Red Cedar Christmas Tree At the Farm

Here I am with Angus and Molly with the Red Cedar tree we found and cut from the pasture for our Holiday tree at the farm.  When we were little my Dad would always hike with us into the lower portion of our farm to select a Red Cedar tree to decorate for the Holidays each year.  We would bundle up in our warmest coats, hats, gloves and boots and set out together to find the perfect tree.  

The selection process could be lengthy getting three siblings to agree on just one tree.  My brother wanted the biggest, my sister wanted the best shape and I wanted the saddest looking tree.  My Dad would help us in the compromise process, cut the tree and then start dragging it back to the house where my Mom would have hot cocoa waiting for us.    We scampered behind my Dad trying to keep up with his long strides.  It also helped us keep warm on the trip back to the house.

The scent of the Red Cedar is amazing - a crisp, sharp, pine scent.  I had almost forgotten how wonderful they smell.  The entire house smelled of cedar - it was time for Christmas in the country.  

I found vintage bulbs this Summer that I saved for our tree at the farm.  The bulbs were in lovely pastel colors reminescent of the 1950's.  The color of this bulb is the exact blue of a 1957 Chevy.
The balls were painted inside and out with glitter added for sparkle.  The old fashioned Christmas ornaments were perfect for our native Red Cedar tree.
I also used multi color lights for the tree like we did for our tree as children.  I skipped the construction paper garland, strung popcorn, and handmade ornaments from elementary school.  My Mom would let us decorate the tree however we liked with loads of tinsel.  It was our favorite part of decorating the tree.  I would have used some for this one if I had remembered to purchase a box.   Do they still sell silver tinsel?
Everyone was so surprised to see a fresh cut Red Cedar tree decorated for our Holiday celebration at the farm.  A nice surprise for the 15 people we served dinner to at the farm this year.

At our family dinners each family brings their favorites to share for the family dinner.  My Dad always provides the ham and the rest of the family prepares the side dishes and desserts.

Our menu was as varied as those in attendance.  Ham, chicken and homemade noodles, green bean casserole, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, macaroni salad, spinach salad, strawberry salad, cranberry salad, teriyaki roll ups, corn and sweet rolls.

For dessert - pumpkin pie, cheesecake, brownies, peanut butter brownies, oreo fluff, poppyseed bread, peach cobbler and apple streudel cheesecake.

So much food, but everyone travels home with enough leftovers for the evening meal once they return home for the night.