Tuesday, December 15, 2009

The Christmas tree comes home

C loves Christmas trees, even if they feel as prickly as hedgehogs. At least she's learned to wear her ski mittens when she picks them up!

Living close to a Christmas market, one of the many things I look forward to in December is the chance to pick out a tree and walk it home with us. It was freezing Saturday, and I worried about our tree guys' fingers, but they very nicely held up many a tree for us to consider and then wrapped up the chosen one in its wrap for our walk home, all the while smiling and talking away to Caroline about Christmas and Ježíšek* and was she really going to carry the tree all the way home by herself?

*Ježíšek is little baby Jesus, who delivers presents to Czech children on Christmas Eve in lieu of Saint Nick, who has after all visited only a few weeks before.

13 comments:

marja-leena said...

I crave the European Christmas markets! Love the photos. Enjoy the busy days ahead as you prepare for your Christmas.

lizardek said...

Yay for the tree! I love that photo of it going through the net-thingy. :)

Roderick Robinson said...

Inflation has hit the Christmas tree market in Hereford; at one of those organic everybody-must-love-us-cos-we're-pure garden centres the minimum price was £35 (681.98 Czech crowns) and my Scrooge-like tendencies propelled me to the exit. Fortunately a more crassly commercial DIY store was quoting £17. So now the flashing lights are uttering their incomprehensible message to alien communities and I'm wondering how I should spend the eighteen quid I saved. Think of an appropriate (secular, I'm afraid) good cause, PP, and I'll donate it in your name.

deedee said...

My neighbors just got back from the Prague Christmas market. They were enchanted with your town.

Julia said...

I love the markets too and wish I could raise a glass of gluhwein with each of you! Also, the toasted almonds are really really good, if that adds a bit of an incentive to come visit this time next year ;-).

And BB, I don't follow UK charities, but I am a fan of anything to do with literacy. What do you think of the National Literacy Trust?

Roderick Robinson said...

As someone still struggling with that desirable aim, I can't think of a better destination for my cash. The National Literacy Trust it is. Hope they give receipts; nobody ever trusts a Brit's word these days.

christina said...

What fun to carry home your own Christmas tree!

So interesting to read in the link about the Ježíšek tradition - I didn't realize other countries had something similar to the Christkind in Germany.

Roderick Robinson said...

Done. J: This is a good charity and I never would have thought of if you hadn't suggested it.

Thank you very much for your donation of GBP18.00, along with GBP 5.08 in Gift Aid to charity National Literacy Trust.

National Literacy Trust has asked us to pass on the following message to you: "Thank you so much for your donation. You have helped us to change lives through literacy. Your donation reference number is D18483517.

Roderick Robinson said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

A tree net! How awesome! Enjoy decorating that pretty thing.

Julia said...

Thank you so much BB!! My favorite Christmas present yet!

Decorated Christmas tree pictures still to come ;-).

Lynn said...

We froze our fannies off at the tree farm last weekend; it was a blast! Thank goodness for the wood stove and hot cider in the shed...

Delightful photos, as always! Enjoy your tree...

eurolush said...

Great photos! I envy your proximity to a Chrismtas market! How exciting...