Friday

The first Friday of December is nearly always the day to buy a Christmas tree. Not for the farmhouse, but for my daughter's home.

Unfortunately, Snowdrop's parents have been working too hard and resting too little and so whatever bug torpedoed through their household hit my daughter especially hard. She's out sick.

The tree shopping could not be postponed -- it's an annual event sponsored by the Forestry Department of our university and the good trees last today and then puff! -- they're gone (the price is fantastic and the quality -- beyond good). But it became clear that Snowdrop would have to be my sole little elf helper in this adventure.

Breakfast first, of course. With a wild looking ahah!






At noon, I head for Snowdrop's school and I tell her that today we'll be going straight to the great big barn to pick out a tree for her home.

Most of the photos are from that brief but wonderous trip.






To say that she was excited to be in a big barn, looking at tall pines is an understatement.






It's a great place for her to romp and romp she does!






(We do also pick a tree. She's okay with this one.)






We play hide and seek...






... and she is so thrilled with life that she goes straight into her jumping high routine...






... to the delight of the students there (who then, of course, want to take a picture. Sure, why not!)






(Though I like this one best!)






A child's joy...

Gaga, big barn! Trees! Look, gaga!






My sick daughter feels sad at missing this brief little escapade. I tell her -- to Snowdrop, the joy in life is ever present.






The loading onto the car -- that's delightful too. She knows that the tree will be coming home with her later this evening.






After, I make a detour to the university Union. I need to get some bus tickets for a trip to Chicago (I get them at a discount there). I promise her a cookie for the inconvenience of having to get in and out of the car yet again, but I hadn't quite realized the Union is still pretty much a sorry state of reconstruction (how long??). The cookies are few and sad looking. But Snowdrop is easily diverted to a bagel and she spends a lovely set of minutes playing with the iconic (miniature) Union chairs. Arranging small things is a real talent of hers!






At the farmette, I suggest we give the remains of her bagel to the cheepers. It's getting mighty chilly now and I take out a cap, which she accepts readily enough.






A final few photos -- from the early evening, as Snowdrop plays her usual games with us...











(When ahah returns to his computer, she is insistent: ahah do yoga! ahah do sun salutations!)





So there is a tree (delivered, along with Snowdrop to her home tonight). There is a little girl with a love of its pine branches. There is December. I'd say we're all set!