DeCell's Christmas Tree Farm

De Cell's is just down the road from us. Nancy and I went there this afternoon and cut and purchased our Christmas tree. We do this every year.

Greg DeCell has been the farmer since we arrived in Weston. His father farmed before him but is now retired living over on the other side of Weston. Greg's probably just 50, married with two grown sons, neither work the farm as far as I know. Greg was a cross country skier when he was younger and is still a naturalist-environmentalist type. His wife works as the Town Clerk here in Weston. Greg splits his year between working the tree farm, working as a caretaker for Don Bardge (A neighbor who has a 50 acre or so horse farm a mile or so up Old Tavern Road and by working at Stratton Mtn, the ski area, managing and overseeing their Nordic activities, primarily cross country skiing. He can be difficult. When we first moved here I asked him if we could snow shoe on his property fully expecting an automatic yes. Instead I got, "I'd rather you don't." He was afraid I'd step on his special trees and he didn't want others to get the idea that visitors were welcome. I shouldn't have been upset - I later learned that he had had run ins with the Viking Ski Center and the damage that some of their skiers had and continued to inflict on his land more than justified his position. You see he owns most of Cobble Hill which is a lot.

In any event - Nancy and I picked out the dumbest smallest ugliest tree this year. Maybe it was the fact that it was warm instead of cold, snow less and much easier to get around this year and to select. God whatever it was we really blew it. We got it home okay and set it up in the stand as planned on the porch. When we stepped away and looked at what we had we were horrified. I said lights would help. Believe me they didn't. Maybe more. Nancy will make a light run to Manchester tomorrow.

It's not Greg's fault. His trees are in clear view and you can cut anyone you want for the same price. It just goes to show what can happen when customers are left to their own devices. Greg would never have sold this tree on his own.

At least we have given it a home for this year. I'm sure someone out there is watching and will give us points.