We have always either gone into the woods or a u-cut tree farm for the holidays.  This year was no different , typical  NW December weather it was pouring rain.  

When we got home the tree was covered in mud so it had to be hosed off and left on the porch to dry before bringing it into the house for decorating.

The next day the big Douglas fir was brought into the warm cabin to become a lovely Christmas tree.

This is where the story really starts.....

The tree was set up, decorated with all the traditional holiday flair, twinkly lights, handmade ornaments with a story to go with each one.  it was beautiful  The kids had been tucked into bed for the night and I sat down with a cup of tea.  I was on the phone with my mom when I caught something strange out of the corner of my eye.  The branches were moving, something was in the tree.  My animals were all accounted for, sleeping lazily in front  of the wood stove.  Again the branches began to move.  I carefully moved the twigs and discovered a cat, a hissing angry teenage cat in my tree.  It was growling and slashing like a scene in a horror movie.  

My mom suggested that I reach in and throw it outside.  I thought I better protect myself so I put the oven mitts on my hands  I opened the back door and prepared to grab the wild beast.  I went in to grab him but he grabbed me first. With the cat dangling from my forearm, just above the mitts I flung him outside and quickly shut the door.  As I removed the oven mitts I noticed the bloody bite marks and scratches all over my forarm. 

The next morning I woke up to an arm that had swollen twice the normal size.  I went to my doctor and she had to give me a tetanus shot and antibiotics and I was put on watch for " Cat scratch fever"  Yes!  its a real thing.

Anyways, fast-forward, I never came down with "Cat Scratch Fever"  (I know you are singing the song in your head now)  lol  The feral cat ended up living under our deck terrorizing the kids until spring when  it finally went away....hopefully to find a warm cozy home by someone else's fire.