Pleasant thoughts re: last Monday!

Goodness gracious, what a nice day it was!
It has been like spring/summer here in the great state of NC this month. Altho kinda scarey cuz it feels like the calm before the storm it has also felt wonderful! And, as usual, it was time to go cut down the family's Christmas tree! Yee-haw!!!

Now lookee here folks, I must confess something. Some yrs back I'd either go dig a tree (roots and all) or cut one down. However, one yr (when DD was only two yrs old) I opted to go buy a tree. To make it seem "real" tho I hauled it into our woods and stuck in down in an old pinetree stump hole! The next day I announced it was time to go get a tree. Squeals of delight could be heard clear across the land!

As we all walked into the woods, me w/saw in hand, I pointed out a little "charlie brown" tree...a wimpy little thing. DD of couse said "too small". I pointed to another one ("too skinny"), and another and another and another. Of course none were met with approval. Eventually we came to the "perfect tree"!

As DD held it steady with her tiny two yr old hands I commenced to "saw" it down (had the blade in my bow saw turned backwards!). "Here it comes, Timber!!!" We were all so happy, hauling that tree back to the house!

That "tradition" has lived on every yr since. This year tho I was a bit concerned that I wouldn't be able to trick a "7 and 11/12ths yr old"! (She turns a big 8 in January!) (She tells me that being only 7 gets a bit boring after a while, and is really excited about her new age coming up!.) Anyway, this past Monday I went and bought a tree, put it in the woods, and went back to work. When DD came home from school she knew it was 'tree day'! As usual we all took off looking for that perfect tree! (We even took the video machine thingy so I could get it all on tape.) After many many 'Charlie Browns' I decided DD was feeling a bit disappointed and told her of a tree I remember growing over the rise somewhere right out of the rocks! (Yep, I had stuck in down in some rocks where a shagbark hickory had fallen down during a storm, uprooting rocks and such.) When DD saw it in the distance she took off running towards it as fast as a chicken with the Colonel after it! I thought for sure she was gonna knock it over and ruin the moment. Mercy me, what was I to do? All of a sudden I heard myself hollering, "Watch out now! You never know what lives around those trees out here in the woods!" Hehehe...that stopped her!
Well folks, all went well. I "sawed" the tree down while she helped steady it, and DW got it on tape! We were all elated! (And one of us was very relieved!) The tree now stands in the living room, fully adorned and, like the rest of the occupants, listens to Christmas music being sung by Burl Ives, Satchmo, and a few assorted other favorites! (I really wish I could hear Porky Pig singing "Blue Christmas" tho...just can't find the tape anywhere!)
Friends, we're Blessed and thankful. All is well. Life is good!
(Wish me luck for next yr folks! She's gonna be 8, going on 9 then!)

what a wonderful tale!! and what a loving daddy to keep up the tradition, I just love it!

I just love your story and the tradition that you started..........really neat idea :o)

Man I was with you every step of the way. Or is it only in my imagination. I really enjoyed the trip with you and the family. JIm

What a cool dad you are!!!!!

This is truly the sweetest thing I have heard today.

what would this fourm be like Shoeless??? What a great story Shoe, like Jim said, I was right there with you. Thanks for taking us along. Great story.

What a lovely gift you have given your daughter and all of us, by sharing the story. Thank you.

What a great and beautiful story. JML is right...where would we be without your really neat stories. You need to start publishing and be an author - well....you're already an author...just need to start sharing with the rest of the world :-) And you are so right - Life is Good - God Bless us everyone :-) vic

Your tales are so vivid that no one can help but to be there with you. Not only are you warm, funny and a great story teller you also possess one of the greatest gifts of all - the love a father has towards his family. Thanks for this Shoe - it really should go in a book somewhere!!

Shoe...."ditto" to ALL of the above...you are GREAT! What a lucky little girl you have there. Jo

Shoe Email me your Address and I'll send you a CD with Porky pigs BLUE CHRISTMAS. :} and a few other favorites too boot!

Just got back to this thread...thanks for all the compliments. I'm blessed to have a cool DD! (I wonder if she is smarter than I think tho? What if she's known for several yrs now and is just letting me THINK I'm fooling her.)

then she'd only be taking after her wonderful kind thoughtful dad.

lol Shoe!! I have something for you that is so fitting after your lovely story!! So keep your eye on the mailbox (wink)!!

WHAT A WONDERFUL STORY AND WHAT A GREAT DAD!

Thanks MorningGlory...and a true story. Now however, that Louisa has got my head a'thinkin'! Should I be afeered?

No my Aquarian buddy - you need not be afeered...!!! Oh, I just love talking American...lol!! Yeeeeehaw!!!!

Bump-de-dump-dump...Hadta bump this back up. :) I missed it until just now! But wait, there's more! http://davesgarden.com/t/368285/

HAH! GW...You're having the TIME OF YOUR LIFE! bumping these back up!
I guess it makes sense tho, to have them grouped together. I shoulda thought about that. Thanks. I'm sure those that have been following the "tradition" will now not have to go searching! ♫ Ta-dahhh...♫.

Shoe, is the tree cut yet? Did I miss it?