When I first moved into my apartment back in 2019, I didn’t have a Christmas tree and only had minimal holiday decorations at best. In need of a backdrop for last minute Christmas card photos I was taking with my boyfriend Troy to send to our family and friends, I scooped up a $15, pre-lit, 3-foot-tall hideous little tree from a gas station one evening while filling my tank in preparation for the work week ahead.
After covering it in decorations that were gifted to me by loved ones to commemorate my new place and new milestones in my life – I fell in love with it. It’s a true “Charlie Brown Tree” if I’ve ever seen one. It’s crooked, unevenly full in certain areas, and kind of droopy at the top. It never fails to make me smile, though!
Fast-forward nearly six Christmases later. More and more pine needles have fallen off, and a section of the built-in lights only just went out days ago after it was decorated for this current holiday season, marking what will likely be it’s final year here before I’ll have to find a new one for next Christmas.
But I wanted to give it a proper send-off before it finds it’s way to the bin after New Years, and so this past Sunday I made my way to the Dzen Tree Farm in South Windsor, Connecticut to find new lights to wrap around it and some new additions to try and spruce it up (if only a little!)
This little farm has something for everyone – plenty of freshly cut trees to pick from, homemade décor to hang up around your house, your porch and on your mantle, plenty of ornaments to browse and customize – and a real Santa’s workshop where the kids can get the perfect holiday photo with Mr. & Mrs. Claus.
… They also have reindeer. REAL reindeer – and they’re HUGE.
I grabbed a few things for my place (and for my mom, of course!) which is always fun – but seeing how excited all the kids visiting were was what truly made it such a fun afternoon. They were having such a blast, and their joy was infectious.
I’m thinking that maybe next year I’ll finally consider getting a real tree for my place – maybe even a big one – but we’ll see! I feel like I say that around this time every year, but still haven’t been able to commit to it. I just keep thinking of the clean-up when the season is over!
xo
Coffee & Chiffon 