Catherine Nicolai

She crossed the room and looked out another window and saw a big truck with a tall Norway spruce in its bed, trundling down the drive, beeping its horn. The Tree Farm with just a week till Christmas, there hadn't been many customers coming down the long gravel two-track to the farm today.

She crossed the room and looked out another window and saw a big truck with a tall Norway spruce in its bed, trundling down the drive, beeping its horn. The Tree Farm with just a week till Christmas, there hadn't been many customers coming down the long gravel two-track to the farm today.

Most folks had their tree already, and while we might get a few stragglers here and there, some Kringle-come-latelys, as we called them, We were wrapping up for the year, in little ways, all over the farm.

Most folks had their tree already, and while we might get a few stragglers here and there, some Kringle-come-latelys, as we called them, We were wrapping up for the year, in little ways, all over the farm.

Most folks had their tree already, and while we might get a few stragglers here and there, some Kringle-come-latelys, as we called them, We were wrapping up for the year, in little ways, all over the farm.

Two of our three tractors that pulled trailers lined with hay bales, usually full of customers out into the fields to find their trees, were now settled into the barn, swept clean, and tucked in for the rest of the winter. The last box of candy canes had been opened and hung on the branches of the giant tree in the shop, and we didn't anticipate needing any more this season.

Two of our three tractors that pulled trailers lined with hay bales, usually full of customers out into the fields to find their trees, were now settled into the barn, swept clean, and tucked in for the rest of the winter. The last box of candy canes had been opened and hung on the branches of the giant tree in the shop, and we didn't anticipate needing any more this season.

Two of our three tractors that pulled trailers lined with hay bales, usually full of customers out into the fields to find their trees, were now settled into the barn, swept clean, and tucked in for the rest of the winter. The last box of candy canes had been opened and hung on the branches of the giant tree in the shop, and we didn't anticipate needing any more this season.

A few of our workers had taken their pay and their stocking from the long mantel, full of tips and treats. and wished us all a happy holiday and gotten on the road, headed home. There were just a few of us left as the sun came closer to setting and the night air turned cold. It had been a sunny day, and in the bright light, busy with loading trees into pickup trucks, or onto car roofs.

A few of our workers had taken their pay and their stocking from the long mantel, full of tips and treats. and wished us all a happy holiday and gotten on the road, headed home. There were just a few of us left as the sun came closer to setting and the night air turned cold. It had been a sunny day, and in the bright light, busy with loading trees into pickup trucks, or onto car roofs.

A few of our workers had taken their pay and their stocking from the long mantel, full of tips and treats. and wished us all a happy holiday and gotten on the road, headed home. There were just a few of us left as the sun came closer to setting and the night air turned cold. It had been a sunny day, and in the bright light, busy with loading trees into pickup trucks, or onto car roofs.

I'd shed my coat, warmed as much by my efforts as by the merry mood around me. But now I pulled it back on and zipped it up to my nose. I found my hat in the pocket and drew it firmly over my ears. I wasn't ready to go home yet. The farm is really beautiful at night. Along the drive are strings of lights, draped on poles wrapped to look like candy canes.

I'd shed my coat, warmed as much by my efforts as by the merry mood around me. But now I pulled it back on and zipped it up to my nose. I found my hat in the pocket and drew it firmly over my ears. I wasn't ready to go home yet. The farm is really beautiful at night. Along the drive are strings of lights, draped on poles wrapped to look like candy canes.

I'd shed my coat, warmed as much by my efforts as by the merry mood around me. But now I pulled it back on and zipped it up to my nose. I found my hat in the pocket and drew it firmly over my ears. I wasn't ready to go home yet. The farm is really beautiful at night. Along the drive are strings of lights, draped on poles wrapped to look like candy canes.

And near the barn and shop, everything is lit. Candles in every window, wreaths on every door. We have warming stations, heaters with their welcoming glow. All of it really cheerful and lovely, but my favorite spot was out in the open fields, under the stars, where the moonlight reflected on the snow. And the only sound was of the crunch of your boots. on your own breath.

And near the barn and shop, everything is lit. Candles in every window, wreaths on every door. We have warming stations, heaters with their welcoming glow. All of it really cheerful and lovely, but my favorite spot was out in the open fields, under the stars, where the moonlight reflected on the snow. And the only sound was of the crunch of your boots. on your own breath.

And near the barn and shop, everything is lit. Candles in every window, wreaths on every door. We have warming stations, heaters with their welcoming glow. All of it really cheerful and lovely, but my favorite spot was out in the open fields, under the stars, where the moonlight reflected on the snow. And the only sound was of the crunch of your boots. on your own breath.

It was my job each night to make one last round with the tractor through the fields, to make sure all of the customers had been collected, no villager left behind. And now that I was better bundled, I set out. We had a half dozen fields that were ready for cutting, and many, many more planted for the future.

It was my job each night to make one last round with the tractor through the fields, to make sure all of the customers had been collected, no villager left behind. And now that I was better bundled, I set out. We had a half dozen fields that were ready for cutting, and many, many more planted for the future.

It was my job each night to make one last round with the tractor through the fields, to make sure all of the customers had been collected, no villager left behind. And now that I was better bundled, I set out. We had a half dozen fields that were ready for cutting, and many, many more planted for the future.