This is the tale of Benjamin Balsam.
I was quite pleased with my clever title until I sat down to write this morning, and I began to think that I may have ripped the title off from Beatrix Potter. I checked. Sure enough, I had. That is not good. So I hereby apologize to Miss Potter.
But in my defence, my tale is not about bunnies. Benjamin Balsam is NOT a bunny rabbit. He is a small balsam fir tree. Plus in my story there are no cats, no onions, and no scarecrows. Although I concede that Hubby and I may have resembled Mr. and Mrs. McGregor when we set out the other morning to find Benjamin Balsam. After all, Hubby IS a farmer of sorts. And I was wearing my best bonnet. Ha. Although it was knitted, and a toque and not exactly a bonnet.
By the way, if you’re not familiar with The Tale of Benjamin Bunny, you can download the original Beatrix Potter story for free here.
But I digress. Not that long ago, and not that far away either, on a beautiful sunny winter’s day, we found Benjamin Balsam in a field of snow-covered fir trees. And we knew immediately. Or pretty soon, anyway, that he was the one for us. We almost brought home his cousin Bob. But we had to leave Bob behind when we saw Benjamin. Seriously, folks, I have to stop naming the trees as soon as I see them. It was a bit of a wrench to leave Bob behind.
But Benjamin was the one. And after Hubby started sawing, it was too late to change my mind. Ha. So we placed him on the toboggan provided by the nice tree-farmer and hauled him back to the truck. And after he had been all shook up (sorry Elvis) to remove nesting squirrels and other debris in his branches, and lightly trussed up, we laid him in the back of the truck and headed for home.
But not before we stopped at the tree-farm craft and edibles shop for hot chocolate and ginger cookies. I had quick look around too. I love craft shops, particularly Christmas crafts. But Hubby dogged my steps, sighing every time I picked up a handmade ornament and muttering that we had plenty of Christmas do-dads at home, so I desisted. Besides, Benjamin was waiting in the truck.
So Benjamin Balsam came home with us, and now our handsome boy resides in our sunroom. Hubby wrangled him into his stand while I held him upright. We gave him a big drink and fluffed his branches and he was ready to be trimmed.
If you’ve read my blog for a while now, you’ll already know that we always name our Christmas trees. I think I’m the only family member who carries on the tradition which began back on the farm in New Brunswick in the seventies. The year we had a big freeze but no snow. There wasn’t enough snow to be able to take the horse and sled and us kids into the woods to get our tree. So Lloyd took the tractor up the hill to the woodlot and cut our tree on his own.
The tree then sat in our machine shed for a week or two while it rained and froze and thawed and froze again. By the time we brought the tree inside, the tips of its poor branches were all curled up. And Mum being Mum said it looked as if the poor thing had arthritis, and decided we’d name him Arthur. Arthur-itis. Get it?
Mum loved a bit of Christmas silliness. And I do too.
Hubby and I have had many trees over the years. One year we named a very short, very round tree Boris. Boris is such a round name, don’t you think? Perfect for our little tree. Although a couple of UK readers winced a bit at the name; it was the year of Boris embarrassment over there. And even my mum, as I recall, didn’t approve:
“Boris?” my mum said in dismay over the phone. “That’s a harsh name to pin on a little tree isn’t it?” “Well, maybe it’s Boris as a youngster,” I replied, “When he’s little, and roly-poly, and everyone loves him. You know, before he takes over the Politburo. Or makes all those scary movies. Or helps to engineer Brexit.”
But Hubby and I loved Boris. And laughed about Boris. And made up tales about Boris. The fact that he had two distinct sides, a good side and a bad side. Like a spy tree. The tree who came in from the cold. KGB tree. We laughed about his drinking problem. We watered him twice a day. Hubby joked about putting vodka in the tree stand. I said maybe we should have named him Pius, after my Sullivan grandfather who liked his tipple. “No,” I decided, “he’s too short.” So Boris it was.
But what of Benjamin? He isn’t a drinker, like Boris. Nor is he too fastidious, like the tree called Nigel that we had a couple of years ago. He’s just an all-round nice tree. Not too short, nor too tall. Not too smart for his own good, nor too foolish. He’s handsome, in a boy-tree-next-door kind of way. But he’s modest. I think he’s a little embarrassed by all the reflections of himself that he sees in the sun room windows when it gets dark and I turn on his lights.
In fact, Benjamin Balsam is kind of an ordinary tree. Patient, look how easily Hubby was able to get him into his stand. Handsome, but not in a flashy kind of way. Quietly happy with his lot in life. You know, maybe Benjamin is a tree for our times. Our crazy, shouty, chaotic, self-obsessed, acquisitive times.
