So, we went hunting for our Christmas tree!
I tell anyone who will listen that one day, after analogue and new technologies have finally battled it out and declared a winner, I dream of retiring and buying some land up north of the city and foraging for wild mushrooms and growing eggplants and kale and letting the dog out to mark our territory, scaring off all the natural predators. I’ll bake bread and write my memoirs of running a stationery shop and can tomatoes and collect fresh eggs from my chickens which I’ll have named to prevent any chicken dinners.
In reality, I am, however, not really a bug or spider person, nor do I fare very well in cold weather, so it’s a bit of a dream that I dream of when I’m dragging the baby on the TTC across the city to his doctor’s appointments, or there are fragrant smells wafting in from the courtyard next to the office unit.
However, this past Monday, on our last day off until Christmas Day itself, we went to a Christmas Tree Farm. I’m not sure if there’s anything both more or less romantic than that. I mean, on the one hand, it’s a farm where there are Christmas trees, young and old, as far as the eye can see! On the other hand, it’s a farm where all the trees are doomed. I mean, “doomed” unless you’re the tree in e.e. cummings’ poem.
I’m on the romantic side. When we pulled into the farm, it didn’t look too great, probably not helped by the very grey weather and skies, but as soon as you stepped out, you can literally smell Christmas in the air.
We went to Prestonvale Tree Farms, which is out past Ajax. I highly recommend it! They’re very nice, and they have everything you need, which is great for folks like us, since we don’t know what we’re doing. They even gave Caleb a candy cane, which we had to accept to be polite, and since Caleb isn’t eating candy yet, someone else had to eat it on the car ride home.

Caleb listening to the wisdom coming from our Christmas tree guide, in his farmer overalls. When I am a farmer, I too will be wearing overalls.

Saw selection – safety first!

The prince, dubious, yet uncomplaining of his new chariot.

A Caleb-sized tree.

Having located our perfect tree, I call the troops. Jon has to momentarily abandon the wagon to come and take a look at the chosen one.

I could have sworn I took a picture of the tree pre-chopping, but I just have a bunch of pictures of a bunch of trees that, pre-chopping, looked very different, but now all look exactly the same. I’m pretty sure that our tree is actually neither of the trees in this photo because the one on the left looks pretty small, and the one on the right looks a bit lopsided, but who knows.

Jon: “Stand back, Caleb, there’s some dangerous stuff going on here. You wouldn’t want the tree to fall on you now, would you.”

Jon: “This would be easier if they gave me a real axe. Plus, I bet I would look manlier in the photos.”

Jon: “My manly hands are so sticky with tree sap.”

After a snack, rinse-down + nap.
The tree is up! There are some lights on it, but nothing else! Actually, we didn’t even have a Christmas tree last year, either in our home or in the 906 shop, but this year we’re a bit more organized, and the baby is a bit older. We don’t have too many ornaments, but we’re hoping to slowly begin collecting them over the years. Our tree will look a bit empty for now, but stick with us 🙂
It’s been a busy couple of days, and it’s been a bit quiet here on the blog! We have lots, and lots going on, I can hardly keep up. I’ve been working on our Christmas cards, we’ve been packing up orders into the late night, we had my in-laws over so there were a few dangerously full closets. We’ve still got boxes and boxes coming into the shop as the holiday season comes into full swing. Restocking and new things, I’ve been rubbing my hands in anticipation of the TWSBI Vac-mini, which I think will be around the end of December. More and more to come!
You are an excellent photographer.
What a beautiful series. Your story telling carries over to your photography.
You are too kind! We had a lot of fun looking for our tree, and I’m glad you enjoyed the post 🙂
Liz – I LOVE that you have shared this with us. Thank you.
Thanks so much for reading and following along with us! We had a lot of fun at the farm, and I’m so glad you enjoyed the post 🙂
Sweet story. However, the end of your post has me in a muddle. I was set to purchase the TWSBI mini. Should I wait for the vac-mini?
That is a tough decision!! I am very, very, very excited for the Vac-mini, which I think should be set to arrive in the next two weeks. I do have actually two Minis, and I can say that I love them, as well. I feel like the Mini is a great pocket pen, but for some reason, I feel like the Vac-mini might be just a bit cuter!! Philip from TWSBI might laugh at me saying that, though, so I would hate to sway your decision either way 😉
Perhaps I will wait and purchase both!
Spoken like a true pen nut 🙂
I love your slice of life stories!
Thanks so much!! I sometimes wonder who will read these types of posts, since they’re not “informative” or “educational,” but it’s sometimes nice to share a bit more 🙂
Great photos! All of them! Are these taken with a phone?
Thanks so much! I use a camera, an Olympus. It’s great, and actually everything in the shop is taken with it 🙂
Yes, you showed your camera in the instagram featuring what you were carrying in your bag on your field trip! Who made the bag, by the way? Also, Superior Labor? Very nice!
One of the very best things my Dad has done for me and my siblings was to photograph our childhood. I’m of the age now where the details are fading, but having all these photos helps to restore some of our history. Caleb is very lucky to have you making an account of his life!
The bag is from Roots – I love it! I’ve had it for a long time, and Roots has repaired it twice, including relining the inside of the bag. It has served me very well!
I’ll bet Caleb might not be so glad when I pull out some of these photos when his friends come over 😉 But I will treasure them! 🙂
Superb site you have here but I was wondering if you knew of any user discussion forums
that cover the same topics talked about here? I’d really like to be a part of group where I can get advice from other experienced
individuals that share the same interest. If you have any recommendations, please let me
know. Thank you!
Hmmm…I don’t know of any forums for photography offhand, but I’m sure there are many! You could try somewhere on Reddit?
Microscopy Camera,
May I suggest The Camera Collector. I have been a member for about 10 years.
I have tried other photo fora but they were too rigid for me. I have been an amateur photographer for over 70 years and a camera collector for about 11 years.
The CC covers many subjects and there always seem to be members who happily can answer almost any question on photography.
There are never any arguments and other topics may be covered but photography rules.
You might say we are rather unorthodox. It’s more fun that way.
It is a small forum, about 1,500 unusually compatible members, both female and the other sexes.
Membership costs nothing but a member’s verbal participation is always welcome.
Mickey