Christmas poll:

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-06-2000
Christmas poll:
16
Thu, 12-11-2003 - 10:32am
Live tree or artificial?

Colored lights or white lights?

Tinsel or garland, or neither?

Wrapped packages or bags?

Creatively decorated gifts or stick-on bows?

Home baked goodies or candy?

Stay home or go visit? Friends or family?

Do you decorate outdoors, aside from a wreath?

How do you display cards received?

Do you have stockings?

Any special decorations (snow village, special ornament, mantle piece)?

Do you have a nativity?

Do you have an advent wreath or calendar?

Any other Christmas tradition you'd like to share?





Cussette, CL for Family Finances
Visit the Family Finances Website

for links, tips, reading, tools and answers to your financial questions

C

Pages

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-06-2000
In reply to: cussette
Fri, 12-12-2003 - 9:05am
I can't answer for Margie, but I just want to share why I have an artificial tree. I mainly bought one for the money I save annually, no fuss for watering, and I know what to expect from the tree each year. But another, rather amusing and totally sappy reason? It breaks my heart to the point of tears to see once glorious Christmas trees sitting out on the curb discarded! Silly, isn't it? There's a Grinding Greens at the nearby agricultural station and they'll grind the trees for free mulch, but it still chokes me up when I see them piled up ready to be shredded. With all the trees we already have in our yard, there's no extra real estate to plant a one with a root ball every year. So artificial fits the budget... and the sentimental sap in me! I do love the smell of real trees - I just can't reach inside and make a live tree happen.

The Cus grew up with live trees, I grew up with artificial. He doesn't have a problem with going artificial, so it works for us.

Cussette - the big softee!

C

Avatar for eclectic5777
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
In reply to: cussette
Fri, 12-12-2003 - 11:08am

Linda,


We always had a live tree until approximately 12 years ago.

You Were Born An Original...   Don't Die A Copy

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
In reply to: cussette
Fri, 12-12-2003 - 4:42pm

My sister got one of the new more slender trees and really likes it. She has so much stuff for her granddaughter now that she doesn't have room for her old tree, and since she has no children at home any more she switched to an artificial tree.


I think people should have whatever kind of tree makes them happy or suits their needs. I just wanted to make the point that there's no need to feel guilty or sad about having a live tree. I used to feel that way when I was much younger until I understood the process. Now, I think how "lucky" those trees are to not only be a part of nature's cycle that they were intended to be, but for several glorious weeks they get to be the beautiful centerpiece of the most important birthday celebration

       ~~Rhonda~~


<

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-06-2000
In reply to: cussette
Sat, 12-13-2003 - 9:05am
Of course you're right about the tree being "bred" for such a grand occasion - those trees wouldn't have another purpose aside from landscaping if they weren't sold at Christmas time. Unfortunately, too many people just look at Christmas for the stuff they'll be getting, and the tree doesn't represent the Savior's birth at all (interestingly, tree decorating was adapted from pagan rituals for Christmas). Yet, when trees go into houses and furniture, they become useful, practical, and even long lasting*. Paper - my husband works in the paper industry, and there's a lot of people losing jobs here because environmental regulations here allow paper to be produced cheaper elsewhere in the world (his job is on the line daily). So I wouldn't call myself a tree preservationist, though I don't believe in waste, either. Despite the sound reasoning for supporting tree farms, I can't change my emotions for seeing something treated like rubbish in a throw-away society. At least it's not like the olden days where people went out into the woods and cut down a suitable trees. Keep in mind you're talking to somebody whose lip quivers when she sees discarded toys!

Cussette

*BTW, if there were a cheaper way to build all metal-framed homes, I'd be all for it: no worries about termites especially in the South where any home built after chlordane was outlawed is susceptible, no rot in event of a leak, no damage in the event of fire. I personally think they ought to take advantage of metal studs for picture hanging too - just slap a magnet on back of the frame, LOL!





Cussette, CL for Family Finances
Visit the Family Finances Website

for links, tips, reading, tools and answers to your financial questions

C

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
In reply to: cussette
Sat, 12-13-2003 - 10:28am

I'm with you about the metal framing! Just need to be sure the house is well grounded, especially in Florida where we have so many lightening strikes every storm season. I remember when an NFL player built a huge house a couple doors down from my sister here and his house was metal stud. Of course, on his salary, he could afford it.


Another wonderful development, which we'll take advantage of when we replace our siding and when we built is called Hardiboard. It looks like wood siding or shake shingles, but is actually mostly concrete. It is guaranteed for 50 years and is termite proof and moisture proof. We replaced the bottom wood panel on our garage door twice due to rot until we got a metal one. We just get so much rain and humidity here.


We used to have a number of paper mills in the Jax., Fernandina, Brunswick (GA) area, but some of them have closed down. Georgia Pacific is big down here too. My ex-SIL is a district forester for them. There are so many miles of pine forests here for paper and for chemicals in FL. It's a very important part of our economy.


I'm very sentimental too. I know what you mean about discarded toys. I tend to give feelings to inanimate objects and used to feel sad and guilty when I'd get a new bike or even a new car, because I felt sorry for the old one!!! How silly is that, yet I had those feelings. I'm doing better about it as I get older just because I'm making the effort too. Of course, I still cry if I watch a game show where someone who looks needy wins, so I guess in some respects I'm a hopeless sentimental (but that's OK).

Rhonda


Time invested in improving ourselves cuts down on time disapproving of others.

       ~~Rhonda~~


<

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-27-2001
In reply to: cussette
Sat, 12-13-2003 - 10:56am

What a wonderful question Cussette!

Nancy

"Make Choices that bring you joy"  cl-Patty


 


Pages