It was the middle of December and VERY cold! We never venture into the yard in the winter. The only place she could have gotten that darn tick was from the Christmas tree!

Also, about 2 years ago, we were at the Christmas Tree farm. My older daughter reached out to touch one of the branches and a tick just "landed" on her hand. It FELL right out of the tree onto her hand. She was screaming and we were trying to flick it off and it was "sticking" to her hand. Not attached, just sticking. Just going to GET the tree can be dangerous!

Due to these facts and also the fear of reinfection, we are choosing for the first time in our lives to go with an artificial tree. I have had a real tree my entire life as well as my husband. Somethings are not worth risking your family's health over.

Reasons to have an artificial tree:

* No risk of bringing ticks into your home
* You don't have to trudge through a tree farm to find one. (you know those ticks are just waiting for you to come)
* You can set it up anytime you want
* You don't have to water it every day
* You don't have to vacuum up needles every day
* It isn't a fire hazard (that's a plus for my firefighter husband)
* It's environmentally friendly
* It is the perfect tree every year

frenchbraid

------------------
Stay positive. Smile. People care.

We always in the past had a real tree. Think in view of your post, we might not have a real tree this year, or ever again.

After Christmas last year, we replaced our old tree with a new one that already has the lights on it. Will make setting up the tree a lot easier this year.

One thing I've learned since I got Lyme disease......sometimes we have to find a new way of doing things.

Cherish the memories of the tradition you're changing, but use that time to start a new tradition, like baking Christmas cookies for friends & neighbors who are sick or elderly. Start a new set of memories.

The are SAFER!!!

Iv'e seen too many Christmas' ruined when a house burns down around them...so, for me it was just not worth the chance.

This year we are getting a new one...that is if is even put on up this year.

Artificial trees are VERY hard to tell from the real ones. They have been making vast improvements each and every year...all mine even had had the dead needles mixed in with the green ones and they have always been hard for folks to even tell the difference.

I think I got my first on around 1979 or so cause I was getting sick each year I had a real on in my house.

I really believe for the safety of your family, tick or fire, it is the most responsible thing to do.

Getting bit or having a fire is just not worth something that most folks can't even tell the difference in anyway.

Now the limbs can come in different lengths, dead needles, etc and I think anyone who puts up a real tree, if they are not there 24/7 to just stare at it if decides to flame up then they are just acting irresponsible.

What's so wrong with having an artificial one? Save the trees...buy artificial and you may save your life or the life of your child.

I haven't been able to stop thinking about your story. I would definately have lost my mind!

frenchbraid

Thanks so much for sharing and spreading the dangers of "Real" Christmas trees.

frenchbraid

We burn Christmas tree scented candles, so it smells like a real tree, and honestly, it is hard to tell that it isn't real.

We are actually putting up our tree this Sunday, as my family is all coming to my house for Thanksgiving and the kids want the tree all decorated.

I know, I know,..... a Christmas tree before Thanksgiving??? I must be nuts...

But hey, if something so small can make my children happy, then the tree is going up. They have both been so sick this year that I think I'd have put the tree up in July if it would have made them happy

We check our lights every year for safety, and only turn them on when we're in the room. We keep the tree well watered.

Fake trees have gotten better over the years, but you can still tell in about 3 seconds that it's not real. It was the saddest day for me when my parents bought a fake tree because that's when it hit home they're getting older.

thank you for a wonderful insight. I had discussed a fake tree this year too, but for different reasons...my chronic lung issues get exacerbated by the living trees. I had not even considered TICKS...icky ewwwww.

I have also forwarded your writing to two of our newspapers. I thought it was warranted passing this on to more than just the lymenet crew.

Have you considered writing to your editor that letter? I think you should. It was EXCELLENT!

Hugz
Theresa

We live in an endemic area and people need to know the dangers of a "real" Christmas tree.

We went out today to look at artificial trees. I'm now afraid that this will be our first year without a tree. The prices of an artificial tree are outrageous and the thought of bringing a real tree into our home is just beyond my comprehension.

This disease has sucked the wind out of our pockets and there just isn't anything left to spare for a tree.

I just hope that anyone considering a "real" tree, will consider an artificial tree if they can afford it.

frenchbraid

We bought ours the day after Thanksgiving. most stores have a huge sale, where you can get great discounts on Christmas items.

We saved 40% off our tree, and it paid for itself in less than 2 years.

It is a bigger expense than a real one, but it is a one time expense.

A friend of mine had an extra artificial tree in her attic. I went with the kids today to pick it up! YEA! We will have a safe tree for Christmas!

frenchbraid

It's such a good feeling to know that we aren't in danger of any unwanted critters as well as all of the other reasons I listed above!

Merry Christmas!

frenchbraid

We have an artificial tree now, too. In fact, 2 years ago I had to get a NEW artificial tree, because the old one was falling apart! LOL! It had done good service.

When I went shopping for it 2 years ago, I was amazed by how real the artificial ones look now. They look like real evergreen branches with real needles.

I, too, was startled by the prices, but I found a solution: I got a smaller tree than the 6 foot one we used to have, and I set it up on an end table. I was able to put a decorative holiday covering on the table, and nestle the creche under the tree, also on the table. The gifts overflowed from the table onto the floor around the table. It was all in a corner of the living room, and with the tree lights on, it looked REALLY nice.

So, a 3 or 4 foot tree on a table works very nicely, too!

I never knew that ticks could take rides on the tree. I just remember my parents having to water the tree, set it up in the holder, and sweep up pine needles all the time.

