Happy Howl-idays

Now that the weather is more seasonable you might finally be in the mood to get your Christmas tree. I went last weekend with my photographer Lori Golias. She needs one so we will have a background for some upcoming holiday "What's Bugging You" reports and whatever else comes up. We went to Jones Family Farms in Shelton to cut our own. No matter how large, the cost is 50 dollars if you cut your own. However, when we arrived last Friday, it was raining. So first we made a stop to see Jamie Jones in his wine tasting room. He studied at Cornell near the Finger Lakes wineries, and is now in his third year of wine production at his family's farm.

Before long the rain stopped, so we went to get our saw and find Lori's tree.  Here she is cutting down a beautiful nine-foot Fraser fir.

My apartment is much smaller than hers, so here I am with my tree of choice. However, I decided to leave it there for next year's harvest.

Despite the early rain, it seemed much too warm for early December. It was the first time I've ever worked up a sweat searching for a tree.

This next picture is a re-inactment of Lori's tree falling. Of course right as it fell, I pushed the wrong button on her camera and turned it off instead of getting the shot. Re-inactments are not condoned in the news business, however since we were just out having fun and I am disclosing the truth, aren't you glad for having the picture? We basically just picked the tree back up, set it up straight, yelled timber, and I snapped as the tree fell for a second time. Despite having a seemingly dull small handsaw, the tree came down very easily. Less than three minutes of cutting time.

Once we cut the tree, we had to carry it back to the main area of the farm. There, you can have it wrapped up for easier transport. (Make sure you bring someone who has a truck.) Here is Jay wrapping up our tree. I wanted to check for critters first, but oh well, it wasn't going to my house.

Wine tasting, tree hunting, cutting and wrapping really works up an appetite. So before heading home we stopped in Monroe at Senior Pancho's for some Mexican food. Here is Juan making our guacamole tableside. 

In other tree news, my dog Willamena and I visited the Rockefeller tree the day after it was lit. We had a stranger take our picture.

However, I think we are going to have to go back now that the weather finally makes it feel like the holiday season. Plus, Lori gave Mena one of her gifts early, a santa suit. I might have to re-inact the Rockefeller photo, but with the santa suit. What do you think?  The dog dressed as Prancer is Otis, Lori's dog. 

Happy Howl-idays.