The cutting of the Bradshaw family Christmas tree via Sequoya-cam

Bradshaw family tradition dictates that on the Friday or Saturday immediately following Thanksgiving the family shall pack turkey sandwiches and the dog into several vehicles, trek up into the hills and embark on a great search for the Bradshaw family Christmas tree. Generally tradition dictates that said tree shall be a Douglas fir no shorter than 10 feet, but this rule can be overturned by a majority vote in favor of a different species or stature of tree. In recent years the Christmas tree farm of choice has been Happy Elves Christmas tree farm located high on Page Mill Road. This year due to a shortage of trees at Happy Elves we opted to continue on to even higher ground, and return to Skyline Ranch Christmas tree farm, frequented in years past.

Various and varying degrees of excitement and attitude toward this outing are exhibited by the male members of the Bradshaw clan but two constants have remained steadfast on these excursions:
(1) Mamma B's ability to pull off planning, execution and full participation by all family members currently residing locally or visiting the homestead for the holiday.
(2) Sequoya's near euphoric excitement for this event.

The majority of Sequoya's excitement comes from being allowed to run as free and wild as she pleases during our search for the perfect tree. This year I attached a small digital camera to her collar and set it to take pictures every five seconds. However most all of these pictures consisted of the ground passing by in a streaking blur. These few usable shots may or may not have had a helping human hand holding her and her collar still.


Andy and I gear up for the felling of the tree.


John and Steve save a grasshopper - for later feeding to Bryan and Tauna's pet spider.


The choice of beanie today was total coincidence.