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Sunday 4 December 2011

Birdy Nut Tree

So, here it is. The last story for Sian's Storytelling Sunday 2011. If you hop over to her blog, here, you will find links to many more wonderful stories, not least her own, which I can't wait to read.

My story for December is actually a Christmassy story. I had two very different stories to chose from - one that was actually a story from Hugh's family and the other from our second Christmas with Ben. I decided to go with the Ben story, but I may share the other story in a couple of week's time!

So, it was Christmas 1991 and Ben was 2 and a half and Penny 7 months. Hugh and I decided that we would have a real Christmas tree, not an artificial one, so whilst I stayed at home with Ben, Hugh went off to Leighton Buzzard market (where we were living at the time) to buy a tree.

The one he came back with was lovely, but (you knew there was a but coming didn't you?) it was a bit too big to go where we needed it, on a table in the bay window of the lounge. So, off Hugh went to the back garden with his secetaurs to trim the tree to fit. When he came back in it still wasn't right, so off he went again. This went on for about 20 minutes, by which time the tree had reduced in size so much it really wasn't big enough or balanced enough to have in the lounge! I was not very impressed as it had not been cheap to buy, but it really was beyond saving. However, we decided it could be used still, but out in the garden. We had some strings of bird nuts and so once Ben awoke from his afternoon nap we wrapped him up warmly and sent him into the garden to decorate the tree for the birds - the 'birdy nut tree' as he called it!
  Ben decorating the tree with some 'birdy nuts'

The tree in situ down the garden with the nuts hanging off it.

 We ended up with our first artifical tree that year and have not had a real tree since! Unfortunately I do not have any photos of the tree indoors that year - it is all on video as it was Penny's first Christmas and actually we spend Christmas Eve and Day at my parents, but believe me, it looked beautiful!



19 comments:

Deb @ PaperTurtle said...

:o) Sweet story and adorable photos of your little Ben! We are kind of the opposite this year - had a large artificial tree that's too tall for our new home so we sold it and are getting a real tree this year for a change.

Merry Christmas, Becky!

Sian said...

LOL! That's an absolute classic Becky! I just read it out to the family here because it really stricks a chord. And I love those Christmassy pictures with the bright red coat.

Your unflagging support and your wonderful fund of stories has been much appreciated and enjoyed by us all this year. Thank you Becky and a Merry Christmas to you all!

Maria Ontiveros said...

Oh my gosh - I can just hear someone saying, "let's just even it up a bit." Over and over until there's not much left!
Thanks for the chuckle,
Rinda

Unknown said...

Lovely story, I think a birdy nut tree is a must have, if a little expensive lol :)

Merry Christmas.

Mel said...

Great story, I am a big fan of a real tree as it smells so fragrant and Christmassy!

Jimjams said...

Great story - I'm glad you managed to salvage something from the secateurs!

Merry Christmas ♥

Irene said...

Great story and pictures. It is like when you go to the hairdressers and they say, just a bit more! Poor tree but the birds benefited that year!
Have a very merry Christmas!

Abi said...

what a lovely story. It made me chuckle as I could see what was coming! Have a lovely christmas. xxx

scrappyjacky said...

This made me smile....we've had some 'uneven' trees due to trying to get them to size!!

Cheri said...

At least that raggedy little chopped up tree found a real purpose that Christmas! And little Ben looks like he enjoyed it quite a bit. Merry Christmas!

Melissa said...

Those photos are so precious! I'm glad the tree was used after all that work, even if it wasn't exactly what you had planned.

A very Merry Christmas to you.

Jo said...

What a great story and so nice that the tree wasn't wasted after all. I wonder what your neighbours thought of it though :)

Miriam said...

Too funny, I thought it was going to be like the tree my husband bought one year, It fit the space and was a great shape. The following morning though the decorations were all still on but not a needle was still attached to the tree! I had forgotten that until now. thanks for the memory, great story and Merry Christmas to you and your Ben and all your family.

Alison said...

So glad you got some use from the tree..and your Ben looks SO cute in those pics!
Alison xx

furrypig said...

great pictures, everyone seems to have a tale or two about the tree at Christmas I really enjoyed yours. HAve a happy Christmas xxx

Amy said...

Those pictures are fantastic - at least Ben had a great time with the little tree in the yard!

Merry Christmas to you all!

Susanne said...

What a great story and such cute pictures. Merry Christmas!

Fiona@staring at the sea said...

Oh that is just so funny! What gorgeous photos to illustrate your tale to :o)

Anonymous said...

Oh my - how did I miss this. Got a chuckle out of the repeated pruning of the tree. Great idea to use it for the birds though and Ben looks so Christmasy in his outfit.