That's a beautiful picture of a beautiful location, Jock. It looks like something out of a fairy tale or a fantasy novel.

When I was a Boy Scout - 40 years and more ago - we used to sell Christmas trees to raise money for our troop. Of course, back then we used the Americanized version of the name - Scotch Pine. Now if I were to hear someone say that I would think of a tree soaked in delicious spirits

The trees were harvested when they were 6 or 7 feet tall and had their long lush needles all the way to the ground. They had a more luxurious appearance than the more commonly used firs or balsams that have basically taken over in recent years. That, of course, is a practical choice because a short needled tree is easier to decorate than a longer needled tree like the Scots pine.

It's been a long time since I've seen a Scots pine used as a Christmas tree. The Frasier fir has become a favorite in our family, partly because it has an almost lemony scent, but whenever I see a Christmas tree with long needles it brings back a flood of memories.

Regards,

Brian