This year it was
daughter Sue, son, Steve, daughter-in-law, Natasha plus the Old Timer who drove
the ATV and let the younger ones do the searching. Searching for the perfect tree. Not too tall, not to short, not too bushy,
not bushy enough. I heard these words as
the search continued.
The search is not an
easy one. We’ve planted over 20,000
trees at Roshara-mostly red pine. But we
also have a goodly number of self-seeded pines—white pine mostly, but a fair number
of Scotch pine as well. Which one should
it be—actually the trio was searching for three trees, one for each family, and
each family wanting a special tree. Grandma
Ruth likes a full tree with short needles—a Scotch pine fits the bill. Sue and
Paul like a similar tree—another Scotch pine.
Steve and Natasha go towards a soft needled white pine.
My job, hauling the
trees, more than a half-mile from the back corner of the farm. And of course, one of the trees fell out of the
ATV, without me knowing it. Happens every year. So, it was turning back and
searching for the lost tree. All part of the tradition. All part of the fun. All part of finding a
homegrown, wild tree, as we call them.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Christmas is a perfect
time for traditions.
WHERE TO BUY MY
BOOKS:
To learn more about
Christmas in days past, see The Quiet Season. Purchase my newest books, When
the White Pine Was King, and The Old Timer Says: A Writing Journal, go
to your
local bookstore, order online from bookshop.org, or from the Friends of the
Patterson Memorial Library in Wild Rose—a fundraiser for them. Phone:
920-622-3835 for prices and ordering.
Patterson Memorial Library
500 Division Street
Wild Rose, WI 54984
barnard@wildroselibrary.
www.wildroselibrary.org
If you live in the western part of the state, stop at Ruth’s home town, Westby
and visit Dregne’s. Say hello to Jana and Dave, and look at their great
selection of my books, including my new ones, or order a book by calling them
at 1-877-634-4414. They will be happy to help you.
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