So, DH and I have this tradition

[FeralFemale]

We don't have access to a farm, property, etc, where we can just cut down a Christmas tree, so we go to a Christmas tree farm where we can pick and harvest a tree.

We recently moved to Alabama....from northern Minnesota. It took us a while but we finally found a tree farm, here, where we can continue our tradition.

I just went to the farm's website which had pics of people getting their trees. One pic had a woman in *shorts* dragging a tree behind her.

This whole living in the South thing is something to get used to. I just couldn't believe there was someone in shorts getting their tree. There was another pic of a family walking amongst the trees, picking their Christmas tree, and there was NO SNOW on the ground. I've been used to freezing my you know what off while getting our tree (or, to be honest, dh freezing his you know what off, lol. He had been nice enough to let me stay in the car after I picked. Then he sawed)

lolololol....it just seems so weird, no snow at Christmas time, lol.

[Jolly]

It's good and it's bad.

My son is 30 years old. He's never seen enough snow here to build a snowman.

[FeralFemale]

Originally Posted by Jolly

It's good and it's bad.

My son is 30 years old. He's never seen enough snow here to build a snowman.

Speaking as someone who has lived all over the country, far north, far south and in between....he aint missing much.

It's a give and take. You give up snow at Christmas but escape a bitter, cold winter. You gain nice, seasonable winters but get hot as hades summers.

I have to tell you, living 5 winters in negative zero temps (-10 is a good day in the middle of winter because -40 burns and hurts) makes me love 90+ with crazy humidity.

There are plenty of folks up in the far north who would disagree, but they were the ones born and raised in the frozen north. Except dh. He loved it up there, but I think he must have viking blood in him. He can stand the cold.

[hippygirl]

Originally Posted by FeralFemale

lolololol....it just seems so weird, no snow at Christmas time, lol.

You ought to see how folks react on the R-A-R-E occasion when it DOES snow...they act as though someone broke the sun and it ain't EVER gonna be fixed again!

I've lived in east-central AL since I was 11 (except for a few months here and there) and, in that time, we've had less than two feet of snow combined and most of THAT was in 1973 when we got 14".

Snow is a big deal down here!

[FeralFemale]

Originally Posted by hippygirl

You ought to see how folks react on the R-A-R-E occasion when it DOES snow...they act as though someone broke the sun and it ain't EVER gonna be fixed again!

I've lived in east-central AL since I was 11 (except for a few months here and there) and, in that time, we've had less than two feet of snow combined and most of THAT was in 1973 when we got 14".

Snow is a big deal down here!

But what about the blizzard of '93(?)?

Someone recently told me that the main reason people here go crazy when it snows, besides the fact they are not used to it, is because so many were stuck without power and food for up to a week. No one predicted they would get several feet of snow, it is AL after all, so no one was prepared. Now, eveyone goes nuts if there is any call for snow, she said.

Was she telling me an accurate story?

[Sonshine]

I grew up in Illinois, and I miss the snow. That's why my family usually tries to get up in the Smokies at least once in the winter. I don't want my DS growing up without being able to enjoy playing in the snow.

[AngieM2]

There have been a couple of ice events anf a few snow of 2 to 4 inches or so, but nothing close to what you would call a blizzard. There might have been blowing snow to make the "blizzard". Sbout 1966 we had about 18 inches. We made snoe forts and snowmen then.

[lonelytree]

I spent all day getting my snowmachine ready for tomorrow. Severe weather advisory. High winds and 8-16 inches of snow. It is all about what you have to tend to and what you are used to doing. Preparedness is key.

[EDDIE BUCK]

Originally Posted by FeralFemale

But what about the blizzard of '93(?)?

Someone recently told me that the main reason people here go crazy when it snows, besides the fact they are not used to it, is because so many were stuck without power and food for up to a week. No one predicted they would get several feet of snow, it is AL after all, so no one was prepared. Now, eveyone goes nuts if there is any call for snow, she said.

Was she telling me an accurate story?

I think it was around 1988,me and my friend were snowed in at work,and we had worked non stop for two days and without any sleep, because no one else could come in to take our place.

Well,when we went to the front door to look out,it was up to the door knob. It looked like another two days without sleep,unless a helicopter brought workers in.
That looked like a death sentence to us.So job or no job,we left.My friend had a jacked up Dodge Ram 4x4 with humongous tires.We pushed hood deep snow all the way to his sisters house,a whole half mile from work,and we lived thirty miles away.We stayed with his sister and till the next day.Then we went home on Christmas Day.

Bet ya'll didn't know,that sometimes if need be,Old Santa will deliver on Christmas night as well as on Christmas eve.

I like snow once a year to get enough for snow creme,and that's it.Somebody else can have mine.

[MushCreek]

Our tradition for the last 25 years or so (in FL) has been to go to Home Depot, usually in shorts, pick out a tree, and then go to the Steak 'N Shake nearby for dinner. I do miss the snow and cold of my native CT at Christmas time. This year, we are on our rural place in SC, and at times it is almost as cold as CT. We are going to start a new tradition of using a live tree, and then plant it on our property. I wouldn't even mind a few snow flakes!

[unregistered358967]

I moved from MN to TN as a military wife and the funniest thing I saw were the people after it snowed 1 inch. They went nuts. The town just about shut down and the stores were packed with people buying anything and everything. It looked like a bomb went off. I was told the schools shut down because about 5 years earlier a school bus had slid off the road and the kids were badly hurt. Since then, they were wary, which I can understand.

[unregistered358967]

Originally Posted by EDDIE BUCK

I like snow once a year to get enough for snow creme,and that's it.Somebody else can have mine.

What's snow creme? I'm intrigued!

[Snowfan]

I'll take snow and cold any day of the week. To me, there's nothing like a walk in the woods or a swamp or prairie at 10 below. You dress for it, carry emergency supplies, know the warning signs of hypothermia and stay hydrated and enjoy the scenery. No mosquitoes either.

[EDDIE BUCK]

Originally Posted by Less-is-more

What's snow creme? I'm intrigued!

PM sent..

[beowoulf90]

Originally Posted by Less-is-more

I moved from MN to TN as a military wife and the funniest thing I saw were the people after it snowed 1 inch. They went nuts. The town just about shut down and the stores were packed with people buying anything and everything. It looked like a bomb went off. I was told the schools shut down because about 5 years earlier a school bus had slid off the road and the kids were badly hurt. Since then, they were wary, which I can understand.

When we lived in El Paso (stationed at Fort Bliss) back in 1982, they had snow on Christmas day and New Years Eve. The city shut down and the people were freaking out. We , being from PA just chuckled and went about our business as usual.. It was funny. The same basic thing happened when stationed in NC at Fort Bragg from 78 - 81. They would get an inch of snow and all the schools would be shut for a week.. It was funny and still is to watch them freak out.

[EDDIE BUCK]

Originally Posted by beowoulf90

When we lived in El Paso (stationed at Fort Bliss) back in 1982, they had snow on Christmas day and New Years Eve. The city shut down and the people were freaking out. We , being from PA just chuckled and went about our business as usual.. It was funny. The same basic thing happened when stationed in NC at Fort Bragg from 78 - 81. They would get an inch of snow and all the schools would be shut for a week.. It was funny and still is to watch them freak out.

Its gotten worse.Now if the local weather at six pm,even predicts snow for tomorrow,listen at eleven pm,and they will either announce at least a two hour delay,or they will decide to close them for the entire day just in case.

[GunMonkeyIntl]

The wife and I grew up in Cleveland, and moved to WI for several years a d we both miss the snow and cold- at least until we go home for Christmas and have to drive in it.
The part I miss the most was stepping outside first thing in the morning and drawing a lung full of 0 degree air. There is nothing like it, coffee included, to get a day started.

Anyway, on-topic, neither of us had ever had a real tree. Our parents both had the plastic ones, so that is what we bought when we got our first place. Our old tree is getting kind of ratty. We were walking down the driveway a couple weeks ago, taking down the compost, and the topic of getting a new "tree" for our first year in the new place came up. Along one side of our driveway is a couple acres of disused pasture that has become covered up with 4-10' pines of some sort. We had a eureka moment. The first cold day we had, we made coffee, put on gloves, and went and picked and cut down our first real tree.

It no where near as pretty as one from the store, but it suits us perfectly.
I think I will go out before spring and clear out around some of the other ones that we might want to use in the future.

Attachment 19037

[Melissa]

That is the kind of tree I love!

[Ozarks Tom]

Born & raised in MN, thought everybody lived like that. Joined the Army at 17, spent 2 years in GA, then 1 1/2 in VN. Went back to MN, and first winter back moved to Dallas. Everybody doesn't live like that!

[MushCreek]

Originally Posted by Less-is-more

What's snow creme? I'm intrigued!

Just make sure you don't use yellow snow.......