Yep, Chirstmas is over and time to put away all the Christmas decorations. If we lived in a bigger place we would keep them out longer.
A real tree drying in the livingroom is all the more reason to get things cleaned up before the New Years festivities. The tree fit into the place deceptively easily with the bows bond up with twine. The huge umbrella was quite easy to haul in and get into place back a couple weeks ago. ?Now that it is a lot drier getting it back out is another story.
We got about 18" of the base out the front door when it stopped. Luckily I was on the outside with keys in my pocket.
?My wife wondered what was taking me so long to get ready to 'pull' the tree some more. I ran down to the AV and tied a rope off on a front tow hook and the other end around the trees lowest branches.
You know, the AV never even knew the tree was there. That tree popped out and scouted across the patio almost like it was sneezed out. Pine needles flew everywhere. My wife stood there in the door, where the tree had been wedged, and just shook her head. ?I could see that familiar "I actually married that wierd guy. What the heck was I thinking" look in her eyes. Well, it was out of the house and now time to get it into the AV.
We couldn't stuff it back under the covers with the bows extended so it rode in the bed hanging out the various sides. There was no need to tie it down becasue this tree was not going to fall out even if somehow we went up a 60 degree hill. Off down the road we went to the parking lot of a neighborhood grocery store.
We visit the same lot every year because a local Boy Scout Troop set up a tree mulching operation. We pulled up and into the unloading area. Immediately we were swarmed by a pack of waist high young boys. Much more entheusiastic than when we used to drive up in a grand cherokee.
I hopped out and went around back to get the tree out. ?There were already two young guys tugging ?on the top of the tree like a couple of puppies on a sock. They moved but the tree pretty much just bounced. It wasn't too heavy but the branches faced the wrong way to pull it out of the bed. Seems like the bed mat really helped hold the tree from sliding. You have to admire their entheusiasm though. ?I climbed up onto the side storage bins and walk around the edge to the cab end. There I could reach the base.
With the scouts at a safe range, I flipped the tree up and over out of the AV and onto the ground. A couple scouts quickly hauled the tree over to the shredder, while the others checked out the AV. ?I heard a lot of 'that's one of those new Avalanches' and 'Cool truck'.
While my wife made out a donation check for their troop, I showed the boys the storage bins and bumper steps. ?Before long a couple of the parents came over to check it out. So we did a change. My wife and I have this down (I think we could compete for times, even with the seat cover).
Everyone who actually sees an AV being used goes away with a smile and new view of the AV. Yep, We love our AV.
A real tree drying in the livingroom is all the more reason to get things cleaned up before the New Years festivities. The tree fit into the place deceptively easily with the bows bond up with twine. The huge umbrella was quite easy to haul in and get into place back a couple weeks ago. ?Now that it is a lot drier getting it back out is another story.
We got about 18" of the base out the front door when it stopped. Luckily I was on the outside with keys in my pocket.
?My wife wondered what was taking me so long to get ready to 'pull' the tree some more. I ran down to the AV and tied a rope off on a front tow hook and the other end around the trees lowest branches.You know, the AV never even knew the tree was there. That tree popped out and scouted across the patio almost like it was sneezed out. Pine needles flew everywhere. My wife stood there in the door, where the tree had been wedged, and just shook her head. ?I could see that familiar "I actually married that wierd guy. What the heck was I thinking" look in her eyes. Well, it was out of the house and now time to get it into the AV.
We couldn't stuff it back under the covers with the bows extended so it rode in the bed hanging out the various sides. There was no need to tie it down becasue this tree was not going to fall out even if somehow we went up a 60 degree hill. Off down the road we went to the parking lot of a neighborhood grocery store.
We visit the same lot every year because a local Boy Scout Troop set up a tree mulching operation. We pulled up and into the unloading area. Immediately we were swarmed by a pack of waist high young boys. Much more entheusiastic than when we used to drive up in a grand cherokee.
I hopped out and went around back to get the tree out. ?There were already two young guys tugging ?on the top of the tree like a couple of puppies on a sock. They moved but the tree pretty much just bounced. It wasn't too heavy but the branches faced the wrong way to pull it out of the bed. Seems like the bed mat really helped hold the tree from sliding. You have to admire their entheusiasm though. ?I climbed up onto the side storage bins and walk around the edge to the cab end. There I could reach the base.
With the scouts at a safe range, I flipped the tree up and over out of the AV and onto the ground. A couple scouts quickly hauled the tree over to the shredder, while the others checked out the AV. ?I heard a lot of 'that's one of those new Avalanches' and 'Cool truck'.
While my wife made out a donation check for their troop, I showed the boys the storage bins and bumper steps. ?Before long a couple of the parents came over to check it out. So we did a change. My wife and I have this down (I think we could compete for times, even with the seat cover).
Everyone who actually sees an AV being used goes away with a smile and new view of the AV. Yep, We love our AV.
