Sharing Tradition - Sharing our Gifts with Nature

One of the traditions that my son grew up with centered around the Christmas tree. Sometimes we would buy a pre-cut tree off a lot, and more recently we began cutting one down at a tree farm. But we always got a fresh, real tree, and we always tried to get the most use out of it.

After decorating the tree for us - complete with ornaments collected over the years, colored lights, and some sort of homemade garland, we would enjoy it for several weeks up until New Year's Day. Then we would UNdecorate it, and take it outside to be propped against another tree by our window. Decoration anew would then commence, as we made lots of bird treat ornaments, using bread, oranges, pinecones, peanut butter and suet, popcorn, and cranberries. A second life was given to the tree - and we got the added benefit of watching the birds and squirrels enjoy their feast.

Yesterday, I talked about our family tradition, and then we all got busy stringing popcorn and cranberries. After bundling up, we walked to County Farm Park and found a lovely little stand of trees that seemed to call out for decorating.