Friday morning, while many folks were out catching big sells and fighting crowds, I headed to our state’s capital to one of my favorite spots, The Capital Market. During the farmer’s seasons, you can find organically grown veggies, beautiful pumpkins and gourds-- and at this time of year, every Christmas tree, wreathe and garland imaginable. I felt my heart race as I pulled in the parking lot and spied rows and rows of greenery and ribbons.
My favorite spot at the market belongs to a wonderful fella named Marvin Edwards. We all call him Butch and he has the best of the best. In the spring he has beautiful, full Boston ferns. In the winter, he has five to 10 foot fir, spruce and pine trees, and this year, cypress trees waiting to be chosen and taken home to be glistened and twinkled. The cypress trees are great for those with allergies to other pines, Edwards said. So many choices, how is one to choose? Being the traditionalist, the Fraser fir was the winning tree for us.
In addition to all the trees, the wreathes and organic arrangements were wonderful. Two of my dear friends, Ron and Ruby, were helping at the market, Friday. Ron was cutting and netting the trees while Ruby was creating wreathes, pots and garlands that would knock your socks off. Boxwood, arborvitae, red dogwood, money plant and magnolia, just to name a few, were mixed for unique, natural decor. It was hard to resist. I selected a big, simple wreath for the barn and a swag for my front porch as well as the tree. The best part? Ron and Ruby are going to deliver my goods to our door on Monday. How about that?
It was a wonderful way to spend the day and get in the mood for the holiday ahead. In addition to the tree search, I was so blessed by my blog buddies comments and posts the last few days. I am so thankful to have started blogging and have found a new, amazing group of friends who are enriching my life daily. Thank you all for that.
43 comments:
I'll bet that place smelled good! What lovely people - they deliver, haven't heard of that in years!
Happy Sunday!
Looks like a wonderful place to shop! Love those wreaths! :)
We're going to wait a bit, otherwise I'm afraid we'd be dropping needles like crazy. Like the idea of a wreath for the barn. Better make sure it's high enough that the three hyenas can't get to it!
Amy, Fraser Firs are my favorite for a Christmas tree. I may have to think about taking a day trip to the market in the spring! I think it's a feasible trip for me because I could make it there and back home in one day! It sounds wonderful.
Have fun decorating your tree. Bloggin is great.
I think selecting the tree is my favorite part. I can not imagine having a fake tree. The wreath is beautiful also. Good job!
You are so sweet and I feel the same too. Where would I be if you had not started blogging? You have blessed my heart and you share you lovely animals and your life and it makes my days all the brighter. I can't wait to see your trees and your beautiful house lit up with greenery.
Yes, Amy, you too are quite a blessing and I thank you too.
I picked my tree in my son's basement. A smaller fake tree than I have. :) Looks like a wondeful place! Delivery to your door...that is awesome! I agree with your final statement. It's wonderful to have all my blogging buddies too and that includes you!
Love those wreaths too ! might try and copy them and make my own- doubt they will look as good as those but fun trying !
Amy, I just love those arrangements in the pots! I might just have to copy that idea!...:)JP
I can't wait to get the tree up - but first I have to get home and do some prepping!
PS I do believe I could smell the lovely perfume of fir trees from your post!
I love that wreath! Yes, going to a place like that is nostalgic! I'll bet your halls are going to be magical.
Got our real tree up Friday...it's the only required to do item my wife makes me do in hunting season :) lol. My wife loves the holidays and goes all out on the decorations.
You made me catch the Christmas spirit with this post. What lovely wreaths -- an altogether wonderful Christmasy place.--Inger
Those wreaths are really nice! It would be so much fun to go to a market like that - what a great resource.
I can see why you love the natural look-I always try to get some real greenery that the street department has cut and thrown out-I like the real rough stuff-like the would have used on our house in the 1800's-can't wait to see it up!
Thanks for making such a fun and interesting site. I love the pic of Shep and Porter. He's such a cute little piggy!
Hi Amy,
I'm with you. I've GOT to have a real tree. I did get a fake one about 5 years ago so I wouldn't be vacuuming up pine needles in July, etc., but hated it the minute it was up! I'll never do that again. So WHAT if you're finding needles around the house all year round? It just didn't feel right. And of course there was no smell. I ADORE the smell of a real tree when you come home...and a real wreath, too.
Looks like such a great place to shop and such great people.
Looks like a wonderful place, sorry gave up on a real tree years ago, didnt like finding pine needles years later in places they shouldnt be lol my mum did as well when she was alive but she bought this amazing spray that you can spray your fake tree with and it smells like real pine its amazing! Hubby and I went to a country christmas craft show wanted to buy everything lol. Have a wonderful day.
Hey Amy!
We've been going to a local select and cut tree farm for years. We love it! I did a post on last years visit here:
http://wvtreasures.blogspot.com/2009/12/perfect-christmas-tree-get-r-done.html
I can't wait to see your tree all decorated up!
Have a Great Week!
Angela
I so enjoyed this post!! What a wonderful day you had at the very start of the holiday season--This grinch heart of mine even felt it! :-)
oh...what a find! never thought about going up there after alex franklin and maggie whitney shops closed up so i don't go to charleston much anymore. thanks for the heads up! is that ruby the wreath lady? i love that wreath! so creative and her pots! wish we had a real one but the 5 cats would make a mess of it...
