Well...that's not quite the truth. No FRESH tree.
Dear Husband seems to be allergic to evergreens. Each year when he puts up the Christmas tree, he's swathed in a zipped hoody sweatshirt, in an effort to keep the sap off his arms and back.
This year we will not be hosting any holiday parties. I don't know how that happened, it just seemed to evolve that way. I've been out to dinner with the Quilting Bee, and the exercise group met for brunch at our exercise leader's home. We'll be spending part of the Christmas weekend with family. It seems that this was the year for everyone to go in different directions.
So, our decorating has been proceeding at a slow pace. The other night I turned to Dear Husband and asked if it was important to him to have a "live" tree. He shrugged his shoulders and tried to weasel out of the question. I took pity on him and said that since we weren't having the family here, we might consider not putting up a fresh tree. After all, we have three fake trees in the front half of the house. That ought to be enough.
We decided that the fake trees were adequate this year. So, in a short conversation we resolved the issue of having to clean up the pine needles from the trees being carried in and out. And no one has to worry about watering the tree. I can water the Norfolk pine and ficus trees instead (which won't have to be moved), and pile presents at the base of their stands. It's possible the Christmas tree skirt might drape around the base of the pine.
I'll miss the wonderful scent of a Frasier fir, but I won't feel guilty watching a beautiful tree die. Merry Christmas, Mother Nature!