MarLa Sink Druzgal

Okay, Kurt is not at ALL like Clark Griswold, but ever since we bought our house with its 23′ great room ceiling, our Christmas Trees have been, well…obnoxious.

To his credit, he is also Frugal Druzgal, so we would never pay for sucha tree. The previous owner of our property thought among his many other failed ideas (but good for him for trying) that a Christmas tree nursery was a good idea. The original deciduous landscape now sports several varieties of fir and pine, and we try to cull the trees he planted way too close together when we take one each year.

This year he picked an 18 foot tall concolor. Concolors, you might remember me telling you from my post about licking a birch tree, are my favorite tree.

The first year we put up a tree in the chalet, we picked out a 16′ concolor. Kurt and I did everything ourselves. We cut it, dragged it (across mud!), cleaned it, put it up and decorated it.

Clark, Audrey’s frozen from the waist down.
That’s all part of the experience, honey.

We learned over the years little things to help handling a tree this large: string the center lights while it’s still on its side; rig a makeshift ornament hanger with an extension pole, duct tape and a hook; angle and lift simultaneously, carefully walking your hands to an upright position.

When Kurt and I do it alone, there’s much swearing (from me), griping (ditto) and crying (also me) but it gets done. In recent years, Kurt has brought in his parents to help. They’re both now 70, but the three of them work well together. Although my upper body is (arguably) stronger than either of them (oh I’m going to get it if either of them finds out I just said that)  they usually delegate me to “eyeball” duties. This means I circle the outside of their trio and tell them the proximity of the tree to the ceiling light, the windows or other objects, while they get the tree lifted up and into our equally obnoxious steel tree stand.

They both have more patience and stamina than I. I pretty much stay the hell out of the way when the three Druzgals are working together on our Christmas tree. They’re all three alphas, and I’m so far down the list of omegas that I think in that group dynamic I also take orders from the dog. But they get the job done beautifully. There is no swearing. You can occasionally cut the tension with, well, a chainsaw if I’m being honest, but it’s a much more peaceful process than when it’s just Kurt and I, and my unfiltered mouth.

I can’t say enough how much I really, truly appreciate my in-laws and all the things they do. It’s been fascinating watching the interaction of Kurt’s family after growing up in mine. There are so many things to admire, not the least of which is the way that they refuse to allow fighting within their family dynamic.  Beautiful.

So the tree’s up, shining in all its holiday hyperbole, and as I look admiringly (or is it sheepishly) up from the road a quarter mile down the hollow, all I can think is…

Thith tree is a thymbol of the thpirit of the Griswold family Chrithmath.

I hope you’ve enjoyed photos of the tree and decorating. The full gallery is below. Click on any pic to expand or just enjoy the little circle thingies. I recommend clicking and getting the full experience in the slideshow. I’ll give you some photos of the house and decorations from this and past years maybe after we get a little snow to pretty up the lights.

Love, Marla

Today’s quotes courtesy of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, 1989

P.S. Speaking of Christmas, still need a Christmas gift for a reader you love? I’m GIVING away two signed, hardcover books by bestselling author Candice Millard, and they will reach you in time for Christmas. Here’s the page with info.

Prepping the great room for the 18′ concolor

Tree on the deck waiting to be brought in through the sliding glass doors

Baxter helping prepare for the tree.

Nail polish removes the sap you get from trees. You’re welcome. 😉

Kurt heads the alpha pack in organizing the giant tree setup.

Kurt and his dad setting up the equally obnoxiously huge steel stand for the tree

Alpha 2 directing Alpha 3 (Alpha 1 has always, is always, will always be my mother-in-law). I want to be just like her when I grow up.

Alphas 1 and 3 (and Baxter) bringing in the bottom half of the tree.

Alpha 2 bringing in the top of the tree. Did I mention that a concolor tree smells like citrus? Yup. You should really check out that licking a birch tree post I did a couple weeks ago.

18 feet is close enough to the top of our 23′ ceiling to be, well…obnoxious

Hacking up a perfectly good fir tree is the best way to ensure plenty of water reaches the tree to avoid too much needle drop.

Baxter was surprisingly never in the way during the setup, even walking around during the setup. Such a great doggie dog.

Baxter decided to do an 11th hour helping job when Kurt laid down under the tree to adjust the stand.

My two best buddies in the whole wiggly wide world. <3

Decorating the tree usually requires a ladder, an extension pole with a hook and a lot of swearing. Oh wait, no. That’s me. Patience. I mean it requires a lot of patience.

Learning to decorate the trunk before putting up the tree is the best thing we ever did.

Alphas 2 and 3 stringing the outer lights.

The extension pole with the duct-taped hook is the perfect way to string lights.

Alpha 2 has this system down pretty well. Faster and faster each time.

Clarkie, I mean Kurt, does a wonderful job.

That’s my Griswold!

Thankfully we have a loft which helps reach the top of the tree more easily. Still need the pole though.

Alphas 1, 2 and 3 running swag and poinsettia lights along the loft railing.

Obnoxiously giant Christmas tree looks so pretty as it gets dark out.

I was having fun taking “artsy fartsy” photos of the tree.

Artsy fartsy take two

take three

Alpha 2 decided we needed a fire to celebrate a successful tree lighting. Purty.

Maybe my favorite shot of the whole adventure.

My much, much, much, much, MUCH better half, Clark Griswold. Dangit. I mean Kurt. Kurt Griswold. I mean Druzgal. Dangit!

The best part of putting up a tree is relaxing in front of it at night.

I love the reflection in the windows and on the ceiling.

Before the needles drop, a little time to enjoy…

And scene. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night. Good night, Clarkie!