After several years of real trees, we now have switched back to a non-real tree. No more dragging a heavy, messy, needle-shedding beauty through my house any more.

Will I miss the mess? NO! Will I miss crawling under the tree and around the gifts to water a tree every morning? NO! Will I miss the sticky sap that runs from the tree when you trim it? NO! Will I miss the danger of a live tree in a house re possible fire hazard? NO!

The real trees I had in the past were nice but the disadvantages out weigh the advantages. Now I didn't have to wait until the week before Christmas to put it up. It's up now!

Bob

Can you hang Harbour Lights Ornaments on it?

Yes!!!!

Starting Now!

I've been pushing for a nice non-real tree for almost two decades, but keep getting outvoted 2-1 in my family.

Paul & John, you guys have cats.... cats need real trees especially the kittens Paul, I know our cat enjoys the real tree.... she hasn't climbed it in a couple years but she still likes it!

You're right there, Mark. Squeeker loves to sleep under the tree when it is up.

Well I got my tree up for the first time in 3 years. Yeah I'm a little lazy about things like this, but this year I was stuck home for Thanksgiving, and figured I had to do something with all that free time.

Mark,

Our 3 cats don't seem to mind the artificial tree. When it is up 2 of the 3 are usually under it. One of them even works at eating the branches from time to time. One advantage to them is that when the tree comes down we leave the lower half set up when it is stored in the basement. The cats enjoy laying under the tree year round.

And, no pine needles sticking you and getting everywhere. Our last real tree became the last one when we found one of the cats (not in the current herd of cats) about 2/3 of the way to the top.

Dave

I won't have a tree for a little bit, yet - but my dear neighbors across the street put up their outdoor lights today - so you know what that means!......

Mine is up and goes up very easy.

I just go out to the barn, take it out of the box, bring it into the house and plug it in.

Bert

I don't usually put anything up until about 2 weeks before Christmas.

This year I was told (I mean asked) to put up the tree for Thanksgiving since our daughter will miss her second Christmas (and birthday 12-17) because after a month back in the US she left for Korea on Friday 11-29.

I compromised- I put up the two 2 ft trees that I put my HL Ornaments on along with a 2 ft Ceramic tree i put inbetween them on top of the entertainment center in the LR.

My daughter didn't even notice it. My wife did, however.

Dennis

Just got home from a wonderful week of Thanksgiving Lighthouseing. So no don't have my tree up yet. But when I do it won't take but about 5 mins. to take it out of the box, pug it in and hang a few HL ornaments on it!

Stephanie

Put my little tree out last night took 20 minutes top to get it out of storage and get it all decked out.

shirin

Twenty minutes, Shirin? You're lucky. My Christmas tree and other displays take a full two-day weekend to put up. Just to put the nine foot tree together, attach lighting, put on the ornaments, and finish off with garland takes the better part of five hours.

Then the Christmas HLs and ornaments come out as well as my wife's Dept-56 village. Then all the other Christmas crafts come out and the Budweiser Christmas Beer Steins. Then it's outdoors for the annual lighting of the trees. The front trees take about 4-5 hours to arrange.

All this for a four week display of tradition. The family loves it. The neighbors love it, especially the children. I guess it's worth the aggravation.

Bob

Much too much work, Bob! I'm only saying that because Sharon hasn't caught up with me yet on decorating the outside. When she does I'll be in the same boat your in.

Just got my new "Harbour Lights Tree" up. That's the one with the HL ornaments. Looks kind of neat. Will add a picture if I can.

Bert

Bob, my tree is only about 3.5 feet tall and the lights came attached to the thing. All I had to put on was the garland and the ornaments. It is a very small tree but all that would really fit in an apartment with 2 people. The best part was that Sean went and dug it out of storage for me so I didn't have to hunt for it.

shirin

I'm in your boat Shirin. My tree is about 4 to 4 1/2 feet tall. It came with the lights and we put the ornaments and the like on it. I went to a local store and picked up an empty box that had either a washing machine or a drier in it. After Christmas, I unpolug it, put it in the box, put the lid on the box and put it away until next year. No fuss, no muss, no problems.

Bert

Hi everyone,

My tree is not up yet. My husband converted me to artificial tree 4 years ago. Never thought I'd enjoy a fake tree. I don't miss the scratches on my arms and cleaning up the mess after Christmas.

Last year we bought a new pre-lit tree. It almost looks real. Putting the tree up is quick. However, I have about 200 ornaments that are carefully wrapped. Some are in the original packing. It takes me several hours to unwrap and hang them up. I enjoy it though.

I have all of the HL Christmas pieces, and they're on display on my fireplace mantel. Oh, I guess I should mention that I never bothered to put them away and they've been there since we moved into our new house last November. I'm looking at my fall Fort Tompkins piece right now and trying to decide if it's time to put it away.

Happy decorating to those who haven't gotten to it yet!

Tammy

I finally got a chance to post a picture of our Christmas tree. No presents underneath yet but here's the pic:



The wrapping of presents starts this weekend. Lorna and I have both been out shopping. Time is flying!

Bob

Very nice looking tree, Bob. I love those high ceilings, you can do a lot with a tree with those conditions. We'll be wrapping today also. I'm surprised we didn't run into each other as we spent quite a bit of time in your area at tne Emerald Square Mall. Went into Noah's and looked at the lighthouses. I do that everytime I go there. Keep up the good work.

Bert