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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2011-12-22, Page 12PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2011. way home,” Dan said.The tree becomes the focus of thecelebration for the Willis family according to Debbie, who said that it really marks the time when they’re celebrating Christmas. “It’s a really special time in our home,” she said. “It stays up for two weeks, maybe three at the most, just until after New Year’s, and it really signifies Christmas.”For the Murdocks, who weresearching for their perfect tree atMathers’ lot, it was a family tradition that they were keeping going by themselves. “Normally we would have our grandkids here,” Myles stated. “But hockey is keeping them away.” Both Myles, a former councillor for Goderich, and his wife Cathy agree that they cherish how the treedelights the senses.“We like the smell and the look ofthe tree,” Cathy said. Myles stated that it’s fun going to find it, whether it’s a full family event or just the two of them. “It’s fun getting out and getting your cheeks rosie,” he said. “It harkens back to all the old Christmas movies and stories you hear.” As for why they travel from Goderich, where there are several lots to pick already-felled trees from, they prefer the fresh-cut. “We could pick something up that has been cut, but then you don’t know how long it’s going to last,” Myles said. “And I’ve known [Mathers] from my teaching days and it’s good to catch up.” As for the lot itself, it now serves as a spawning ground for more than 200 Christmas trees per year according to Mathers. “We started about a dozen years ago and we just did friends, neigh- bours and family,” he said. “Then we started delivering to the local Co-ops and sold trees that way, but we found out that people wanted to cut their own, so we changed to that. For seven years people have been making the trip to just north of Belgrave to find their perfect tree and business has been pretty steady according to Mathers, despite the economic downturn lately. He believes people keep coming because they’re getting more than a tree. “It’s not expensive to come and get your tree here and you get more than just the tree,” he said. “People want a family adventure, they want to make their own choice and they want a fresh tree. They can get that here.” Mathers said that the majority of his customers are repeat customers. “There a lot of familiar faces, 80 to 90 per cent of the people who come here have come in previous years,” he said. The lot really caters to the customer, offering people saws and dragging the trees to their cars if need be. “It’s really whatever they want,” Mathers said. Twenty-five years ago he started the lot as a hobby, he planted about 10,000 trees among his properties and routinely replaces the approximate 200 trees taken peryear, so the lot isn’t suffering at all.“I had useless fields that couldn’tbe farmed,” he said. “So I began planting trees in them.” Mathers trims the trees every year once they reach five years old tokeep them the right shape andgrowing well, but he’s starting to hithis limit. “We’re getting close to the Tree means Christmas for area families I call this one ‘The Rodeo’ Sydney Wightman, front, and Cheyenne Schiestel, behind, would have cut a rug if there were one under them as the duo, joined by several of their classmates, showed off their dance moves during East Wawanosh Public School’s Christmas concert on Dec. 19. (Denny Scott photo) Warm Wishes at Christmas "Specializing in Older Tractor Parts ... ...and looking for tractors in any condition" STEPHEN 519-523-4922 LONDESBOROUGH e-mail: ontariousedtractorparts@gmail.com Steiner Tractor Parts Supplier We hope your holiday is harmonious in every way, and that your home echoes with the sounds of laughter as you celebrate Christmas. Thank you for your local business this past year. 519-523-4244 Blyth 1-800-265-9002 We're overflowing with gratitude for your kind patronage and wish you all a very merry holiday season. Gary, Linda & family Blyth 519-523-9354 Best wishes to all our friends and customers now and in the coming year. Caldwell Construction 406 Mill Street (corner of Dinsley & Mill), Blyth 519-523-4793 • www.spaessentialsblyth.com Kelly Wharton, Carla Pawitch, Julie Luffman, Katie Ansley, Ruth Feeney, Laura Kelly and Emily Lansink wish you a relaxing holiday! To our friends, neighbours, and folks we’ve yet to meet, we’d like to extend our sincere best wishes for a holiday that’s as beautiful as you are, and hope that all your dreams come true during this magical time of year. May Your Dreams Be Merry & Bright We thank you for your valued patronage, and hope you’ll visit us again, soon. 412 Queen Street, Blyth ~ Dana Weber The Village Barber Tues. - Fri. 9 am - 5 pm Sat. 8 am - 1 pm 519-523-9555 Continued on page 19 Continued from page 10