Last weekend we spent Saturday up in the low mountains surrounding our town, walking in the woods and searching for the perfect Christmas tree!
This is one of my family's favorite ways to kick off the holidays, and has become one of our annual traditions.
We like to get all bundled up because it can get pretty chilly up here, even though it's really bright and sunny. At the scenic lookout we stop to take in the view of the surrounding forest, and the lush valleys below.
The view of the trees goes on and on.....
We enjoy the wide variety of greenery: evergreens, redwoods, eucalyptus, manzanita, bay laurel, elm, and several types of oak trees surround us on all sides.
This little helper-elf is ready to cut down a tree!
These are all too small! We want a huge tree, and we know with perseverance we'll find the one that's just right. We just have to search for awhile, but it's out there somewhere! Then we'll lug it all the way back to our car. The trip back seems to take longer, for some reason!
Underfoot, the ground crunches with pine needles, bark, leaves, acorns, and pine cones. The air up here is fresh and fragrant, perfumed with the scent of the evergreens. We love to spend the time outdoors together, to take in the beauty of nature and bring home the perfect tree.
By the time we get back home, we're ready for some hot chocolate! Then it's time to wrestle with the tree (which always seems so much bigger in the house!), and to put on all the tangled strings of lights. That's a task no one at this house looks forward to. And by the time that's done, we're ready to call it quits for the night. We'll put on the decorations tomorrow! For now, we'll look at the tree shimmering with hundreds of tiny white lights, and recall a day spent outdoors, filled with fresh air, sunshine, and the company of the people we love the most.
That's how we do it here on the redwood coast! If you'd like to see more decorations, you can scroll down or go here,or here, here, or here for a Christmas memory. I'd love to know, what's your favorite way to find your Christmas tree?
Thanks for visiting, remember to leave a comment, and please come back soon!
Until next time
XO
Heidi
20 comments:
Gorgeous tree!!! Thank you for sharing your trip to get it.
I just go down to the basement to find my tree...LOL.
Next year...live tree.
We did this all my life till I moved to the city. I still like the smell of real trees. You and your family are creating nice memories.
Great post. I grew up in Oregon and we always went to the woods and cut our own tree. I miss doing that. Now we go to a "Steve's Christmas Trees" lot and buy one freshly trucked in from Oregon. Thanks for sharing. --Delores
My favorite way or rather my only way of finding my Christmas tree is sending someone in the attic to get it, lol. What a lovely view on the mountains and it looks very refreshing. I can smell the pines from here. You got the perfect tree.....Christine
I see you stopped by and left a message on my blog! We must have crossed blog paths. I plan to "dig in" and read more of your blog. Always good to see someone in our neck of the woods. --Delores
wow, that's a spectacular tree! all your hard work of looking for a perfect tree has certainly paid off.
How wonderful to be able to cut your own tree in your beautiful country. It is beautiful and I love your decorations. Merry Christmas
I bet, it smells good inside your house because of the fresh tree. Lovely!
My Outdoor Wednesday
I also prefer fresh tree over the plastic ones.
Please check out my outdoor wednesday
Heidi, you sure got a huge tree, and it looks so pretty decorated.
Beautiful country...and all this brought back memories of my youth and Christmas!!!
My Wednesday issue is posted. Come see my lighted Christmas Village HERE.
What a beautiful tree you choose. I enjoyed watching ya'll on your tree-hunting trip!
When I was a young girl, my dad always bought our tree for us. Every single time, he had to cut some off the top because it was waaay bigger inside than it was out on that Christmas tree lot !! :O)
Your tree looks so beautiful! We don't cut down a tree, but we do have a real tree every year. I love the look of real, the scent of real - we almost always get a noble fir.
xo
Claudia
Heidi~~~
How fun it would be to take an awesome hike like this to pick out a tree! It is so beautiful out there. I am in awe of the tree you have! They look so much smaller outdoors. Mine became a monster when we brought it in the house! lol!! Yours is beautiful all dressed up!
Happy holidays :-)
xoxo
Jane
What a perfect tree! And a perfect day to go along with finding it. Ilove the smell of a fresh tree. But buying one off the lot down here in So Cal - it's just not the same. 1/2 the time they are dried up and dangerous within the week, no matter how well you care for it. And I just need more time to decorate!
Maybe we could start getting a small one for somewhere .. . hmmmmmm . . . no you got me thinking! L)
Merry Christmas!
Karen @ Some Days Are Diamonds
That's the way we got our Christmas tree when I was growing up.
Honey Bear and I like to spend the day in the woods, too.
Mama Bear
It looks like a lot of fun foryour family to go and cut down the tree. You found a pretty one. Your tree look wonderful decorated too.
Hi Heidi,
I love the pics, we always go cut our tree too! I still love a real tree! Your's is looking very lovely indeed! Cindy
Heidi,
What a great tree. The larger the better!
Thanks for sharing your adventure.
Michele
Great tree, what pleasure you receive from finding the right one for your home. I ask my husband to get that heavy box in the attic and bring the ladder. I can't be in the arera of a live tree. They almost kill me. Took year to get it. They are beautiful. DRESSED OR NAKED. hAPPY hOLIDAYS...MICHELLE
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