December 6, 2010
2010 Christmas tree
For many years we have followed a tradition of going into the forest and cutting our own Christmas tree. In this region, tree permits are available for the National Forests for only $5 and the outing is one of our family’s favorites. In many places near home there is an abundance of trees that need to be thinned out anyway. I was afraid that today’s trip would be cold and difficult because of an icy road, but it turned out to be a very pleasant outing. The road was snow packed and snow covered, but the hard ice had not formed yet on the surface and driving was good. This year’s tree is a Douglas Fir.
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Montana Outdoors 
Thank you for sharing your tree cutting experience with us..Great pictures too and nice tree!
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Comment by Roberta Gould — December 6, 2010 @ 9:54 pm
It will be pretty when we get it decorated. It’s a little wide, but tall and straight.
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Comment by montucky — December 6, 2010 @ 11:37 pm
Oh thanks for sharing Terry – reminds me of when our family went to a tree farm to cut down a tree – in the pouring rain. It was cold but fun and brings back great memories. That looks like a a beautiful tree!
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Comment by Stacey Dawn — December 7, 2010 @ 12:59 am
I can’t remember getting one in the rain, but there were a few years when there wasn’t much snow and a few when there was so much snow it was very difficult to pick our a nice tree.
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Comment by montucky — December 7, 2010 @ 7:56 pm
no little man in your woods to put the netting on your tree for the drive home =o)
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Comment by Sandy — December 7, 2010 @ 1:17 am
Luckily we live close enough that we don’t need a net over the tree. Only 5 miles and just a couple are on a highway.
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Comment by montucky — December 7, 2010 @ 7:58 pm
And what a handsome tree it is. That tree was just meant to be a Christmas tree. 🙂
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Comment by Robin — December 7, 2010 @ 9:57 am
There are thousands of such trees and they need to be thinned out. Still, there are not all that many folks who go out to cut one.
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Comment by montucky — December 7, 2010 @ 7:59 pm
Nice looking tree, can’t wait to see it all decorated in lights! =)
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Comment by Tricia — December 7, 2010 @ 10:00 am
Well, we’re working on that. Got our outdoor lights up yesterday though.
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Comment by montucky — December 7, 2010 @ 8:00 pm
Oh what a fun and traditional way to get a Christmas tree! I haven’t done anything like that. I do love the smell of a Christmas tree. Lovely tree. Thanks for showing the pics and telling the story. 🙂
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Comment by Anna — December 7, 2010 @ 11:01 am
As close as I can remember, this was our 39th year, although there were several years in Arizona when we bought live Goldwater Pines and then were able to plant them in our yard
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Comment by montucky — December 7, 2010 @ 8:02 pm
These photos made me laugh. I posted the one Mom sent me and got quite a few giggles from my friends! Wish I was there. I love you!
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Comment by Juls — December 7, 2010 @ 12:58 pm
We wished you could have been with us too, Hon! Love you!
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Comment by montucky — December 7, 2010 @ 8:03 pm
What fun! & gorgeous trees too…
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Comment by songofthewolf — December 7, 2010 @ 1:34 pm
The day we get our tree is one of our favorite days of the year.
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Comment by montucky — December 7, 2010 @ 8:04 pm
That is memory making way to do the tree. As far as I know, Maine doesn’t have anything like that.
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Comment by sandy — December 7, 2010 @ 3:47 pm
Yes, lots of good memories. Outside of a few years when we bought live trees when we lived in the Phoenix area we also went out to the forest there too. It was over 400 miles round trip. (Back when the average family could afford that much gas.)
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Comment by montucky — December 7, 2010 @ 8:05 pm
Nice tree. Nice Jeep.
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Comment by knightofswords — December 7, 2010 @ 3:51 pm
You would have enjoyed this one, Malcolm. You would like this Jeep almost as much as your old CJ5.
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Comment by montucky — December 7, 2010 @ 8:07 pm
ah brings back country memories… we always looked for one with an abandoned bird nest in it. your selection looks lovely. the bottom photo made me laugh!
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Comment by kcjewel — December 7, 2010 @ 8:21 pm
We have had bird’s nests too, but just a few. Yes, the tree was as big as the Jeep!
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Comment by montucky — December 7, 2010 @ 8:48 pm
That does look fun! And memorable, what a nice tradition.
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Comment by Candace — December 7, 2010 @ 9:55 pm
We have enjoyed every one of our Christmas tree outings. When we lived in the Phoenix area we went for several years just north of Payson and a few times up past Strawberry. I don’t know it they let you do that up there any more.
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Comment by montucky — December 7, 2010 @ 10:56 pm
That is so cool. We cut one of our own last year, but I think this year we are going to buy one from the tree farm a few miles from us. But I think it is so much nice to go out into the woods and pick one. Glad there are still places you can do that.
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Comment by kateri — December 9, 2010 @ 5:54 am
I wish more folks could either go cut their own or get one from a tree farm too. I know that isn’t feasible but I also hate to see the waste of the cut trees that are unsold every year.
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Comment by montucky — December 9, 2010 @ 3:02 pm
So beautiful Christmas tree! Maybe I should not confess this, but we have had a plastic Christmas tree since 15 years.
My admiration to the car; that so cool! And the tree is quite similar looking than we have here.
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Comment by sartenada — December 10, 2010 @ 12:22 am
I would imagine the tree is quite similar to some there. This species composes a large part of many of our western forests. I don’t know if this version of the Jeep is sold in Europe. The old military Jeeps from WWII became quite popular here, especially in the west and southwest. They were then produced in sporterized versions and are still very popular. They are fairly rugged and can go almost anywhere, but aren’t all that great for long distance travel on highways.
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Comment by montucky — December 11, 2010 @ 12:34 am