Apple Tree Christmas by Trinka Hakes Noble*

In 1881 the Ansterburg family enjoys the simple country life-living above their barn and living off the land.  The daughters, Katrina and Josie, especially enjoy the old apple tree.  A thick grape vine meanders along its trunk and branches.  Josie spends hours swinging on one of the grapevine loops.  Katrina, however, has a favorite limb which she calls her drawing studio.  There she can perch perfectly and sketched.
Right before Christmas a blizzard blasts onto their homestead.  After three days and nights of snow fall, wind and ice, it subsides.  To Katrina's horror the storm has split and destroyed the apple tree.  The joys of Christmas elude her as she mourns the loss of the tree.  Can a perceptive father restore her joy of the season?
*Highly recommend.
The author used her childhood memories of Michigan to inspire many aspects of this story.
Borrowed from the library.