Our Christmas Tree

Bigger Is Always Better!?!?




Let me rephrase that. Just the right size is always better.

John's latest project has been a quest for The Perfect Christmas Tree. We attended a Tag Your Tree Day at Maphis Tree Farm in Chipley and John was so excited about finding and tagging his perfect tree. After an hour of wondering through the Chipley Wonderland the clouds began to part and a bright light illuminated "the one". With a "9" foot pole in hand we decided that we had found the right tree. Who knew that Rockefeller Center had chosen this tree as a back up for NYC.




The Saturday after Thanksgiving was "Tree Pickup Day" and the beginning of a lesson we will never forget. We arrived at Maphis Tree Farm ready to take "The Perfect" tree home. The owners of the Tree Farm cut, shook, and barely bound the tree and had it in the back of the truck in just minutes.









When one of the owners commented on how large and heavy the 10 foot tree was, John thought he was mistaken and went ahead dreaming of how The Perfect 9 foot tree was going to look in our living room. The Perfect tree traveled well in John's truck even though 4 feet hung over the end of the truck! It was when the tree was upright on the back patio John realized the tree might be a tad bit too large for the living room.






Well, you don't know until you actually try it. Up it went and it just kept on going. Lets just say the Perfect Tree looked like Shaquille O'Neal in the Keebler Elf's Cookie Factory.




Two things were realized at this moment. 1. Trees are almost the same size around as they are tall. 2. 10.5ft trees do not fit in regular Christmas Tree stands. Worried Lowes would be closed John rushed over to buy the largest tree stand they had. I had never seen him so determined.



The problem now is how to get the tree to fit in the house. The only solution was a chain saw. Thankfully Pappy (Bro. Ricky/John's Dad)had his ready to go. A quick 3 hr trip and the saw was in hand. It only took 5 minutes and 1.5ft of tree was gone.



It was now officially a 9ft tree. Thanks to a quick trip to Lowes and quick hair cut with the chain saw, The tree is NOW Perfect. So next year as you sip your hot cocoa and sing silent night at the Christmas Tree Farm, think of this story before you tag that Perfect Tree. If all else fails, just think of Clark Griswold.






Well it is time to enjoy the Tree and I think Cousin Eddy just pulled up in the RV. MERRY CHRISTMAS and Oh Christmas Tree.