Yuletide Adventures

 Picking out a Christmas tree is serious business for Kevin and I. If you remember, last year we scaled the hillside surrounding our volunteer house in Kentucky to find just the right tree. (If you need a refresher on that gem of a tale, just click here!) This year since we are not living in the mountains of Kentucky, we decided it was probably not in our best interest to cut down a tree we spotted on the side of the highway. People tend to frown on that sort of behavior in the real world. 

 

So a couple weeks ago, Kevin and I decided to go to the Star Tree Farm to find the perfect tree for my first Christmas in Michigan. Star Tree Farm is a cute farm located just about halfway between my apartment and Kev's house and has three different types of trees to choose from on their 40 acre farm. Luckily, we did not have to peruse all 40 acres to find our tree. Although I thought Kevin might try to at one point in the adventure. I believe his exact words were 'I  like to look at all of them before I make a decision'. Thank goodness, he did not follow through on that threat.

After some perusal, we did find the perfect pine tree for my apartment and I got the honors of chopping, well really sawing, it down. For a minute, it was almost like being back in Kentucky cutting up firewood for Randis and Linda with Kate minus the fact that I still had feeling in my fingers and toes on this day. After I felled our tree, Kevin got it loaded up on our wagon and wheeled it to the Shake and Wrap Stations. They had this machine that you stuck the trunk of the tree down in and then it vibrated all the snow and loose needles off your tree before they wrapped it up. I was completely fascinated by it to say the least. I've been told that we have these thing-a-ma-bobs in Rhode Island, but I must have missed it when we were at Stop 'n Chop last year because this was a first for me. 

Kevin Working & Me Supervising

After we got our pine all trussed up, we had some delicious (and free!) hot chocolate before we headed back to the apartment to set up the tree. I'm going to be honest, I let Kevin take the lead on setting up the tree in the stand. I designated myself official picture taker and played paparazzi while he did all the work. 

The Finished Project

After we (really just Kevin) got the tree locked in the stand, it was time for lights. I am a firm believer in white lights only on a Christmas tree; the multi-colored lights come across as super tacky to me and now that I have my own place and my own tree I can gladly do away with them. After the lights, it was time for my ornaments which my dear mother was kind enough to send me all the way from Rhode Island. I know it was hard for her to part with them, but it was nice to have them and all the memories they hold here with me during my first Christmas season away from home.

Homemade Gift Tags

A first for me this year is the experience of trying to buy, wrap, and mail out Christmas gifts in time for them to get to their recipients by December 25th. The most time consuming part of this process for me was the wrapping of the presents as I decided this year to get a little creative. I used a combination of buttons, fabric, brown packaging paper and raffia ribbon to wrap every one's gifts. I only hope they make it to Rhode Island looking as cute as they did when I put them in their box today. 

Proof of the Cuteness

This morning I was able to finish everything up and head on down to the post office to send my presents and my love to my family. Unfortunately, half the town of Mason had the same schedule as I did so I was stuck in a pretty lengthy line before I was able to hand over the packages to the poor frazzled postal office workers. I think I was one of their easier customers though; I am not exaggerating when I say there was a man behind me in line with at least 10 to maybe 15 medium sized boxes all ready to be shipped out for the holidays. I would hate to even think how much he spent on postage.