Nothing says Christmas like

a real tree.  The beauty of nature in one's living room, even with the occasional shedding of pine needles, has no comparison.  I vowed early on that I would always have a real tree for Christmas, no matter what.  There was nothing like walking into a house with a real tree that just imparted the Christmas feeling.

We have only broken that vow once, when we acquired a tree from the base in Reykjavik for Christmas 2005.  It was last-minute, and as I was terribly sick and grief-stricken, my only thoughts were of not really wanting to deal with Christmas either way.  In addition to being a 110 tree in a 220 country, it was a pain in the rear to put together and take down.  It just screamed "fake tree" and we donated that sucker as soon as we remembered to take it down in February.

We deliberately did not bring an artificial tree to post with us, as we figured either we would A. find a real tree somehow, B. travel locally for Christmas and not bother, or C. if truly desperate, buy an artificial, but only a used one.  Artificial trees just have so many chemicals in them that make them flame-retardant, that I really don't want one around unless we are truly desperate.  Even then, I'm thinking we'd just do without or find some kind of real alternative.

Luck was with us and we learned in the early fall that our favorite organic market sells trees each year.  We had to wait for our tree stand to arrive, but we are not early tree people anyway.  The stand arrived this week, and when we went to pick out a tree, we learned a fresh batch would be in by Friday.

Last night, we headed over to the market.  The actual tree saleseman was not there, but we were able to put a hold on our favorite tree to be picked up today.  It was not too large or heavy, and looked like it would fit perfectly in the back of the car.  Peter and I enjoyed a leisurely dessert (is there anything better than passion fruit mousse?) and glass of wine and then headed home.  

While we all all would have loved to return to pick up the tree, it's a good thing we didn't.  It barely fit in the car with only Nick and Peter inside.  I was woken up by Nick upon their return, "Hurry, mommy, hurry, you've got to see what we did," and surprised by the tree being perfectly set up in our living room.

Normally, we always put non-Santa gifts under the tree as soon as they are wrapped. However, the kitten has already scaled the tree once, and declared war on the pine cones in a table decoration…so we will have to see.

A few hours and only one collapse later (turns out Peter had forgotten to lock something), the tree is up, lit, and fully decorated.  The scent of pine is filling the air, the needles that fall can be swept outside, and when all is said and done and the 12 days of Christmas are over, the tree will be properly composted.

I don't know that we will spend Christmas at home each year while posted here, but 'tis so lovely to know that while we are here we do have the real option….