Bees, Fleas, and Trees Home

		We are opening the Saturday after Thanksgiving, November 28th, 2009! HOURS Weekends 9 AM to 4:30 PM - weekdays 1 PM to 4:30 PM WE ARE STILL HERE, very much in the tree business. But there are some aspects of farm life that have slowed down. We did not get chickens this year. There was some thought of borrowing some for December but we do have enough work without them. In the spring, I started four hives of bees but have only one currently functioning - a very bad year. And there is no honey - sorry. On a happier note, the trees look very healthy - lots of rain. I did our annual inventory in October and was pleased to find more tall trees than last year - always good. Although the number of Spruce (to 7 ½ ft), White Pine (to 7 ft) and Concolor Fir (to 7 ½ ft) are about the same, there are significantly more Fraser Fir (to 8 ft). Up on the hill the Fir and Spruce are $50 and White Pine $45. The 3-5 ft Half Price trees in our side yard are $25.
	By Saturday Dec 5, our New York trees should be here, set up and ready to go. This year's selection of White/Blue Spruce will run 8-10 ft. Last year's 12-14 ft trees were just too much to handle. Just like last year, the price will be $5/ft. All tree prices include tax, baling, a complimentary tree disposal bag and hot cocoa.
	As you can see, the sale of our place did not, has not happened. The soft real estate market is well known but selling a tree farm presents problems of its own. We are now at what I call Plan B. The farm is still for sale and if it does not sell, we will split off the house on a two acre plot and keep the three acre tree farm. For me, three acres of trees (about what we have now) and no home to maintain is a viable long term option. Unfortunately for Carole, we may be in the tree business for awhile. We will continue to live back and forth between here and our daughters/grandkids in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
	The rest of the family is doing well. Our Aussie grandson Zo got married to Tara in March. We were there! Both of them have been here and helped us in the past. There is a rumor that we may see more of them here in the future - not this year unfortunately. We have our daughters' books in the shop. Catherine's new book, Front and Center, was published this year. It is the third and the last in the Dairy Queen series. Liz's new book, Committed, won't be out until January. It is the sequel to Eat Pray Love. Don't think Catherine and family- Nick (14) and Mimi (11) will be here to help. However both my brother Nick (from DC) and his daughter Sarah (NYC) have signed on and will be very visible on weekends.

1975-2009