Okay. I think I’d better stop. Too much whimsy might be bad for my mental health. Hubby always says that I live a very vivid inner life. But I wouldn’t want to lose my grip on reality altogether and start talking to trees all year round. Ha.
By the way, it’s an anniversary of sorts for Hubby and me today. The forty-first anniversary of our first date. We met in the staff room of Glebe Collegiate where Hubby taught Phys. Ed. and where I had recently started supply-teaching. We had coffee and lunch together a few times at school before Hubby asked me out. We were supposed to go cross-country skiing. But it didn’t snow and didn’t snow, and soon exams started, and there was no supply teaching for me, so I kind of disappeared. And in desperation (my words) he got my number from the office staff. The office ladies were very interested in matchmaking for Hubby. He told me this much, much later. So he called me and proposed we meet for a drink.
So we did. December 20, 1984. I had a hair appointment downtown that evening which could not be missed. D’uh. We met afterwards at Yesterday’s on the Sparks Street mall. Any Ottawa readers remember Yesterday’s? And we talked and talked and talked.
And then Christmas came and went, and it finally snowed. Our second date was a ski date. And the rest is history. Or our history at any rate.
We’re all ready for Christmas here. Or mostly ready. We don’t do gifts any more. But we do do the food thing.
I’ve a little baking to do on Monday, and the tourtière on Tuesday. Hubby has to buy the turkey and then brine it. This has become a thing with us. I highly recommend. It makes the turkey luscious and juicy.
Then we will eat, and sip wine, and read books, or knit by the fire, and enjoy Benjamin’s company. And maybe, just maybe, if we’re very lucky, we may be able to ski.
Now I should close. Hubby is making dinner, as he always does on blogging nights. And most nights actually. Ha. But I’m making the salad. Phew. So much pressure.
I’ll be taking a week off from blogging over the holidays. But I’ll be back on January 3.
In the meantime, I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season, however you celebrate, and even if you don’t.
Happy New Year from me and Hubby and Benjamin. xox
79 thoughts on “The Tale of Benjamin Balsam”
Merry Christmas to Benjamin Balsam AND to you and the stalwart Stu, from someone who has never once named her Christmas tree. Mind you, Paul called the current Etsy balsa-wood laser-cut artsy simulacrum of a tree Many, Many Names as he attempted to assemble it again this year. There was talk of consigning it to the big blue metal bin in the condo basement, but he persevered and the Artsy Sculptural Christmas Tree Substitute is now twinkling away to serve another season. Perhaps huffily hiding hurt feelings. Perhaps we should think of a name for it before next Christmas and it would happily expedite assembly. . . thank you for an entertaining post and some inspiration.
So your tree is the tree of many names, eh? Love that story, Frances. Hope you and Paul and your kids and grandkids have a wonderful Christmas. xox
Happy First Date Anniversary 🥰 & Congratulations on 41 years!!
Benjamin is a very handsome fellow – an excellent choice . I look forward each year to see which name you will pick for your tree. He looks beautiful in your sunroom. I planted a Dwarf Alberta Spruce a couple of years ago and named her Annie after my grandmother. 💞
Thank you for writing so many wonderful and interesting blogs Sue. I always look forward to seeing what topic you will cover next and enjoy them all. I found your blog just before Covid hit.
Wishing you and Stu a Wonderful Christmas , along with all the readers who celebrate this holiday as well. Merry Christmas everyone. 🎄💞
Thanks, Carolyn. Thanks for the good wishes, the kind words, and for sticking around. Happy Holidays to you and yours.
What a lovely tree Sue! The name Benjamin just seems to suit.
We switched over to an artificial tree many years ago. At the time it was very advanced with the folding umbrella branches…after years of struggling with the old colour coded insert branches that we would invariably miss a Colour and have to start over again!! Never a fun project! But I love having my tree up in the cold dark days of winter. It just makes the house seem cozier! I’m one of those crazy people who puts the tree up in November and doesn’t take it down until mid January so a real tree just wouldn’t last. lol
Wishing you and Stu a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! As always looking forward to hearing from you again in 2026!
And here I was thinking that those who had artificial trees just had to haul them out of the closet. No assembly necessary. I agree, a tree no matter its lineage does make the house seem cosier. Merry Christmas to you and your family too, Ruth Janet. 🙂
what a lovely post. i havent had a real tree for many years (living in australia they are not a great idea.. the heat drops the needles in the first few days and you end up with bald benjamin!) your post brought back memories of childhood trees in scotland. thank you for the memories and happy christmas to you and your family
I’m glad my post brought back memories for you, Noreen. Thanks to Hubby’s assiduous watering Benjamin is definitely not bald. Although if he were in your part of the world, I agree that he might be. Ha.
