I got my Yule trees put up this past weekend, and mostly decorated.

Our colleagues at the Durango Herald had an article last week on the comparative merits of real trees versus fake trees. I went to a fake tree the year my son left for college, because it's really hard for one person to stand up and secure a real tree.

So I got a small fake tree, maybe 30 inches tall plus the base. I got rid of all the old decorations, some of which were quite old with sentimental value, and got new ones the right size for the little tree.

But after three or four years, I was missing a full-size tree, and they had them on sale at Lewis Merc. I bought one. It came in a box big enough to serve as a coffin for a small adult. No doubt an employee got it in the car for me, but I had to get it into the house. I've suppressed that memory.

Then I had to assemble the tree. That was a major pain in the butt, getting the three trunk sections stuck together and the lights with each section plugged together. So I don't take the tree apart once the season is done. With a tow rope around the base, I drag the entire standing tree into my storage room for its 11-month rest. Each year on the second weekend of December I drag it back out to the living room.

That happened Sunday. I carried the little tree out on Saturday and got it mostly decorated. Back when I bought the big tree, I thought about taking the little one to the thrift store, but now it provides cheer in the other downstairs room.

Like the big tree, it came pre-lit with pre-LED lights. Last year I had a package of multi-color LED lights I bought the previous year when they were on sale. I put those on the small tree last year and use those instead of the old lights. Maybe eventually I'll do that with the big tree.

The big tree is a mutant conifer with at least three types of branches all together - long needle, medium, and short needle. It's a tree never seen in nature, but it looks nice.

I have to use a ladder to start the red Mardi Gras bead garland at the top and to put the upper-most ornaments on. The bottom ornaments must be unbreakable, because I have cats. Once it's fully decorated (meaning I can't find any more places to hang ornaments), the tree is glorious. On occasion, I move ornaments around for better effect, or if I spot any remaining open space.

As the light faded Sunday afternoon, I plugged in the lights and was reminded once again of how much I enjoy these trees, the light and cheer they provide through the darkest days of the year.

I hope yours does the same.