Jeff cut the tree with a bow saw at ground level so other people wouldn't stumble over a stump. When he got it to the truck, he wrapped the end of it in sopping wet towels and covered it with a plastic bag held tightly with a bungee cord so the water wouldn't fall out. When we got it home, he stood it up against the wall in the enclosed porch.
Amber and Djoser came to greet us and caught a whiff of wild forest smells. Their bellies immediately dropped to the floor and their noses unerringly pointed to the source of the smells. Amber slithered a bit closer as his neck stretched to its full length, with his nose working overtime.
Djoser was right behind Amber. His big round headlamps were glowing bright yellow as he belly-crawled toward the source of the fascinating smells. Then, doggone it, my foot sort of scraped a bit on the cement floor!
LOL! Djoser leaped in the air doing a 180 and disappeared like a black
bullet! Amber tried to hide under the little sofa on the porch; but
ran into a box behind the blanket dangling down! At least his head was
hidden. 
Later Jeff got the tree into the tree stand. Since then I often find the cats sitting there guarding it. I was initially worried they would try to climb it. Maybe they are guarding against something wild climbing down from it. It might be a different story once the decorations are on it. Then I will close the door when we are not home. As well as night-time.
I have that wall covered with silvery-laser wrapping paper; Being a porch the walls are not finished. And being colder I think the tree will last longer. Not to mention the door keeping 4-footed explorers out. I expect to have "help" decorating the tree, though. But that will take place this weekend. Watch for updates.
Copyright © Catherine Jo Sadler
December 4, 2002