What a great Christmas post , I think I’m a little in love with Benjamin . Wish I could pop round & visit him over Christmas ( & you two as well ) I was one of those who couldn’t take to Boris I’m afraid . Too much of a narcissist tree for me . Fancy you two matching up on 20 December , my birthday ! Another little link we have . We are now in our dinky little hired cottage by a raging river enjoying the small town of Ludlow . The owners have decorated for us & we have a very small silver tree in the corner . She’s quite brazen for such a spiky , brainless little madam & is getting on our nerves . We are tempted to throw her in the river . Max has called her Liz Truss .
Hope your Christmas is loving & peaceful with a dollop of snow .
Happy Birthday Wendy!
D.
Thanks for sending all the photos of your Christmas tree and the area around your home. After looking through them, I have to say — it certainly appears you’re living in a cold and barren place. The snow‑covered landscape, the empty stretches of property, and the stark winter light all give it a kind of frozen, desolate blandness.
Of course, your beautifully decorated tree does its best to brighten the scene, but even it seems to be fighting a losing battle against the surrounding tundra.
Just thought I’d share my impression. Yikes!!
I seem to remember , from my junior school days , that the tundra is about 500 miles north from you Sue . Is that right ?
This made me laugh out loud. But maybe let’s let the Americans think it’s tundra around the nation’s capital so they will leave us in peace in 2026? 😉
Yes, the tundra is a few miles away. Ha.
But, oh so cozy and lovely inside! How wonderful to be able to experience the four seasons in all their glory. It would be VERY boring if we all lived exactly the same lives.
It is sad that certain people can only appreciate their own version of perfection….
Oh Wendy, I love your husband’s sense of humour. Liz Truss indeed! Have wonderful Christmas in your cozy cottage!
Happy Birthday, Wendy. I looked up Ludlow and it’s beautiful. And I remembered from all those Escape to the Country episodes that it’s a foodie haven. So, I guess you’ll have lots of scope for good things to eat. Poor Liz Truss… clearly she can’t last in any capacity. Not even as a tree. Ha.
I am baking today, trying some of my sister Connie’s gluten-free recipes. And Stu is moping around the house wishing and hoping and trying to will the snow that is falling a teensy bit to become a blizzard. We did however get enough to cover the ground, so we’ll have a white Christmas after all.
Happy Christmas to you and Max. And even poor spiky Liz. xox
Happy Anniversary!
This is such a lovely Christmas tale/post! Benjamin is a cute fellow indeed
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Dottoressa
And Merry Christmas to you, Dottoressa. And to your mum. Hope you have a lovely holiday. x
Happy 1st date Anniversary! love Benjamin.
Merry Christmas to you both,.
Thanks, Denise. And Merry Christmas to you too.
Your blog and Benjamin filled my heart with joy this morning and certainly made me smile. I’ve never met a Christmas tree that I didn’t like and Benjamin is adorable. I’m impressed he can engage with Stu on politics and hockey!
I have a new artificial tree this year and love it! Husband does not assist with putting trees up or decorating. I decided that I can manage by myself a small 5 foot tree now and donated our much much larger ones to the charity shop. She’s beautiful and I was not exhausted with the process of getting her ready!
Congrats on your anniversary! Staying in a marriage is a choice and 41 years is a long time to be with someone! Have a blessed Christmas!
I should say that the talk was mostly about hockey. Hubby doesn’t need any more political talk. He talks back to the television enough already. Ha.
forty-one years is a long time. And yet we still find new things to say to each other. Amazing, eh?
Hope you have a good Christmas. too, Kat.
I have enjoyed your posts this year and look forward to next year’s.
Have a very merry Christmas.
Thanks, Valeri. And a Merry Christmas to you too. 🙂
Thank you for such a delightful Christmas article! There was a big smile plastered on my face as I read. I find this is often true when Sunday comes around and your blog shows up in my inbox. What joy you spark! Happy holidays.
I’m so pleased you enjoyed my post. I had fun writing it. Happy Holidays to you too, Denise.
Simply loved this post with Boris and Benjamin or Benjamin and Boris …. I totally relate to the fun and flights of the imagination! Smiling, enjoying and following your whimsy. Have a wonderful Christmas season in your winter wonderland!
Where would we be without whimsy? Gosh… that sentence has a lot of “w’s” in it! Hope you have a lovely Christmas too, Olwyn.
