Cut Your Own Christmas Tree: A Family Tradition

Every year my family traipses through the fields at Hickory Hill Tree Farm in Street in quest of the perfect Christmas tree.

Since I was a child, finding the family Christmas tree has been an adventure. First of all, it's always difficult to get everyone in the family to agree on which tree will adorn our home for a few weeks. There is always a little debate over the height and fullness when it comes to the final selection. When my brother and I were small, my dad would take on an alternate identity of Bear Man, who talked in a gruff voice and was an outdoors expert with a bear family of his own. It was always a little suspect that dad and Bear Man looked so similar, but the two would deny to the grave that they were one and the same. The adventure almost always took us to Hickory Hill Tree Farm in Street. This year, while Bear Man did not make an appearance, my…

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Green With 'Envi'

I'm Dreaming of a Green Christmas

The holidays are wonderful, but it's also when America's waste production is at its highest. Luckily, there are simple measures you and your family can take to make your Christmas green.

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Hot cocoa, carols, warming your toes by the fire; the holidays conjure up many warm and beautiful memories of family and traditions.  Now that we have a son, Matt and I talk about what traditions we want to establish for our family. This kind of thing is enough to make a corny gal like me go googley-eyed. Oh, the possibilities (cue dreamy holiday music): New PJs on Christmas eve! Baking a new type of cookies every year! It's also important to us that we infuse our values in our traditions, like teaching our son the importance of helping those in need, and (as you might have guessed) keeping the earth in mind as we celebrate. While it truly is the most wonderful time of the year, unfortunately, the …

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