A New Tradition

Last year I bought a bouquet of fresh evergreen branches to use for our Christmas table. I really loved the way it made our home look and smell. I thought of doing that again this year but also considered the possibility of finding our own greenery outside. The thing is that our forests are mostly deciduous trees here in this part of the midwest, so finding what we are looking for won't be as simple as it might have been in Washington where we lived before.

Anyways, I have been lousy so far this winter in getting out on outdoor excursions with the children. Today's is a good day for a good day! What a good chance to get some fresh air and run an errand at the same time. The boys and I got through our fraction lesson lickety-split this morning and then we all got dressed up in rain boots to head out. (not going to a white Christmas this year)  So sad.

I told the kids my plan in the car and then we listened to "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" on the way. We've been rockin' the audio books this year. Well, I chose a trail I was pretty sure we could tackle with Mace in tow. Mistake!  Not a single coniferous tree. Oh well, good plan anyhow.  But as we drew near the end of that trail, I noticed the next trail had the trees I was looking for. Score!  We gathered a bagful of branches and some pine cones (from the ground! we did not pick them off the trees). On the way back I even discovered some red berries! Wahoo. I'll just have to make sure no one tries to eat those.

It was such a nice morning. We sang Christmas carols along with the car radio on our way back home. I think we've found a nice, simple new tradition. If the table decorations turn out, maybe I can post a few pics.