 |
| CHARLIE BROWN'S TREE AND A ONE QUARTER BEAGLE |
Traditionally we set it all up Thanksgiving weekend. It appears this has become the norm for many. Turkey is still being eaten as Facebook is decorated with Christmas tree photos. Hey! Me too. I want to join in. And we are ready. Last year we discarded our tree. Lights no longer worked and it was worn out. A Bed Bath and Beyond ad features a tree. It is 49.99.
On the Monday of Thanksgiving week we go to BBB and find the advertised trees. They are reduced to $34.00 and with the 20% coupon (one does not go to BBB without a coupon) they are a dream bargain at 27.99. We pick one and buy it.
We have our tree and expect to be part of the Thanksgiving weekend Christmas decorating event.
On the Monday of Thanksgiving week we go to BBB and find the advertised trees. They are reduced to $34.00 and with the 20% coupon (one does not go to BBB without a coupon) they are a dream bargain at 27.99. We pick one and buy it.
We have our tree and expect to be part of the Thanksgiving weekend Christmas decorating event.
Here we go.
Thanksgiving is done.
We are ready.
We have a new tree.
Paul assembles it quickly. Hmm, why so easy and why no complaints?
He calls me to check it out.
What!!! What is this? Charlie Brown's tree is in our living room.
Is this a joke? Who would sell such a tree? Is it a commemorative edition for the 50th anniversary of A Charlie Brown Christmas?
Liam is longer than our tree is wide. Liam is a small dog. I know he has big dog looks. But no, he is 37 pounds and 15 inches tall and 24 inches long.
He sort of dwarfs the tree... and we did pull out the branches bending them up and down into natural positions and here is what we have. No, we cannot work with this tree. Oh and it sheds its needles at first touch.
What went wrong here? The height is okay. What I did not realize was that no width was displayed on the box. When it is assembled it is only a few inches wide and its girth does not widen sufficiently to hold more than a few ornaments. Liam tries to make himself smaller.
Liam wonders if he is meant to be Snoopy. He is one quarter beagle. Where are the decorations he asks?
Liam-Mom, do I have to do what Charlie Brown did? Take them from Snoopy's house?
Me-Liam, you do not have a house.
Liam-oh, bummer
In Charlie Brown's Christmas story his little tree is accepted. In the end they use Snoopy's dog house decorations to fill in its shortcomings.
I am starting to feel sorry for our Charlie Brown tree.
Liam requests that it have a decoration. Okay one decoration to honor Charlie's first attempt to decorate his tree. Ours did not fall over like his did.
We do not want to return our Charlie Brown tree until our new tree arrives.
 |
| LIAM IS LONGER THAN THE TREE IS WIDE |
Don't know Charlie's Brown's tree? If you are familiar with this iconic TV movie you may remember Charlie Brown's tree. Tiny unadorned unloved...Charlie selects it and brings it home...to derision. If you don't know of it here is a refresher link
This year is its fifty year anniversary. First shown in 1965.
 |
| CHARLIE BROWN, HIS TREE, AND LINUS |
I am revealing his stats in order to give you an idea of the minuteness of our tree.
 |
| LIAM AND HIS TREE |
Our last tree was purchased at BBB and was fine. Photos follow
 |
| MOM, WHERE IS OUR BIG TREE? |
Me-Liam, you do not have a house.
Liam-oh, bummer
 |
In Charlie Brown's Christmas story his little tree is accepted. In the end they use Snoopy's dog house decorations to fill in its shortcomings.
We will not do that. Liam does not have a dog house. He lives in our house.
 |
| WAITING FOR THE NEW TREE |
We order a 7 foot Spruce online from Lowe's on Cyber Monday. The date is November 30.
Huge discount, free shipping. Email says it is on its way. I expect delivery within a few days. Not too bad. Lowe's is in Garden City and I envision its journey down Old Country Road to our house. Should take about a half hour. I think Thursday December 3 is the latest arrival time. I mean it is only a few miles. Lowe's offers tracking.
A Charlie Brown Christmas airs on Wednesday December 2...and we watch it and commemorate it with our own Charlie Brown tree.
No tree December 3rd or 4th.
On Saturday December 5 I access the shipping info. I am shocked. Our tree is coming from the Southwest! What was I thinking? That the Garden City Store would pluck a tree from their display and drive it over? Yes, I was. My thought process is sometimes too hopeful and naive. No, our tree is on a journey across the United States. Screenshot on Saturday December 5 shows it started in Albuquerque NM and has traveled through 6 states. Currently in Hamburg Pa. This tree could compete in the Amazing Race, though at a slower pace. See its journey so far
Huge discount, free shipping. Email says it is on its way. I expect delivery within a few days. Not too bad. Lowe's is in Garden City and I envision its journey down Old Country Road to our house. Should take about a half hour. I think Thursday December 3 is the latest arrival time. I mean it is only a few miles. Lowe's offers tracking.
A Charlie Brown Christmas airs on Wednesday December 2...and we watch it and commemorate it with our own Charlie Brown tree.
No tree December 3rd or 4th.
On Saturday December 5 I access the shipping info. I am shocked. Our tree is coming from the Southwest! What was I thinking? That the Garden City Store would pluck a tree from their display and drive it over? Yes, I was. My thought process is sometimes too hopeful and naive. No, our tree is on a journey across the United States. Screenshot on Saturday December 5 shows it started in Albuquerque NM and has traveled through 6 states. Currently in Hamburg Pa. This tree could compete in the Amazing Race, though at a slower pace. See its journey so far
 |
Liam requests that it have a decoration. Okay one decoration to honor Charlie's first attempt to decorate his tree. Ours did not fall over like his did.
I don't even think this would be okay for an office.
Well
Well
Maybe...
We are waiting
I am bonding with the tree.
Liam is guarding the tree and channeling Snoopy
 |
| LIAM GUARDS HIS TREE |
Dec 7
New tree is here. It seems heavy enough and long enough to be an acceptable tree.
 |
| LIAM INSPECTING THE NEW TREE |
We expect to decorate this weekend.
Anyone want a little scrawny never dressed tree?
I don't want to reject it.
That would be inconsistent with the message in A Charlie Brown Christmas
Anyone want a little scrawny never dressed tree?
I don't want to reject it.
That would be inconsistent with the message in A Charlie Brown Christmas
Woof, Woof
