Getting a Christmas tree Montana style!

Living in NW Montana, we are surrounded by beautiful pine trees of all kinds... Grand Fir, Doug Fir, White Pine, etc. We even have a few Christmas tree farms that sell their trees to lots back East in late October! But for the locals, there are very few places to BUY a Christmas tree, and the majority of us end up tromping through the woods, cutting our own.

Last Thursday, it was our turn. Bruce and I, along with the Shelties, walked out into our backyard, hoping to find a special tree.

Earlier, when the weather was warmer, we'd marked a couple of trees we thought might work... but when "push came to shove" we examined them a bit closer, realizing why they wouldn't do. Trees that look absolutely perfect, are too often several trees growing too close together. Some are too big. Some have huge holes... Some just don't look green enough.

They tell me I'm too picky. It's because I'm originally from Chicago... and used to perfectly shaped, thick, full trees- probably sprayed a uniform green. 

The Shelties enjoyed themselves immensely, chasing down some wonderful smells, and licking up the skiff of snow on the logs.  They didn't have any problem with how long I was taking to find the right tree.

Finally, I gave the ok... This is THE tree!  When you consider that Bruce is 6 ft. tall, you can see I always pick trees that are too big...  Somehow, they just don't look all that big to me when they are in the woods.

Bruce fired up the chain saw, and down came the tree.  I, honestly, always feel a tug at my heart. I hate knowing we've just cut a living thing.

Bruce pointed out that this particular tree survived some fire damage when it was quite young. Frankly, that made me feel worse.  I'm hoping it's an honor in treedom, to become a family's Christmas tree. I'm certainly grateful to this tree for giving itself to us.

The tree ended up being about 12 ft. tall, and VERY heavy.

So, now it's waiting for us in the garage. We'll try to put it up before the kids come home, but I'm REALLY not looking forward to putting the lights on! I guess that's a bit of revenge, on the tree's part, huh?