O Christmas Tree, the Virginia Way

Roaming the woods searching for the perfect Christmas tree is easier said than done. My fourteen year-old black lab, Miss Bit, ran along beside us, keeping a keen eye out for stray rabbits that might require a good chase.

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A quick stop along the way for much-needed pets

Remembering scale is the toughest part of the job; an eighteen-foot tree simply will not fit under a ten-foot ceiling no matter how many twists and turns you attempt – and no matter how perfect it might look in the middle of a field. With a resolved sense of reality, we found the perfect eastern red cedar. My newest toy, a Ryobi battery-powered chainsaw, took care of the job with no problem. I got the tree loaded up on the small trailer and headed for the house.

Christmas Tree

I cut down the tree with my new favorite toy, a Ryobi battery-powered chainsaw that goes anywhere!

With a little trimming, the tree fits perfectly in the living room at about nine feet tall, and there was just enough greenery left to fill the mantles. The wonderful smell of freshly cut evergreen quickly filled the house. Each whiff makes me wonder why we can’t have fresh greenery all year-long.

Christmas Tree

For the past three years of holiday seasons, we have been under renovation and I simply couldn’t muster the holiday spirit. The energy and motivation required were hidden amongst the daily reminders of a wrecked house. There was no room for holiday cheer.

This year is different. Many projects were checked off the list, and our spare time, although still limited, has been partly spent doing things we enjoy. After much baking, broiling, and roasting in the new kitchen, I have spent many evenings and mornings resting by the lit Christmas tree.

Christmas

The dining room lit and decorated for the season

Christmas Oysters

Christmas dinner of fresh Mobjack Bay oysters roasted with Iberico ham and Pecorino 

Although we aren’t rushing the season, we are already looking toward our next projects. First will be to complete the cosmetic work on the upstairs guest bathroom so that we can host overnight and weekend guests more frequently. We hope that you will all come and join us for a night in 2017.

Peace to all this holiday season!

This Post Has 2 Comments

  1. Jane Hatcher

    Oh Buba! This is so lovely! So glad for a Christmas for you in a no full of renovation house. Love you guys so much! and Love seeing Miss Bit! I can smell your tree from here! xx Love to all x

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