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The Rural Voice, 2001-12, Page 6AAA AAAAAAAAAAA * Warren D. Moore A Forest Specialist A specializing in: ♦ * Woodlot Managem * * Timber Marking and Ma A* Tree Pruning, Tree Re * • Tree Planting Service A * Provincial Tree Marker ABlyth Certified Managed 523-9855` Forest Plan Approver j A ♦ .l A ♦ A 1 Nave a Woncleilui \\ Pynµ El ma Steel °// and Equipment Ltd. ("Your Great Steel Place * ✓ Large selection of inventory • ✓ Scheduled delivery to central southwestern Ontario ✓ Experienced, professional service. 2 CONVENIENT LOCATIONS ° Listowel tA1 • 515 Tremaine Ave. S. ° 1-800-669-2931 OR 519-291-1388 FAX 519-291-1102 Owen Sound 1399 2nd Ave. East 1-800-567-7412 OR 519-371-8111 FAX 519-371-6011 FOR YOUR STEEL REQUIREMENTS 2 THE RURAL VOICE Carol Riemer Finding the perfect tree Christmas is a time that evokes all kinds of memories. A wreath on the door, a flickering fire, snowflakes melting on the windowpane and the Christmas tree, its lights aglow, alongside cherished decorations of years gone by. A long- standing tradition, the Christmas tree will be a welcome guest in many homes this season. Unable to resist the romance of cutting our own tree, we're anxious to set out, while the weather looks promising, and the kids are still eager. Amid a flurry of toques, mitts and scarves, my husband takes charge of the saw, while my daughter and son ensure a ready supply of hot chocolate and homemade cookies. Filled with enthusiasm, we quickly hook up the trailer, and the four of us pile into the car. My husband knowingly nods, as I give him directions to the tree farm, but I have the uneasy feeling that he doesn't quite hear me. Another chorus of "Jingle Bells," a few more miles with the heater working overtime, and my suspicions are confirmed. We're lost. Diplomatically, I suggest we turn back. There's no reply. Stubbornly refusing to admit defeat, my husband is determined to find his way. I know we should stop and ask directions, but by now, his resolve has deepened. For better or worse I resign myself to a scenic, more roundabout route. Eventually, we reach our destination. After we park the car, a helpful young man points us toward a waiting wagon. Once we're aboard, a team of Clydesdales pulls us steadily toward a dense stand of spruce. A deep breath of frosty winter air, and we're off to search for The Perfect Tree. My husband, dedicated spruce man that he is, can't understand my loyalty to the Scots pine. Typically. our children are equally divided. so there is only one answer. Branching out. my daughter and I search for what seems to be miles, in the hope of finding a perfectly straight Scots pine. She inspects the bottom, while I check the top. Meeting in the middle, we can never quite reach a consensus on where the trunk begins and ends. Meanwhile, my husband and son have mysteriously disappeared. We discover them eyeing a gigantic spruce of incredible proportions. Tall, conical and relatively straight, it appears to be exactly what we have been searching for. The decision is unanimous. Out comes the saw, a glint of steel flashes in the bright sunlight, and the deed, as they say, is done. Waiting for the wagon to return, we stamp our feet to keep warm. With the tree tied and bundled, it's time to head home. But the fun is far from over. Coaxing the tree into the house isn't much of a problem, but trying to set it up proves to be a greater challenge. With the patience of a saint and subtlety of a surgeon, my husband cuts a little from the bottom and then, a little from the top. With one last slice, the cantankerous conifer finally succumbs, as a bout of radical surgery gives new meaning to trimming the tree. With a trunk not as straight as we thought, and its height much more than we bargained for, this special spruce comes wrapped as a gift of treasured memories. Once decorated in a shower of lights and sparkling ornaments, it will take on a magical transformation. Next year, we'll try to remember the important things about picking a tree. It doesn't matter how tall it is, or what shape it takes. In the end, The Perfect Tree is the one the family brings home together.0 Carol Riemer is a freelance writer who lives with her husband and two children near Grand Valley, Ontario.