Merry Christmas from no snow southern Finland 🙁. Looks beautiful over there🌲
We have just this afternoon had a small fall of snow. Enough to cover the bare patches of ground so Hubby will be able to cross-country ski. Maybe you’ll be lucky too. 🙂
Merry Christmas to you and your Hubby. Love reading your posts and seeing your pictures. Blessings for the new year.
Thanks, BJ. Merry Christmas to you too.
I hope you and Stu have a lovely and relaxing holiday. Thank you for your work all year. I always look forward to your Sunday posts.
I enjoyed Wendy’s amusing post. Liz Truss sounds about right👌
Nollaig Shona Daoibh.
Thanks, Mary. I hope you have a lovely holiday as well. 🙂
A truly beautiful post to wrap up 2025 Sue. Wishing you, Stu and all of your wonderful readers a joyous Christmas and a New Year of happiness and good health.
Thanks, Glenda. I wish the same for you and yours.
Thank you Sue for another enjoyable post. I look forward to reading your post each Sunday morning, enjoying some peace and quiet and cup of coffee.
Merry Christmas from a snow less interior BC. Too much rain in the lower Fraser, less snow here. The area you live in looks magical, in the snow. Many thanks for your posts and insights all year.
Oh dear, you guys out there have been blasted with rain and wet lately, haven’t you? Thanks for continuing to read my blog Lesley. Happy New Year.
I think naming your tree is a lovely tradition. I enjoyed the stories of some of your former Christmas trees. Fun! Benjamin is a wonderful tree. Merry Christmas to you and your husband from our home in Texas.
Thanks, Linda. Sending Christmas greetings right back at you in Texas. 🙂
Love your stories and pics you share. I do agree with others, the area you live in is very charming.
Happy Holidays to All!
Thanks, Paula. Happy Holidays to you too.
I love your blog, Sue! Your interesting posts are always enhanced by pictures of the natural beauty of your surroundings. Looking forward to more in 2026.
I wish you a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year. 🎄🎄🎄🎄
Thanks very much, Rhonda. Merry Christmas to you too.
Merry Christmas to you and Stu and your readers. Your story brought back happy memories of going out with our kids to find the perfect tree. We have an artificial tree now and I’m happy not to have needles dropping, or spiders, and to be able to leave it up longer.
We’ve been lucky with the dropping needles in the past few years. Except when we take down the tree. Argg. Lots of needles everywhere then.
Merry Christmas to you too.
Lovely post. Happy Christmas to you three, and a safe and healthy New Year!
Thanks, Sarah. Sending the same wishes back to you. 🙂
A wonderful post, Sue. It brought back memories of the annual trip to the tree farm with the kids and dog. It took time to search for the perfect tree and I do remember feeling sad for the one that was relegated to ‘second place’. I love your tradition of naming your trees. Wishing you a very happy Christmas season and thanking you for the wonderful posts that I look forward to every Sunday morning.
Thanks, Miriam. Merry Christmas to you too.
I love the tradition of naming your Christmas trees, Sue. Boris is a great name for the cute tree that you two picked out this year. I enjoy your posts and always look forward to the Christmas ones. Here’s hoping that you and your hubby have a wonderful Christmas and a very happy New Year!
Thanks, Sue. Boris was our tree a few years ago. This year it’s Benjamin. Although I realize that it’s hard to keep track. Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Oh, Manotick with snow! It must be so beautiful at night. It has to be at least twenty eight years since I’ve strolled about that town. I can remember when it really was a village.
Benjamin is the perfect little guest. He seems to have just the right attitude….does not show off. So tiresome in a guest.
Thank you for all your wonderful blog posts.
Happy Holiday to you both🥂
Manotick is still the same village at first glance. The new developments are all on the outskirts. Not much has changed on Main Street except for the nature of the businesses. You’d recognize it right away. Except perhaps the old Tea Room. That’s long gone. Sad, but it really was quite dilapidated. Thanks for continuing to read, and Merry Christmas. 🙂
Benjamin was fortunate to find himself in such a welcoming home. The lights of Christmas warm the winter. Wishing you, Stu and all of your readers holiday joy and peace.
Thanks, Cathy. Lovely comment. Happy New Year to you.
Merry Christmas to you, Stu, and the lovely Benjamin Balsam! And happy anniversary of your first date. I always love hearing how couples got together.
Thanks, Denise. Merry Christmas to you too.
Your sunroom is so, so beautiful . How wonderful for you to have found a home on such a property – the Ontario small town/village-on-a-river lifestyle is one of those dreamy things for those of us on the Prairies ;). Love your tree and the idea of quiet nights enjoying the lights and the warmth of the fire. Merry Christmas to you !
We do love living on the river. Merry Christmas to you too.
