These are days to savor, when holiday duties are mostly completed and holiday decorations mostly intact. We put up the tree 16 days ago so it’s still supple and green. In fact, we added new ornaments to it on Sunday.

This tree grew up on a sunny slope in southwestern Virginia. We bought it at a lot only 10 minutes drive from home. It’s been our fallback since the farm where we chopped down our own tree for years became so busy that we had to wait in line to get into the place.

This tree is professionally cut and lovingly tended. (I can say this with confidence after meeting several members of the farm family that raised it.) It was lovingly, if hastily decorated. And now, it’s holding court. I sit in front of it to read, write and watch a movie on my laptop. It’s tree time!