Real or Artificial?

The best Christmas trees come very close to exceeding nature. 
                                                                          ~Andy Rooney


Real tree?  Artificial tree?  Decisions, decisions!  For years, Mr. Cottage and I always had a real tree.  We even went out to find our own tree and cut it down for a few years.  I used some of the cuttings from the tree to decorate the top of the cabinets, slipped some in with my pine cones, and made arrangements from them.  Then, when it was time to put everything away, there were tree needles everywhere.  I even hung a real garland across our kitchen window and all I can say is, thankfully, all the needles fell off right into the sink and surrounding countertop.

About 10 years ago, I found a fabulous artificial tree for an unbelievable price!  This great decorating store was closing down and they were in their final days.  It was too good a deal to pass up, so we ended up going artificial...

We only used it a couple of years and then we started spending Christmas in Florida.  As for all the other cuttings and greens I use to use, I switched over to FAKE!  Yes, FAKE!  So many look fake, but I've been pretty fortunate to find some pretty realistic looking pine and evergreens...

Our centerpiece on our dining table has fake evergreens tucked in with the ornaments...

Fake greens on our chandelier, but they look so real...

I also bought a few wreaths this year that look like the real thing.  This one is hung on our back door that leads to our deck...

And this is hung in our front window.  We have a real garland around our lamp post, along with the clear mini-lights that Mr. Cottage put on it...

So what is it for you, real or artificial?