Love the tree and am jealous for snow. White Christmas! Have a wonderful holiday.
Thanks, Jes. We have just today received most of our snow back and the skiing is on for Christmas Day! Happy Holidays to you too.
well, we don’t name our tree but do other things as traditions. We like to go to the local thrift store to look for ornaments. We like to buy used. We certainly have enough of store bought! We also like to go to the department store here to look at ornaments all the time. While I am shopping for clothes Hubby goes to look at ornaments! We even had too many because at one time we had 3 trees but we have downsized to two! I miss having a real tree. It’s difficult to have a real tree here in Florida. The real trees get all dried out and are half dead after sitting on the lot. Have a Wonderful Christmas!
I can imagine that real trees in your climate take quite a beating. I love that your Hubby loves to shop for ornaments! 🙂
Your Christmas plans sound delightful. May you have piles of reading at your side and time to state out at the peaceful surroundings and twinkly lights.
Thanks, Annie. Hope your London Christmas is joyful. It’s been quite a year for you.
Wishing you a happy holiday with your charming Boris. I haven’t had a large, real tree for mny years given work, travel and dispersed family, but your post conjures great memories. I hope you have a safe and happy one.
Ps I do know Sparks but not that pub. Happy anniversary!
Thanks, Steph. Yesterday’s was probably long gone before you were old enough to patronize bars. It was quite a popular bar/restaurant in the early 80’s. Not one of my faves, but it was near my hairdressers. Ha. Hope you have a Merry Christmas. 🙂
Love that you have Benjamin tree! A great name. Your Christmas Day sounds very relaxing although I’m not sure about the skiing!
This year we are in Perth WA with one of our daughters and her family and she has two big trees and numerous small ones. Christmas seems to be her happy place so the whole house is decorated. It is supposed to be 41 degrees C on Xmas day so the whole roast dinner is out and it is all seafood cooked on the bbq.
I wish you and Stu and peaceful Christmas and a very Happy New Year and looke forward to another year of your thoughts and stories.
Happy New Year to you too, Kenzie.
Merry Christmas!
I just have read your lovely story on Benjamin.
It’s the Holy Night, with my crazy sleeping habits I’m awake after napping about three hours in the evening.
I”m sitting beside our nameless natural tree and enjoying the smell of an incense cone. A cosy setting, isn’t it?
My hus band neither talks to the TV set (yet) nor to the tree. But he talks during the news broadcast on the radio so that I can’t listen to the topics but only hear his opinion on all stupid governments in the world which I‘ve already heard many times.
Don’t worry we‘ll have our 52nd first date anniversary in 2 weeks. We got to know in the ballroom dancing school, he as disc jockey, I as assistant to the teacher. And no, we haven’t danced together for decades.
Have a cosy Christmas time, I like your posts! Love from Vienna, the original one in Austria, with very rare unexpected white Christmas 🎄
Enjoy your white Christmas, Eva. And Happy new Year to you and your husband. I’ve never been to Vienna. I must remedy that. 🙂
Happy Christmas, Sue. Our tree this year is called Philip. Named by me because he’s tall, handsome, slim and regal-looking like the previous Duke of Edinburgh. I hadn’t realised you (Stu) had to literally lie on snow-covered ground to saw your tree! Hilarious and admirable all at once 😂🎄
That’s the way I think of Stu all the time… hilarious and admirable. Ha. Love the name of Philip for your regal tree. Happy New Year.
I’m a little late in sending a comment but many thanks for your wonderful writing. I do enjoy reading your thoughts on books, clothing and lots of other topics, and you have great readers and commenters too 🙂
I chuckled at the first date story, as I went to Glebe CI for high school (“Glob” as we called it, or the old pile of bricks), but I had graduated by the time of your first date. Happy New Year to you and your other half!
Thanks so much, Alison. Hubby laughed at the “Glob” comment. Happy New year to you too.
I did enjoy your post and couldn’t help but contrast your snow and cold with my Christmas at my daughter’s farm in north west New South Wales about 350 kilometres as the crow flies from the Pacific Ocean. It was hot (38 Celsius), dry and very dusty with not a breath of a breeze but we still had a traditional Christmas lunch complete with turkey, baked ham and Christmas pudding! There are no traditional Christmas trees out there but a magnificently decorated artificial tree and a table set with the finest silver, crystal and crackers completed the Christmas theme – somewhat incongruous in outback Australia.
I hope 2026 brings you all that you could wish for and look forward to your posts in the year ahead.
Happy 2026 to you too, Mary. An outback Christmas must be quite an experience. I can’t quite conceive of eating roast turkey in my shorts and sandals. 🙂
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