The taxman got an early Christmas present from the Obama administration this week with the approval of a new fee on all fresh Christmas trees.
The Heritage Foundation reported that the United States Department of Agriculture announced Tuesday that it will be imposing a 15 cent fee on the trees in an effort to support a new federal program to “strengthen the position of Christmas trees in the marketplace, and maintain and expand markets for Christmas trees.”
The 15 cent fee, according to the Federal Register for November 8, 2011, will raise about $2 million, which will go to a 12 member “Christmas Tree Promotion Board” that will promote fresh Christmas trees and “grow demand for fresh-cut Christmas trees” over artificial ones — the fresh trees’ direct competitor.
A group of Christmas tree producers and importers comprising the “Christmas Tree Checkoff Task Force” pointed out that their industry has been hurt by the prevalence of artificial trees.
Showing posts with label christmas tree. Show all posts
Showing posts with label christmas tree. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
About the Nursing Home
I forget the days involved, but I was in the nursing home, for a few days, and the day before Christmas Eve, my wife was visiting me, and during the visit an employee of the nursing home came in to take my orders for the following weeks food.
On Christmas Day, the menu called for bologna sandwiches.
I left the next afternoon, spent Christmas Eve and Christmas at home.
On Christmas Day, the menu called for bologna sandwiches.
I left the next afternoon, spent Christmas Eve and Christmas at home.
The Christmas Tree
The mind and memory are wonderful things.
Our Great Granddaughter, Brooklyn Jean Dilts was over today, and we watched her for a few hours. She was in her playpen and being really good, so I went back to our bedroom closet, and brought out a little two foot trimmed and lighted Christmas tree that my daughter had gotten for me three years ago when I was in a nursing home, after my triple bi-pass surgery.
So I brought it out for Brooklyn, cleaned off an area on a buffet we have, plugged it in, Christmas lights, it all worked and the little tree even has a star at the top.
It is now night, the living room is dark, with the exception of that little tree. The mind is a wonderful thing. I am looking at that little tree and 78 years of memories start drifting back.
I vividly remember 319 South Brown Street, probably a ten foot tree, back in the 30's and 40's, laying under that tree and looking up at those decoration, tinsel, lights and other decorations, and having an "exclusive Christmas moment."
Memory is a wonderful thing, that little tree brings back the fragrance of cedar and spruce, all of those warm emotions and memories that go with Christmas. I am thankful that my memory has lingered with me all these years.
I pray I never lose that....
Our Great Granddaughter, Brooklyn Jean Dilts was over today, and we watched her for a few hours. She was in her playpen and being really good, so I went back to our bedroom closet, and brought out a little two foot trimmed and lighted Christmas tree that my daughter had gotten for me three years ago when I was in a nursing home, after my triple bi-pass surgery.
So I brought it out for Brooklyn, cleaned off an area on a buffet we have, plugged it in, Christmas lights, it all worked and the little tree even has a star at the top.
It is now night, the living room is dark, with the exception of that little tree. The mind is a wonderful thing. I am looking at that little tree and 78 years of memories start drifting back.
I vividly remember 319 South Brown Street, probably a ten foot tree, back in the 30's and 40's, laying under that tree and looking up at those decoration, tinsel, lights and other decorations, and having an "exclusive Christmas moment."
Memory is a wonderful thing, that little tree brings back the fragrance of cedar and spruce, all of those warm emotions and memories that go with Christmas. I am thankful that my memory has lingered with me all these years.
I pray I never lose that....
Monday, December 6, 2010
Decorating for the Holidays
The older you get, the easier Christmas decorating gets.
I go to our walk-in closet in the back bedroom (we have two bedrooms, but one is an office and catch-all), take out the little two foot tree, already decorated. It is right where I put it last New Years Day.
Take the little two foot tree and walk to the lviing room.
Place the little two foot tree on the buffet that my Dad made
Plug it in
Decorating is done for another year.
I go to our walk-in closet in the back bedroom (we have two bedrooms, but one is an office and catch-all), take out the little two foot tree, already decorated. It is right where I put it last New Years Day.
Take the little two foot tree and walk to the lviing room.
Place the little two foot tree on the buffet that my Dad made
Plug it in
Decorating is done for another year.
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