Hello Amy!
What a great way to get in the Christmas spirit and I bet it smelled wonderful there. I wish we could have a real tree but with a wood burning stove going all the time I'm afraid the tree wouldn't last long. We bought a pre-lit one which is a lot smaller than the 9' one we had in the past but it's perfect for our cottage so I'm happy. I'm really looking forward to seeing your tree all decorated! I finished ours and took some pictures but the light from the window behind the tree makes it difficult to get a good picture. I'll be posting soon though. Thanks for taking us along on your shopping spree...it was fun! Have a wonderful week.....Maura :)
There is nothing like a live tree for Christmas. The trip to buy one, bringing it in and setting it up, decorating and best of all the smell.
We have put up a real tree since we were married up until two years ago. Now we use an artificial and it's just not the same.
That Market looks like a fabulous place to shop!
do you americans put your trimmings up ( thats yorkshire for christmas decorations)early?
generally we put our up a week or so before christmas!
Amy,
Isn't that one of the most enjoyable ways to start the season? I just love the smell of a real tree. We put up our smaller fake tree this year. We should have put up the larger one, but oh well....maybe next year. Have a great week!
Staci
Amy, you are such a sweet heart! I loved this post and if we weren't so darn remote that's what I would've been doing too on Friday. I look forward to reading my new blog friend's posts daily now too, such a small world and getting smaller!! Have fun decking the farm...that's what I'm busy doing.
Lisa
Hi Amy, Looks like just the place to get a nice tree. The wreaths are lovely also and very festive. I like when I'm picking out my tree and the Christmas music is playing. Hopefully I can get my husband to go this weekend.
oh those pots are to die for - I cant wait to see your wreaths and swags put up!
Your photos should have a scratch and sniff on them - I love the smell of pine greenery and cedar and all of it !!!!! :P
What a great blog. Hope the tree looks perfect when it's decorated.
Love the picture of your pig. My partner has wanted a kunekune for over a year, and I've finally given in. But we're city boys who don't know a thing about pigs!
There's nothing better than fresh greens! Our hay lady gave us a wreath for our door, and it smells so wonderful!!! Happy Holidays!
Oh how I have missed Verde Farm. The one place I can visit dreaming of the life I would love to have. I love my life, but being a city girl doesn't allow the farm animals. Can't wait to see the farm decorated.
~G~
xo
Glad you found just the right tree. And delivery to your door... can't beat that! Sounds like a great day!! I always had a real tree until two years ago > bad experience. We got a tree that apparently had something nested deep within the branches because just about a week after we put it up tiny flying insects started appearing everywhere... We went out and bought a fake tree on discount right after Christmas. Not the same though. I love the smell and look of a real tree. This year we're doing a Christmas village and Nativity along with some other decorations and a very small fiber optic tree.
The Little Pig on your header is ADORABLE!!!
It looks like Ron and Ruby do most beautiful work. Can't wait to see what they made for you. We almost always come home with a Fraser Fir. The smell in the house is such a delight. I can't wait to get ours!
~Andrea~
What an awesome place to shop...I can't wait to put our tree up.
Amy,
I love how you have such a tradition! Our first tree when we were married came out of my in-laws back yard! It was sight to see.
My favorite was always the Frasier Fir, great heavy branches but not "gappy" like a Noble (I'm not a very good light stringer!). One year when the Northeaster was blowing and I was wearing gloves, well we accidently bought a Spruce! Big mistake, you had to wear gloves to put the lights and ornaments on it!
I must admit, we now have a (gasp) fake tree. Growing up we didn't have real trees after I was about four because I am allergic to just about every evergreen there is. By the time I was an adult I thought I'd grown out of it. About ten years ago I realized I was getting sick every December so we went back to artificial. I do miss the smell :( but not the sniffles!
Enjoy your decorating! Can't wait to see everything!
Chris
Hi Amy,
First of all, thanks for visiting my blog. Your farm looks absolutely beautiful. As for my honeybees, in Indiana there isn't much to do with the actual bees in the winter months. It's too cold out. It's a great time to take a class or two on keeping bees and it's also a good time to build hives, frames,etc.
We are building a house right now on some land in the country, and I've been trying to decide what I'll do once I get there. Gardens, animals, no animals, etc. I already have my hives out there. We plan on moving next Spring. I'm looking forward to it. Your farm is an inspiration.
Cindy
amy...that looks like a wonderful place...you don't see many like that anymore!
xo,
annie
Hello Amy..I have enjoyed getting to know a little about you this morning. I saw your name in the comments over at my friend..Chicken Wrangler. If you ever read her post..I am Roo-Roo's mom. lol
What an awesome life you are leading..looking forward to becoming friends.
Cindy from Rick-Rack and Gingham
What great greenery! I've not heard anyone talk about a place like that around here, but maybe I should investigate further. What a treat!
looks like a fun day...great way to get in the spirit...
Beautiful things! That is great that they will deliver to you. I know lots of people go to the Farmers Market in Charleston all the time, but I probably haven't been there but once or twice in my life, and I go to Charleston all the time.
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