With rain on the way it's easy to decide that it's time to un-decorate the tree, which for weeks has majestically supported scores of ornaments and hundreds of incandescent (sorry, LEDs, but your colors are not quite right) lights. The removing is always faster than the placing and just as the storm arrived, the tree returned to its spot outside, soon sparkling again, but this time with winter rain.

It was beautiful while it lasted and we look forward to the Monterey pine's next indoor visit, just 11 months from now.