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We always had a real tree until about 5 years ago. DH and I would go out and cut one! One year, we went to a place where you had to walk up this hill that looked like a ski slope at the Olympics! We got about halfway up, panting and sweating, and I just pointed and said "that one." It was ugly, but I couldn't go any further. So about 5 years ago, we went to a year round Christmas store in Berlin, OH -Amish Country - it's kind of like Bronners only smaller. We didn't go to buy a tree, but they have a zillion trees and DH found one that was really full and has small pine cones on it. I really do love it, but I miss going out to get the tree. It is not pre lit - I think I told this story before - maybe not. We have a very serious disagreement on lights. He loves colored lights and I love white lights. OK - the colored ones are OK, but the white ones are my favorite. So we alternate years! This year is white - oh joy! I have to admit that I always do something different on the years I do the colored lights - new ribbon or something. I always do the lights from the inside out. A lady at the Christmas store told me that is how they do it and the trees are so pretty. This is about a a 7 foot tree, so we need lots of light. You wrap the first bunch around the pole in the middle. They the next bunch goes halfway on the branches. Then the last batch on the ends of the branches. They you plug it in and blow a fuse! Just kidding. I think I am a slow learner. Every year (and I mean every year) until 3 years ago, I put the tree in the corner before I put the lights and decorations on it. How stupid is that? I am up on a ladder practically laying in the tree getting scratched worse than dancing with a wildcat. And it took forever. Now, I put the tree up, walk around it with the lights, put on the ornaments, then the ribbon garland, and THEN I slowly move it back into the corner. It only took me about 10 years to figure that out. Can you tell I love Christmas? I don't care much about presents - except for the little kids - but I love to decorate. We don't have room for all my Christmas stuff here at home, so I keep part of it at my office. I also have one storage barn here at home, with a loft, that is almost nothing but holiday decorations for every holiday! I know that is silly, since we don't have young children, or even grandchildren, and we live in the country so almost no one sees them, but I love to decorate so I do!