Fraser

We typically get our Christmas tree on December 13, which is the feast day of St. Lucia. ("Lucia" meaning "light", which to me brings to mind the candle light and the lights on the tree.) This year, it fell on a Sunday, and also coincided with our only snowfall so far this season (long since melted). Lovely, fat flakes drifted down all morning while we were in church; just enough to cast River's Edge Tree Farm, our usual destination, in a veil of white. That dusting of snow on the trees; misty clouds hanging low over the Mount Baker foothills; eagles soaring over the river. All very picturesque. Almost enough so to ignore the bickering, cold feet/hands complaints, and difficulty in finding a good-looking Fraser fir. Almost.

But find one we did, and it's been as lovely as ever. Heading outside; cutting our own tree; bringing that divine look and smell into our home (and Frasers are such good house guests, never dropping needles)...All of this is one of my very favorite traditions. The gifts have been opened, but to my mind, they're secondary. I could sit in the front livingroom, looking at the tree for weeks ~ and still have some time to do so, since it stays with us until Epiphany (January 6).