The Christmas tree at the farm was cut and placed in the tree stand November 27, 2004 and IT'S ALIVE IN MY LIVING ROOM! Notice the two glistening drops of sap lower right!

Brown buds all over the tree increase in length and thickness. Lo! new, pale green, baby needles push the fragile brown bud-coverings towards the ceiling. The pale green needles throughout the tree grow more robust and some of the bud-coverings burst off leaving pure, light green needle segments. I'ts ALIVE!

My emotion was excitement, lots of excitement, watching all the buds grow into miniature branches. It happened a couple of years ago on a similar tree and we were shocked--didn't know such a thing could happen. This year it wasn't shock but excitement.