Oh, Christmas Tree

In years past, when I didn't feel up to the task of decorating and/or keeping the decorations and/or children safe, we have gone without a Christmas tree. But this year...I wanted a real tree. It's our first Christmas in this house. The children are a bit older and wiser (just a bit). And a real tree smells so good! 

By word of mouth, I learned about a tree farm tucked up in the redwood forest not too far from us. I found very little info about the place on the internet, and had only vague instructions to find the place. I didn't know what to expect, but thought it might be a good adventure for us. Indeed, it was!

When we arrived at the tree farm this sunshiny Saturday, Vincent headed straight for the tractor. (He says "tractor" now, if you know what to listen for). 

Mr. Hurd took the keys out of the ignition and told the kids to climb right up. He even adjusted the steering wheel so it was at a good angle for Zoe to "drive."

The tractor pulls a wagon for hay rides. We didn't go for a ride, but the kids happily sat on the hay.

And on the enormous tree stump. (Vincent is still pointing at the tractor.) Mr. Hurd told us about the deer, including a little fawn, that came to a molasses lick at the stump. Behind the stump is the slope where we found our tree. In the center of the small trees are two big trees. Between them is a...

...tire swing! Vincent didn't know quite where to hang on.

Zoe had success with this technique.

The hunt for the perfect tree didn't take long, because there were many good looking trees. I think they are mostly douglas firs. They have been pruned into traditional, conical Christmas tree shape, but the pruning has been done well. Not too heavy handed, and not recently - probably before the growing season. It seems in three decades of doing this, Mr. Hurd has really gotten the knack. 

Our chosen tree wore Vincent's hat while we got a saw and double-checked procedures ("There's a string but no tag - is this one fair game?"). Then David went to work. Lots of sticky sap made for heavy sawing, but he made a quick job of it. Zoe offered morale-boosting pats on the back at regular intervals.

Our tree is a fine specimen, just taller than me and very full. Mr. Hurd doesn't advertise, but the farm has become so popular that his trees don't have a chance to grow much past five feet tall. Mr. Hurd told us of people who have been coming to the farm since he opened, with photos from every year documenting the changes in their families. He took our photo with our camera and with his. He prints pictures out for people to take home, but we forgot to get ours, as it was getting busy as we were departing.

While David tied the tree on top of the car, the kids and I looked around some more. On the partially enclosed porch, there was a wood burning stove going, and a lady giving out cookies. She tried to give the children two cookies each: "But it's Christmas!" Which is why they only need one cookie each. The sweet treat opportunities are overly plentiful this season. Zoe enjoyed her snickerdoodle on a bench that moved. The glider was a hit with both kids, though only Zoe could make it go.

Also on the porch was a wood burning stove with a percolator of coffee on top. The benches were situated so you could warm yourself and look out over the fields and forest. We chatted with Mr. Hurd about the hummingbirds who were still coming to his feeder, and the tree swallows that nest in the bird house every summer.

When the clamor for more cookies started to get a little unpleasant, Mr. Hurd helpfully distracted the kids by offering to show them his magic piano. It plays by itself! Manufactured in the late 1800's, it was originally operated by pumping air through the bellows via pedals. The bellows and pipes developed a lot of leaks over time (he credited his children with much of the wear it endured), and Mr. Hurd took it apart to fix it. At that time, he put in an electric vacuum motor to run the piano. He's definitely a do-it-yourselfer. Also a hunter, judging by the trophies over the piano. Also good with kids. Zoe and Vincent wanted to plink on the piano, which I no-noed. Mr. Hurd said "They can't hurt it." He said the same thing about the buttons and levers on the tractor.

We spent a delightful hour at the tree farm. For the same price as a tree from the parking lot on Central Avenue, we got so much more than a beautiful tree. Mr. Hurd was genuinely friendly, and seemed to be enjoying our experience as much as we were. I'm already looking forward to returning for as many years as Mr. Hurd (now eighty years old) and his tree farm are there.