In Northern Michigan we always got a local tree early in Dec. (They have farms up there and the trees are always replaced. Usually cost about $10-$15 for a 5 to 7 footer. And ours was recycled in the wood furnace or bon fire.

First you get out the egg nog and something extra to nog it up with (VERY important)...sprinkle with nutmeg...put out a big platter of goodies, and some appropriate music, then drag all the decorations up from the basement. If the kids are grown you have a nice quiet decorating party. If not, you pray nothing gets broken as they lunge for their favorites to hang. 'bout the time you're finished and your blood sugar has plumeted, on comes the Christmas movie favorite and dinner of some kind.

This year we'll stick a small, 5 or 10 inch (artificial)craft-size tree on the dashboard, and sing our own Christmas carols as we go dashing through the south! Maybe we'll carol at stop lights!