With the milder weather in evidence Friday and promised for the weekend, homeowners have use the opportunity to install their outdoor Christmas lights and other decorations.

Still, it was surprise Friday to see an eight-foot artificial Christmas tree in a tree stand in the middle of the driveway in the middle of the afternoon at a Fenton area home in the Romaine Spring Estates subdivision. A sign attached to the tree said: "Free Christmas tree. Lights still work (No questions asked)."

Actually I had a lot of questions about the free Yuletide offering, but the homeowner wasn't home to answer them.

No matter. The tree was snatched up by someone quickly as it was gone by early evening. Recycling a Christmas tree couldn't have gone any more smoothly.