By Vladimir Brezina
Ailsa’s travel-themed photo challenge this week is Fragrant.
It’s not even Thanksgiving, but the first Christmas decorations have already made their appearance in NYC store windows, so it’s not too early for this post…
No plastic Christmas trees for us. We always have a real tree. Plastic trees can look pretty, but lack an essential element of Christmas—the fragrance of a real tree, especially when that fragrance is released by the heat of real candles…
More photos from Christmas 2011 are here, and from Christmas 2012 here. Looking forward to Christmas 2013!
Vladimir Brezina (RIP) 
Johna Till Johnson
Wind Against Current 
Going out to a farm to cut a tree is a part of our tradition–I love the way it makes the house smell, but we wouldn’t dare use real candles. But they are so pretty!
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And they make the whole tree shimmer subtly as they heat the air… However, we do keep a fire extinguisher handy, and don’t leave the tree even for a moment ;-)
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Whew! That’s good to know. I would like to see that someday–I have only seen photographs. I hope you will show more of them as the Christmas season grows close.
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We sure will! This year it might be more complicated as we will most likely be away just at Christmas, but we’ll still have a tree, either before or after…
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I love the aroma of freshly cut tree!
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Exactly! :-)
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nothing beats the smell of a fresh christmas tree. lovely!
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Thank you! :-)
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Pine trees definitely get my vote!
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:-)
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Ooh, that looks so warm and cosy. I’m feeling the holiday spirit now! :)
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The holidays are coming up fast! :-)
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Pretty sight! I can almost smell its fragrance, :-) I’ve never had a real tree before. Always wanted one.
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Try it if at all possible! :-)
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One day. :-)
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Oh yay! Christmas shots!
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A little premature but coming soon!
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I get the fragrance thing Vladimir – but I also get stressed about the wasted trees that don’t get recycled. Christmas /thanksgiving and all similar festivals are wonderful times for family but also of commercial excess – perhaps my aim should be to enjoy the gift of Christmas without worrying too much… this much is certain when I smell Christmas this year I will think of Kayaks and Manhattan
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I hear you! Here in NYC, actually, I believe most of the Christmas trees do get recycled, if only because there are so many of them out on the street after the holidays that they have to have special pickups, and it’s simply much easier to feed all the trees into the woodchipper, and then use the chips in the park, that any other means of disposal…
They also get recycled, or rather repurposed, in more creative ways, such as providing, in their thousands, the framework for new sand dunes to replace those wiped out by Hurricane Sandy…
In terms of other holiday commercial excess, NYC is guilty as charged, however.
Merry Christmas! ;-)
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You just went for the very best smell ever – mm-mm. I’m inhaling my screen (and applying lots of imagination, and perhaps a glass of prosecco.) Thank you, Vladimir.
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A glass of prosecco certainly helps, even if you have the real tree right in front of you! ;-)
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A nice nudge into the season to come, Vlad!
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Somebody had to take the plunge! ;-)
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You may have convinced me to get a REAL tree this year. It’s been about 15 years since, and I do miss the fragrance. M
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Go for it!! :-)
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Lovely to see so many traditions continue in your trees. Have used candles, too, and they add so much! Have a lovely season this year!
del
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You too, del—thanks so much! :-)
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What a stunning picture.
My neighbor has huge cypress trees with branches over the borderline, they also make fragrant trees. Will add the real candles this year.
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That should be quite something, on a nice clear winter night :-)
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I smell your tree…I feel the heat…Oh! I’m so looking forward to Christmas…which reminds me….your Thanksgiving supper…when do I pick up my doggie bag?
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Unfortunately, we’ll probably eat everything, including the bones :-)
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The first time I saw real candles on a tree was at the youth hostel in Grindelwald, Switzerland when I worked there for a time in the mid-70’s. It was so beautiful, but yes, care is needed. :-)
janet
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There are a few accidents every year :-)
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Here in NH my yard smells the same each and every day :) Gorgeous tree!
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Lucky you—here in NYC we have to buy the tree from the guys who bring it down from NH in a truck! (Actually, I think it’s Vermont or Canada…)
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LOL We sell them as well in NH but I always look for that first semi loaded down with gorgeous trees for parts south of us. NYC is filled with gorgeous smells of it’s own though I would quickly gain all my weight back :) LOVE taking a spin into the city for REAL PIZZA :)
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Certainly plenty of real pizza shops here, each of which claims to be the first and only REAL pizza shop! :-)
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I know your right! We have some close bye that swear they are NY style but nothing comes close to the pies they make as big as the tables!
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I am so glad you recognize that! ;-)
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LOL I am a trucker who has travelled all of US and Canada and one quick walk into Mexico I know good food when I find it :)
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As a trucker, you probably have to develop that ability pretty quickly to survive! :-)
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Yes and always know where low bridges are so you can go to a cool place and not just truck stops I hardly ate at those mostly Mom and Pop places I have even had to show a bar in Kansas how to make a Sombrero like I drank in New England always had a blast out there. :) Stomach only suffered just once a teeny bit but thankfully the metal taste on my tongue told me to STOP EATTING :) in New Mexico Sausage and gravy now that could have killed me :)
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You should write a guidebook! :-)
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No kidding :) Well last trip I took was 2 years ago so I may have to get out there some day and do it as a BLOG :)
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Go for it! :-)
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:) First I have to become rich in famous :)
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We are all working to that end ;-)
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Truly :)
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there really is something special about the smell of a real tree
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:-) Thanks, Jo!
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I would have to give the candles a miss though…my cat Charlie is likely to think they might be fun to play with.
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Real tree and real candles, I love it! We get a real tree, but I’ve never been brave enough to add the candles.
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Getting the candle holders is the real problem…. they come from Europe, and are hard to get here in the US…
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Yes, I have never seen them sold here in the US, although I have never tried looking online.
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I love this tree with all the real candles, so I’ve shared a link to it with my readers in this post. http://longingtostray.wordpress.com/2013/12/18/christmas-5/
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Thanks so much, Vicky! Hope to see some photos of your candle-lit (and fragrant!) tree this year!! :-)
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