Saturday, December 4

Getting Our Christmas Trees

I saw what the upcoming month of December looked like and just about every weekend was packed with something.  I saw that the first Saturday was the only weekend day that was available to go get the tree.  I saw that Ben had a shift at the fire department also on that first Saturday and so I asked him if it was alright if I took Grandma and Mom to go get a tree.  He said it was fine.  He didn't need to go.  It wasn't the first or the last time this would probably happen.  There have been a few times he couldn't go in the past.  He said as long as he got to help decorate it, he was fine with it.  I told him it was a deal.

I called Grandma and told her when we were going to go get the tree this year and she said that day worked fine with her.  Mom also said she would go with us when I chatted with her about it.  I just hoped that the weather held up for us.  We were supposed to get a lot of rain in the next upcoming days.  I wasn't too thrilled about it.

That morning I got up around 9:30, ate some breakfast, gathered all the recycle, threw in the water jugs, and headed into Rainier.  I did make sure I had my twine so I could tie the trees on top of the Escape.  The only thing I did forget was the step stool, bummer.  It also was pouring down rain.  I was not happy about that.  I really didn't want to be cold and soaked.  Good thing I remembered to grab my umbrellas.  

I stopped at the recycle first and did that as quickly as I could since the rain was pretty heavy.  Next, I went to Grandma's house and picked her up and we both headed over to Mom and Dad's house to pick her up.  Dad seemed to have something planned for them to both do together like go out to lunch or something and Mom didn't mention that she was going with me and Grandma to go get our trees.  I told him that when we come back, we can go get a late lunch/early dinner.  He seemed to be okay with that idea and told us to have fun.

Gerrits Greens was closed again this year to let their trees grow some more.  So again, we went up on the hill to Sprouffske's to pick out a tree.  It was always nice to see Jonathan and his family.  We parked in the muddy lot, we were surprised there were that many people out getting their trees in the pouring down rain, layered up and grabbed our umbrellas.  Us and our muddy boots trudged onto the Douglas Fir lot.



We crossed the driveway and into the lot.  I was pretty much looking for an average tree with a good top.  There were quite a few trees I was eyeballing and so was Grandma.  She liked a couple of them.  We didn't spend too much time browsing like we usually do because the pouring down rain kinda forced us to hurry up and choose.  






We cut down Grandma's tree first and she started dragging it to the driveway.  Meanwhile, I found one that I liked so I put the knee pad down and started sawing away.  Mom helped me orient it so I could start dragging it to the driveway.  Mom didn't get a tree again this year because Dad found some artificial ones at our Great Grandparents house and over at Grammie and Grandpa's house he wanted to use. 

I caught up with Grandma and told her to swing her tree the way mine was going so she could grab the tops and I could grab the bottoms and we could easily walk them to the bailer.  We had to stop a couple times just to readjust our hands, but we got them there to be bound with twine.  Grandma and Mom stood in line while I went to go pay for the trees.  Every year I buy Grandma's tree for her Christmas gift because it is a little spendy for her and her monthly budget.  I've been doing this for over a decade now and it makes her and I happy.  

One of Jonathan's kids helped me pay for my trees and he was very professional and informative.  I thanked him for helping me and he smiled when he handed me my receipt.  I walked back over to Mom and Grandma, and they helped me put the trees on top of the Escape.  It would have been easier with my step stool I forgot at home, but we made it work.  Mom helped me tie the trees down with the twine I brought.  Neither of us are good at knots so we made it work.  

We went to Grandma's house first and dropped her and her tree off.  I told her she had to let it dry out before bringing it into the house and putting it into the stand. She thanked me for taking her to get her tree and mentioned that she might need some help putting it into the stand.  I told her Dad would be around tomorrow to help her if she asked since I had somewhere I needed to be the next day.  She said she would ask.

Mom and I went back to the house and Dad wanted to go get some food, so we settled on his favorite place in Bucoda, Joe's Place.  I am not a huge fan of the food, and neither is Mom or Dad probably, we mostly just go for the culture.  It is definitely a dive bar with interesting waitresses.  There was a creepy Santa-like thing sitting in a chair near our booth.  I made a comment about it when we were seated.  Dad played solitaire, Mom looked at her phone and I tried to help Dad with his game.  The wild-looking broad that worked there took our orders.  We all got burgers and shared some French fries.  It didn't take her long to make the food and bring it out.  

We ate and told Dad about our tree adventures, and other stuff, and told him that I wouldn't be able to decorate it until Tuesday after work.  One, I was going to be gone on Sunday with Mom at Nicole's house learning how to do a bulb wreath and Monday, Mom and I are going to our first Kraken game at Climate Pledge.  I was so excited.  Then Dad goes, you guys are going to be gone on Monday?  This is the first I am hearing about it.  Mom said she told him, and it was on the calendar.  I don't think Dad listens very well sometimes.  Oh well.

We took a picture, the lady came by with our check, Dad paid it and we jumped back into the Expedition and headed back to their house.  

I needed to get home and get the tree off the top of the Escape so it can dry out.  I filled up the water jugs and helped Mom with a couple things before I started on home.  It was still raining.  Gross. 

I got home and had Doug help me get the tree off of the Escape so I could bring it in and let it start drying out before putting it in its stand.  I got a shower in and changed my clothes.  I watched some college football, ate some popcorn and worked on my blog for most of the evening.  The next few days are going to be busy.  Most of December will be busy for that matter.

Next Adventure:  Craft Day and Putting Up the Christmas Lights

No comments: