When I was a kid, we always had a real tree. As we got older and there were fewer kids at home, my dad contemplated getting a fake tree. I begged him not to. I told him that I would keep it watered and would vacuum the needles. Since then, until I moved out, the tree was my responsibility. No regrets.
The job of keeping the tree watered always fell to me for over 30 years until the day we brought in a fresh tree and were setting it up in the tree stand. I was holding it straight while hubby tightened the bolts when I realized hundreds of tiny baby spiders scurrying over my gloved hands. Out it went immediately. We’ve had an artificial tree ever since. Now it’s a running joke over whose turn it is to water the tree.
My husband pretty much got our live tree up by himself again this year. However, I think it was harder for him as he didn’t trim the off lower branches. It looked fine but I had to get down on my stomach to peer into the tree saucer to see how much water was in there each day. This summer, I’m buying a watering can with a long narrow spot and a small opening at the top so I can water the tree, not the carpet.
As life progressed, I went from cutting down a live tree for Christmas to buying potted trees still growing, which could be replanted outdoors, after the holidays.
Nowadays, we have a large artificial tree but we still purchase one of the small live trees in a pot for a centerpiece on our dining room table. It will be planted at our little casa de campo after the holidays, joining two others that are thriving there.
…and this would be a good time to mention my dad attaching a 4’ piece of garden hose from the pan, up the trunk and stuck the top of it out of the back and put a funnel on it. Just had to be careful with the amount of water.
I refused to ever get a real tree again after a camping experience in New Mexico. My husband and teen kids had been gone all day, fishing up a stream. It was wet and raining. Toward the end of the day, I gathered wood for a fire and built my sticks into an “A-frame.” But what to do for kindling? I found some dry pine needles trapped high in the pine bows near the tree trunks. Would it light? I lit a match and the whole thing went up like gasoline, licking the wet wood and eventually setting the heavier sticks on fire as well. And I sat there and swore to myself that we would never have a real Christmas tree again. Please understand, dry pine trees burn like gasoline!
Whether she is able to or not, I don’t see any reason that a pregnant lady should have to water the tree when there are three other family members available. In their defense, maybe she just hadn’t asked for their help until right now. My mom had 9 of us kids, so was sometimes pregnant during the holidays. But she usually didn’t water the tree anyway. She would ask one of us older kids, and we were happy to oblige. It did have to be checked several times a day due to the dogs liking it for a water dish for some reason, in spite of having their own nice big one always available!
Templo S.U.D. over 4 years ago
The lazy bums John, Michael, and Elizabeth are (at least El said — in Canada’s second official language — “s’il vous plaît”).
howtheduck over 4 years ago
I guess this explains why there is grass growing in the carpet under Elly’s feet.
Watcher over 4 years ago
Ellie, if you can bend over and touch the floor you can just get on your knees and do it.
jpayne4040 over 4 years ago
You can do it! We have faith in you!
asrialfeeple over 4 years ago
She’s quite nimble during her pregnancy.
Wren Fahel over 4 years ago
When I was a kid, we always had a real tree. As we got older and there were fewer kids at home, my dad contemplated getting a fake tree. I begged him not to. I told him that I would keep it watered and would vacuum the needles. Since then, until I moved out, the tree was my responsibility. No regrets.
loridobson Premium Member over 4 years ago
The job of keeping the tree watered always fell to me for over 30 years until the day we brought in a fresh tree and were setting it up in the tree stand. I was holding it straight while hubby tightened the bolts when I realized hundreds of tiny baby spiders scurrying over my gloved hands. Out it went immediately. We’ve had an artificial tree ever since. Now it’s a running joke over whose turn it is to water the tree.
vaughnrl2003 Premium Member over 4 years ago
Independence of action is hard when your dependent puts you out of action.
Gerard:D over 4 years ago
Lynn’s Comments:
Even though I wasn’t pregnant while writing and drawing these cartoons, I felt Elly’s pain. Some experiences you remember in great detail.
Grutzi over 4 years ago
My husband pretty much got our live tree up by himself again this year. However, I think it was harder for him as he didn’t trim the off lower branches. It looked fine but I had to get down on my stomach to peer into the tree saucer to see how much water was in there each day. This summer, I’m buying a watering can with a long narrow spot and a small opening at the top so I can water the tree, not the carpet.
chain gang charlie over 4 years ago
My sympathies Ladies….Always grateful I was born a male….
summerdog over 4 years ago
I was quite nimble during my pregnancies, but I was a lot younger than Elly is during this, her last one.
Linguist over 4 years ago
As life progressed, I went from cutting down a live tree for Christmas to buying potted trees still growing, which could be replanted outdoors, after the holidays.
Nowadays, we have a large artificial tree but we still purchase one of the small live trees in a pot for a centerpiece on our dining room table. It will be planted at our little casa de campo after the holidays, joining two others that are thriving there.
Plods with ...™ over 4 years ago
…and this would be a good time to mention my dad attaching a 4’ piece of garden hose from the pan, up the trunk and stuck the top of it out of the back and put a funnel on it. Just had to be careful with the amount of water.
WilliamPennat over 4 years ago
Poor tree. End cruelty to trees!…
BluNova over 4 years ago
One of many reasons to have an artificial tree!
Seed_drill over 4 years ago
After we had a tree that watered the hardwood floor we switched to artificial. Ok, it was the stand, not the tree, but the damage was the same.
ariel777000 over 4 years ago
I refused to ever get a real tree again after a camping experience in New Mexico. My husband and teen kids had been gone all day, fishing up a stream. It was wet and raining. Toward the end of the day, I gathered wood for a fire and built my sticks into an “A-frame.” But what to do for kindling? I found some dry pine needles trapped high in the pine bows near the tree trunks. Would it light? I lit a match and the whole thing went up like gasoline, licking the wet wood and eventually setting the heavier sticks on fire as well. And I sat there and swore to myself that we would never have a real Christmas tree again. Please understand, dry pine trees burn like gasoline!
sperry532 over 4 years ago
Appropriate Seasons Greeting to Everyone!
finnygirl Premium Member over 4 years ago
Whether she is able to or not, I don’t see any reason that a pregnant lady should have to water the tree when there are three other family members available. In their defense, maybe she just hadn’t asked for their help until right now. My mom had 9 of us kids, so was sometimes pregnant during the holidays. But she usually didn’t water the tree anyway. She would ask one of us older kids, and we were happy to oblige. It did have to be checked several times a day due to the dogs liking it for a water dish for some reason, in spite of having their own nice big one always available!
lindz.coop Premium Member over 4 years ago
I agree she probably should enlist one of the kids, but she is only 5 months pregnant, so I don’t think she would be quite that huge.