Getting into the holiday spirit when it’s ninety degrees outside can be a challenge here in Texas. As a child I spent my Christmases in Kansas where snow was inevitable and roaring fireplaces were the norm. Bundled up, the cold that cuts through you and the smell of fresh snow – that’s just what reminds me of the holiday season.
This year, despite that fact that we wont be seeing snow, I really wanted to create new holiday traditions with my boyfriend Mike and find joy in the holiday activities that Texas has to offer. Not far from College Station, we spent a Saturday exploring the Evergreen Christmas Tree Farm in Elgin, Texas.
As we turned down a narrow dirt road into the tree farm, cars were lined up with freshly cut Christmas trees that topped the roofs. We parked and walked up to where all the action was taking place – in the background you could see children running around and playing, tree farm workers shaking trees and putting them into the netting to prepare for transport to be decorated. Not long after arriving a cheerful young lady approached us and gave us the entire run down of the tree farm. From selecting the perfect wreath to jumping on the tractor trailer to take a ride to the tree farm it was the whole holiday package.
This experience was much more organized than I had anticipated despite my only reference to cutting fresh Christmas trees, which is Clark Griswold’s famous Christmas tree scene in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Although we did not purchase a tree because we will be traveling to the tropical Florida coast line over the holidays, we enjoy just being out doors and smelling the beautiful pine trees.
There is an age old debate of buying a Christmas tree – do you buy a live tree or a fake one? My family has always had an artificial tree, while beautiful it’s missing that fresh pine smell that fills the home and signifies the beginning of the season. What kind of tree did you have growing up?
Tis the season – xx Jennifer
Photo Credit: Mike Satterfield
Beautiful pictures! I love going to the Christmas Tree farm to take in that Christmas smell, even though we don’t buy one. I grew up with a fake tree so now I continue that tradition with my husband.
Very cool photos–thanks for sharing!