Texans’ tree quest ends in Newburgh Getaway is gift for Christmas-loving wife

NEWBURGH – Texas resident Teena Parkinson loves Christmas. So much so that her husband planned a getaway vacation that included picking out her own Maine Christmas tree.

“We’ve come to visit and cut down a Christmas tree and get out of the rat race of Houston,” said Jim Parkinson. “I was looking for the furthest point north and chose Maine. Part of that was to see snow, but that didn’t work out.”

The couple, who have been married for 21 years, arrived in the state Thursday and will cut down their tree today at the Nutkin Knoll Farm in Newburgh before leaving tomorrow.

“I just cried when I heard [about the trip],” said Teena. “I’m a big Christmas fan and I always order my Christmas tree online. So when he told me ‘I’m going to take the stress out of your Christmas tree’ and handed me an itinerary for a trip to Maine, I was totally surprised.”

Jim and Teena live in Katy, Texas, but work in Houston, seven miles away.

“We work an 80-hour workweek and we ain’t got nothing else to do but fight traffic to get home,” he said. “My wife works seven miles from the house and sometime it will take her an hour to and hour and a half to get home.”

Jim’s job is three miles away from home and it takes him, on average, 30 minutes to get there. This long commute is the main reason the first-time visitors chose Maine. “It’ s beautiful and we’re trying to figure out a way to live here,” Jim said.

The Parkinsons found Nutkin Farm on the Internet. “We wanted a small, family-run farm and that’s what we found,” said Jim.

The tree farm started as a dream 10 years ago for Newburgh residents Nancy and Len Price. Their Web site states, “Our products grace customers’ homes and tables throughout out the nation.”

According to the site, the Prices grow quality Christmas trees, craft balsam fir wreaths and other fragrant balsam holiday products, and produce pure Maine maple syrup.

The Nutkin Knoll Farm also sells fresh-cut flowers during the summer. The Prices are local educators. Len Price works as a science teacher in Brewer and Nancy Price is a reading specialist for the Newburgh school.

After selecting their tree, the Parkinsons will spend one more night in Maine before boarding a plane Sunday morning for their trip back to Texas. The tree will make the same trip, but will arrive by Federal Express.