putting them all on one tree.

I hope to read about your trees too - see THIS POST for more information.

When I got married, some 23 years ago, my husband and I would go cut down a cedar tree somewhere in the field for our Christmas tree.  I'd decorate it so pretty, then shortly after, my arms would break out in red welps all over.  I was allergic, and so is my husband.  So we started using a fake tree.  We've had some beautiful fake trees over the years, but they never seem to be as pretty as real trees.  They sure don't smell as good.  We got a wood burning stove this year and I'm anxious for the smell of it this winter.  I have also decided that we are going to the local Christmas tree farm to choose a real tree this year.  It will be pine though, no more cedar for us.

If you'd like to, use my post title: Christmas Tree Traditions, then copy and paste the questions below into your own blog post, then add your name and the link to your post below.

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What kind of tree does your family use?

When do you put your Christmas tree up each year?

What kind of traditions do you have when putting up the tree (if any)?

How do you like to decorate your tree?

Do you have any other interesting things that you would like to share about your Christmas tree?

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We want to read about your traditions too!
If you posted your Christmas Tree Traditions, please put the link to your post here:

HOW MANY LIGHTS?

Tree Height                 Light Count Needed
3 feet                                      100
4 feet                                      200
5 feet                                      300
6 feet                                      500
7 feet                                      700
9 feet                                    1,000
10 feet                                  1,200
12 feet                                  1,400
15 feet                                  1,800