Years ago, when I had a pickup truck to move a tree easily, I used to visit the nursery six blocks from my home. They sold a bunch of high-end cut trees, but on xmas eve there wouldn't be many sales and all of the trees go on the curb as trash after the holiday. I'd ask if I could pick one for $10 and they'd always let me. We had some glorious trees, but they didn't stay up for more than a week. And because my mother always spoke about her childhood tradition of putting trees up on xmas eve, it felt right. But those tree tend to make me sneeze, so I don't get them these days. I have a 14' ceiling in my den, so a large tree was fine in there. Maybe again someday, perhaps if there are grandchildren to enjoy it.

I decorated the mantle with smaller ornaments this year, many that would be lost in a field of garland, so it is lit with a string of rice lights. Very nice.