Aluminum Tree

Aluminum Tree

Aluminum Christmas Trees and a Stroll Down Memory Lane!

Now that I'm officially a senior citizen, I find myself strolling down memory lane more than ever before.  I'm also more aware of just how much our world has changed since we were kids dashing to the first McDonalds in our town.  You could buy a hamburger for just 15 cents!  Like those burgers, many of the things we enjoyed years ago are no longer with us.

In high school, my friends and I would anxiously await Friday nights. Four of us boys, with our crew cuts and Jimmy Smith's duck tail, would pile into Jimmy's 1957 Chevrolet and go to the local drive-in movie. 
 
We would park 3 rows to the right and 4 to the back of the concession stand so we could see any unattached girls as they went to get popcorn and a Coke.  We thought we were slick back then as we would race to the concession stand to try and meet girls that we thought were worthy of our attention.
 
Sometimes during my late teen years, Aluminum Christmas Trees became a trend that my parents thought would solve the problem of dry evergreen needles on the floor.  Until that time we had always cut our Christmas tree from the woods that was only a mile from our house. 

My first year in college, I remember returning home for the Christmas holiday, horrified to see a glistening gigantic shredded roll of aluminum foil shaped into a tree, standing in a corner of the living room.  I was shocked when I saw it occupying the space that had been dedicated to a freshly cut aromatic cedar trees.
 
 Thankfully that fad came and went in just a couple of years, then we moved on to fake green trees with little bottles of aerosol spray that was guaranteed to smell like a fresh cut cedar or spruce tree.
Whatever happened to television test patterns that would suddenly appear on the screen at the stroke of midnight?  As strange as it seems, there was something comforting to us insomniacs about staring at that immovable page emanating from the picture tube as if it held the secret to the universe!  It's quite possible it did, but whatever its message, it went over my head.

There were some things that were so far ahead of their time, that it seems incomprehensible that they're gone.  In an era in which people really loved their cars, the Studebaker was in a class of its own.
 
While my friends proclaimed the delight of owning their '57 Chevys and Fords, my 1953 Studebaker Starliner was my pride and joy!  That car looked like it was going fast even when it was standing still!  Besides being a great automobile, it set you apart from the rest of the crowd.  Not everyone owned a Studebaker!

Do you remember the 5 cent Coca-Cola?  When I was a kid in the summertime, I'd walk to the small grocery store about a mile from the house, pulling my red Radio Flyer behind me.  I would buy a case of Cokes and a half block of ice. 

I had extended the sides of the wagon 6 inches taller so I could chip up the ice and pour it in the wagon; then I would lay the bottles of Coke on the bed of ice.  I walked another mile to a housing development being built close to town.  There, in the Alabama heat I would sell that case of Coca-Colas to weary carpenters, masons and painters for 15 cents each, or two for a quarter.  I sold out every day.

Many of us thought that 25 cents a gallon gasoline was far too much to spend for fuel. There's a country song somewhere which was written by someone who was obviously a philosophical genius.  The line that I'll always remember is "When gas was 25 cents a gallon, love was only 50 cents away."

Whatever happened to flashbulbs, Timmy and Lassie, Bryllcreme, The Ozzie and Harriet Show and metal ice cube trays that either made the ice break free or cause the lever to bend.  Everyone remembers the Burma Shave signs on the side of a two-lane road.  Where have all these things gone?  Where ever they are, I miss them!

About the Author

Bob Alexander is well experienced in outdoor cooking, fishing and leisure living. Bob is also the author and owner of this article. Visit his sites at:
http://www.redfishbob.com
http://www.bluemarlinbob.com

Cat/christmas tree connundrum .. with a twist -- they just like the water!?

They could care less about the tree ... the ornaments are fun for them so we keep the breakable ones near the top. What they really like is the water. We have tried assorted deterrents -- aluminum foil around the stand, tape with the sticky side up, etc. Is there something to put in the water that the cats will hate, but won't make them (or the tree) sick?

If you're trying to scold at your kitten for climbing/attacking your Christmas Tree, these are some possible ways to say (Dont touch the tree):

A) Put a barrier of some sort around your Christmass Tree to prevent your cat from making contact

B) I'm sure there are some kinds of materials they sell that repel cats (Liquids?) that you can use (NOT ON YOUR CAT). You could put it on your Christmas Tree or around it to prevent your cat from coming near.

C) (IF) You'r Christmas Tree is in a room that you dont use very much (that has a door) just close the door when no ones using it or when someones in it.

D) Keep watch and everytime you see your cat going near the Christmas Tree, carry him/her away.

E) Occupy your cat, you could get him/her a scratching post, a self automated toy, a remote controlled mouse (Yes they do sell those, I know for a fact ((I have one)) ).

F) This isnt exactly my best choice...Shut her up in a room with marbles and toys that she could play with, and someone to play with (I wouldnt though)

G) Get/Make something that would grab your cat's attention from the tree (You could take some boxes and make a play house or a tunnel of some sort, or buy a post or play pen)

H) Again, not the best choice, move you Christmas Tree to a basement or attic (Somewhere that you dont use) until (A couple days before?) Christmas Eve or Chrismas

I) If there are ornaments and other strings and catchy things on your Christmas tree remove them until Christmas Eve- You could have a family get-to-gether and hang them back up again

J) Punish your cat (Not harshly) everytime he jumps on your tree, spray it, flick it's nose, toss it (GENTLY) away, ect

Some solutions (Above) arent even saying (NO). They're just other ways to prevent your cat from attacking your Christmas Tree.

How ever if you're cat keeps eating smaller plants, other ways of saying (Dont eat plants!) are:

A) Spraying the plant(s) with repelant

B) Moving the plant(s) to a higher area, unreachable for your kitten

C) Flicking your kitten's nose when ever he/she tries to eat or damage the plant

D) When ever your kitten tries to eat part of the plant, pry open (Not harshly) his/her mouth and take the remaining plant out of his/her mouth and push your kitten away

E) Either put something near your plant(s) to scare your cat every time he/she gets near it, or scare your cat yourself when ever your cat gets near the plant

As you can see there are many possible ways to prevent your cat from doing something wrong without scolding at your cat, or scolding your cat in many diffrent ways to prevent him/her from doing something wrong.

Other ways to scold at your cat may include:

A) Locking your cat in a room (Not for long, the least you could do is put a couple of toys and needed items ((Such as litter box, food, ect.)) in the room) whenever she/he does something wrong repeatedly.

B) Shake him/her GENTLY, for a few SECONDS. Do NOT (I repeat ((!NOT!)) shake your cat brutally AND for more then three seconds at the maximum when ever he/she does something wrong repeatedly.

C) Puting a leash on your cat (Do not put a short leash on your cat unless needed or for serious safety reasons) until he/she learns not to do what ever he/she is doing wrong.

So there are many solutions. Scolding or not, you'r cat will just have to learn either way!

Have a nice day and remember treat your cat with utmost patience and love!

EverGleam Vintage Aluminum Christmas Tree In Action