The tick reason would change my mind in a hurry!

I had several people respond that someone they knew got a tickbite after they'd handled the tree (real)set up in their home, and that person was in a wheelchair because of that bite.

It was too late to take down my real tree after I'd read that( due to husbands stubborness to accomodate my increasing tick paranoia) so I took that tree outside and put in on a white sheet, and sprayed it with pesticide, then brought it back in the house to decorate. The smell of pesticide is something I will never forget inside my home. No pine smell that year!

Yup. I was really getting wigged out by the thought of having a real tree in my home and possibly getting a tickbite from it.

I grew up with real trees all my life, and until 2 yrs ago, had always bought a real tree.

Time for education for my family, all who have tested positive for Lyme.

I bought a fake tree last year, and I could not be happier. I just got done putting it up this year, our 2nd year in a row with a fake tree, and I purposely chose a tree WITHOUT lights, so I could "change" the look of it each year, by doing white lights, colored lights, etc. every other year. I also am using wire ribbon (the wide kind) that you can get at Costco for cheap, and using that as my "tinsel" or garland. I plan on rotating between a few different kinds of that, and colors as well to "change" the look of my artificial tree.

I was thinking yesterday, what I could tell my kids to tell their friends, if/when asked why we switched to a fake tree.

The best answer I came up with is: "we are trying to be environmentally sensitive to the earth". Because, as my 11 and 14 yr old sons are finding out, people are thinking we, or specifically, me, are just plain nuts when it comes to tick prevention.

I would love to use this opportunity to educate a few people, and family especially, but we're on year #3 now if having this crappy disease, and they are tired of the tick talk. Too bad for them!

If I'm asked, I will probably always give a general Lyme answer, but not go into detail unless asked for more info.

Thanks for sharing your info Frenchbraid, I will have my sons read it, and my husband, if he's in the mood, it sure helps my fight here at home with changes in our lifestyle!
Julie

[This message has been edited by Just Julie (edited 30 November 2003).]

I agree with you. It is a change, but it is a change that we can live with and feel good about. I never thought in a million years that I would ever have an artificial tree. But, I am actually so happy about it now. It was such a small thing to change in the grand scheme of it all.

Looking back, I can't believe how ignorant I was. Why didn't I think that if a tick would fall out of one tree onto my daughter's hand, that a tick might be in the tree that we chose? It never even crossed my mind.

When we were setting up the tree yesterday, my husband even suggested that we put some "real" leaves from outside on the tree to make it look "more real". My daughters almost busted in half yelling "Are you crazy Dad! Ticks love leaves! We aren't bringing ANY leaves in this house!" And that was that! The women in this house have won!

But, to defend my husband, he really does like the tree. He didn't think he would, but he is also very happy with it too! He said that he is so happy that he doesn't have to water it every day!

frenchbraid

Up for those who need to be made aware of this hidden danger!

Melanie, thanks for bringing it up for all the new members this past year including me!

I'd like to suggest that you/others remember this next year around Thanksgiving time, and post it about a real one with ticks vs. no ticks from artificial ones!

Thanks to this post last year my husband and I went out and bought our first artificial tree. I thought of you when I drug it out last week!

Somewhat embarassed to say we used a real tree this year..

Though I support the danger in this wholeheartedly..this is what we did..

I did not allow a trip to the tree farm..we live in the Northeast, and I figure the ticks are virtually everywhere, so..in a "tree farm" property, they have only the option of the trees to use as lifts to prey.

I imagine they sit on a great many branches on the hill where the Christmas trees grow..

We got a tree off our property (the very place we were all Lymed )

Where, my amature biological guess is..given the choice, the ticks prefer the brush and tall grasses surrounding the lonely tree, as the first branches began five feet above ground, surounded by other prime "sitting spots"..they are studied to prefer approximately three feet above ground (the adults) spots to wait for animals to pass ..
..therefore, also the idea of "topping" a larger tree (if you can climb it, we used to years back)..would be safer, ticks don't "climb" trees..but ..of course, you have the trip through the woods to worry about.

That said, DH and I went out back in full "tick wear" (kids watched from safer ground)..took the usual precautions (big brush at the back door, repellant, checking at the door, stripping down..put clothes in the dryer..checked again, and again..)..all that said, we check the kids (and teach them to check themselves) twice a day routinely (tree or no tree) 365 days a year..as well as extra precautions if we have been outside.
Whenever we go out we use a product found at www.bitebarrier.com ..plus checking.

We're like a family of primates looking for bugs They can come in on pets, mice, visitors..ect, ect..
We have all white and light colored bedding, pets only on first floor.. indoor cat..and swiff the wood floors downstairs often. Sooo..we are tick concious every day. In the Northeast, IMO..it has to be a staunch routine.

We cut the tree, brought it into the short grass..and sprayed it with garlic and other herbal repellants, and let it stay there for a day..then brought it up to the deck...sprayed it again (just herbals, no more garlic)..left another day...then into the house. (the smells disipate after a day)

Far as I can tell, we're OK..nothing we can see, Northeast ticks are adults now..if there are nymphs about, this would be impossible to check for.

But..it certainly is precarious, I wouldn't reccomend it unless you take all the most obsessive precautions.. and I wonder of artificial isn't the way to go..but we did this this Christmas.

I know I'm in the minority, but in eny event I wonder if spraying the trees with (non-toxic!) herbal repellants before bringing them in would help deter them from traveling into the house, for those who do use real ones.

Mo