O Christmas Tree, again

Since it was 12°, they wouldn't let me go on today's tree hunt, so here's a guest post from The Man:

Henry,
Sorry you couldn't come with us little buddy, but it's too cold for your little paws, even if we used some Musher's Secret from Murdoch's.

You remember we brought home a tree yesterday, but in the morning light it looked a little too sad, so it's now firewood. So we went back and bought another tree permit ($5) and headed out in a different direction. We bundled up with snow pants and everything then drove up to Battle Ridge and hiked out into the woods.

After plodding around in foot deep snow for longer than necessary, the Mrs. identified a tree (that I said was too tall but whatever) and I began to hack it down and bring it home.

After several minutes with an axe (longer than necessary) I managed to get the tree down. Today was the first time someone asked me how I liked my brand of axe. They were considering buying one or something and wanted to know if I liked mine. I'm not an axe connoisseur, but it works fine so I gave it a thumbs up.

Well Henry, we did see some other dogs and we found a bacon and pork chop tree, there was a lame squirrel convention, and a elderly mailman that would have been easy to catch, but it really was way too cold back in the woods for you, so I'm glad you got to stay home in front of the wood stove.

I got the tree down, wrestled a rope around the base and dragged it back out to the car, which was mostly uphill. Next year, I need to remember when looking for a tree to start by going uphill, not down. A guy helped me heave it onto the roof of the car, and the Mrs. and I headed home, vintage Boston playing in the background.

Once we got the tree home and up - and it is clearly way too tall but whatever - the whole house smells like pine instead of dogs.

Now Henry, as we discussed, this is not a wee wee tree, nor is the water underneath in a dog bowl, so stay out of that too. Any ornaments we put on the tree should stay on the tree, not be carried around the house in your mouth. Any gifts or ribbon are strictly off limits. Santa will bring you lots of chewies, maybe your own pork chop tree, but you need to be a good boy, especially when we're not home. Also Santa does not bring chewies to dogs that need to get up at 2:00 am to go outside, so you've been warned.

We promise we'll take you out on a hike as soon as it gets above 20°, although it may be a couple of days. You can help decorate the front porch tomorrow, you'll like that. Keep your nose clean and stay out of trouble...