We normally get a tree on Thanksgiving weekend, and it looks like tomorrow will be the day. Since the place we've been getting them from isn't doing it this year, we're going to revive our older tradition of cutting our own at one of the large tree farms up in picturesque Litchfield County. It's a great and unique place to visit, because the couple who's owned it for many years has a small shop there in a converted barn that houses a pipe organ.
Yes, you read that right. It's an organ they rescued from one of the old movie palaces in this area a few decades ago. The tree farm owner is the organ guy who restored it, and who maintains other organs still in theaters in this region. He built a beautiful loft for the pipes and other equipment, and the organ console itself sits on the main floor where we can watch him play. They also have a grand (as in baby grand) player piano that, last time I was up there, he was in the process of restoring. It's always a great outing to kick off the season with.
