The tree's last lighting

We hate to take the tree down. It serves us from December until May each year, and the birds like it more than we do. Some of the neighbours might think it is a little odd.

We'd keep it up all year, but by this time of year it's getting a bit blasty, so down it must come, and join a couple of dozen other trees in a compost pile I keep piling branches (and Christmas tree boughs) on.

We lit its lights one last time this evening, and we toasted its life and its spirit with a little bit of some Manzanilla sherry we had.

I'll take it down tomorrow or the next day.