Lily does not realize this is not for sleeping.

Today I got kind of panicky when I couldn't find Lily. But Alan knew where she was, fast asleep in the broadcast spreader:

Good thing I had the camera. After all it is pretty much inevitable that wherever Lily is, she will be cute about it.

Christmas trees is dangerous business.

In case you wondering, and I'm sure you were, this is how the trees get to us from Smokey Holler Tree Farm, which is in Laurel Springs, NC.

First, they arrive on a gigantic truck, which does its level best to gum up traffic on High Rock Road:

But it's not really a big deal because High Road is not exactly the most congested place in the world.

Then the most adventurous folks in the unloading team hoist themselves onto the truck and climb up to the top of the pile of trees. In this case, those people include my mother. Evidence:

Then people who carry them to where they will live until they are sold (hey Randy!):

Since you asked: my job is to count the trees. This year I was off by ten!

Sometimes we use the tractor, which is terrifying for both observers and the tree itself:

Sometimes we employ tiny children.

THE END.

A goose helps with the laundry.

Once upon a time I used a fake goose to prop up the center of our clothesline. This is how it worked out:

If this picture makes you miss warm weather and green leaves, then maybe you should come buy a Christmas tree to cheer you up.

By the way, the goose's name is Nancy and she is proud to be a part of our new marketing campaign, "Christmas Trees Make the Cold Go Away."

Elephant encourages you to come buy a Christmas tree.

As of yesterday, the lot is officially open for business!

Elephant is ready for Christmas. Are you?

Christmas Tree Caroling No. 2

Grayson has picked today's carol, Paul McCartney's "Wonderful Christmastime":

Christmas Tree Caroling No. 1

We kick off our Caroling Countdown to Christmas Trees with one of Detgen's favorites (which will also probably be the best thing you've seen all day):

Preparing for a merry little Christmas.

Christmas tree sales start Friday, November 26th!

Ruby says, "Hi."

Chicken at church.

Grayson took this picture of Fraulein paying a visit--or maybe praying--to our St. Francis statue:

Meet Gandalf.

Here is a picture of our cat Gandalf, who is cross-eyed and best friends with Precious:

Dog bed.

Meet Pigeon.

Although she's been featured in previous entries, I don't believe Pigeon has been formally introduced. But no longer will she languish in obscurity.

Lily continues to revel in the spotlight.

Meet Precious.

Precious has exactly one facial expression, and this is it:

A charming animal photograph.

Obviously this is a pretty unremarkable photo, but look at Baxter's tongue:

More pictures of Lily.

Lily, a stalker Halloween cat:

Despite being offered water in more size-appropriate containers, Lily continues to risk drowning:

Pictures taken by Randy's magic camera.

Randy has a camera with a motion detector that he sets up in the woods so that it will take pictures of animals for him. Normally all we get are landscapes, but this time we actually got some DEER:

Awesome.

Lily the rescue cat.

Lily, like Barbie, is always eager to try new careers. Here she perches atop Randy's rescue equipment and imagines the life of an Emergency Response Team member.