I've traveled to MD, NJ, and PA over the past week, and everywhere I've gone there have been plenty of holiday decorations. When the kids were little we used to enjoy taking drives to look at Christmas lights in the evening, and I miss that. So I've been making a point out of looking for holiday decorations and taking pictures of some of the more interesting and original ones. I've shared these with my kids and now I'd like to share them with you.
I'm truly not passing judgment on any of these or making fun of them. Many are not my taste, but I have not been appointed as Chief of the Holiday Police, nor am I the arbiter of good taste in Christmas decor. Don't forget, I am a person who once put an artificial, three-foot Christmas tree on a Corona beer box. To each his own!
I have never, ever seen a Christmas Tasmanian Devil, and this might be a first for you, too. He prompted quite a bit of discussion in our family. Ryan wondered why he seemed to be on some sort of toilet, but we decided that the white bit at the bottom might represent snow. I thought those yellow things protruding from his hat were supposed to be antlers, but John said they were sticks. I'm not sure that antlers or sticks make a lot of sense, and none of us understand why he is pointing at the viewer.
I had to Google this one to fully understand it. During the day, it is simply an inflatable, spherical, white Mickey Mouse, but he's completely blank and without a face. I wondered if it was backward but I didn't feel comfortable wandering into their yard to check it out. But ... "the eight-foot-tall inflatable is actually a screen on which a projector displays precious and pixie-dusted holiday scenes." The Disney Fashionista website uses lots of exclamation points to explain that "projections utilize every part of the snow globe, including the ears, base, and hat! It’s like having a mini Disney Parks light show right in your own yard!" It also comes with "heavy-duty lawn steaks" so who could resist?
This small army of toy soldiers, snowmen, Mr. & Mrs. Santa Claus, with a few reindeer is installed just down the street in NJ. I've always wondered how they store so many figures in a small house, and they seem to add a few more every year.
I'm not an electrician, but I'm pretty sure that it's not safe to use multiple extension cords rated for indoor use by wrapping them in a plastic bag and securing them with regular Scotch tape. (Every connection for all the figures above was made this way!) Luckily the firehouse is just two blocks away just in case.
Oh dear!! We have nothing that can even come close to competing with these "decorations" Bonny! Fletch did put up some lights in our bushes and around the patio, There is a house down the street from us that must have a dozen or more inflatibles in the front yard. Of course, they are all down during the day and it looks like something threw up all over their yard!! but, like you, I'm not really judging, just stating my own opinion. To each their own!
ReplyDeleteOh my. You certainly found some conversation starting decorations!
ReplyDeleteWe have a number of very large houses in the neighborhood that seem to have professionals come in and do their decorations (I'm thinking of one in particular where I've actually seen them in progress -- they do an elaborate fall decoration scheme, too, with lots of decorative gourds and ornamental kale). Most of what I've seen nearby is very tasteful -- greenery, twinkle lights, shiny baubles, etc. Then there's the giant skeleton I posted on Friday. I haven't seen a Christmas Tasmanian devil yet, though.
ReplyDeleteour mom and dad used to drive around as well to take in the decorations. WE have two strings of lights one at each azalea bush and that is it. I guess I'm not very creative or enthusiastic to decorate the outside of the house!
ReplyDeleteWhen my kids were teenagers, we used to keep an eye out for the most interesting and unusual outdoor holiday displays as we drove around town, each on our own path. Once we'd identified our "best of" lists, we'd take a drive together and . . . vote for our annual winner. I will just say that it's amazing what people come up with! (And I kind of miss doing that. . . ) Tom and I have been having WAY too much fun walking past a neighbor's ill-advised blow-up Santa/elf and Nutcracker yard decorations this season. It's been quite windy, and the blow-up figures . . . create some interesting (shall we say) tableaus. Holiday fun!
ReplyDelete(And . . . I will be thinking about the Tasmanian Devil sitting on a toilet with sticks protruding from his head . . . all day!) (If I'd driven past, it would DEFINITELY make it to my Best Of list.)
Inflatables seem to be all the rage in my neighborhood, and the recent storms have created havoc with them. I don't think I would want to have the burden of going out each day and blowing them back up, but people seem to do this. I have decorated very little outside (or inside) this year, but I usually throw up some wreaths and lights right before Christmas. I do put up twinkle lights in my den in October and leave them until spring every year. It helps chase away the dark at this time of year. Your examples are fascinating, Bonny. Deer skulls? Tasmanian devils? Hmm.....
ReplyDeleteI am a simple outdoor decorator... just some stings of colored lights (not wrapped in plastic bags...oy that!) and my Vintage Frosty. Frosty has greeted people coming to my front door for over 30 years... He is the best harbinger of Christmas!
ReplyDeleteMy outdoor decorations are pretty simple. A wooden Merry Christmas sign on my garage, a garden flag with cardinals in a snow scene, and by my front door a balsam wreath decorated simply with a red bow and pine cones. I am amazed at some of the elaborate decorations in my neighborhood and I have never seen a Tasmanian devil!
ReplyDeleteYour decorating taste sounds like it's simple and simply lovely. I have a wreath with cardinals, red vinyl ribbon on my porch columns for candy-cane columns, and greenery on the spinning wheel on my porch. No Tasmanian Devils here!
DeleteI love how you filed this post under "hmmmm...that's interesting" - indeed! There isn't anything nearly so interesting in my neighborhood. A few neighbors have a lot of decorations and lights, but they're all easily recognizable and - at least from what I can see - powered by outdoor-safe cords (now I'm thinking my neighborhood must be pretty boring)
ReplyDeleteYou have found some entertaining outdoor decorations. We have two plaid bows - one on the porch light and one on the railing. My sister sent a beautiful wreath made from living greenery so that is hanging on the front door. One house on my walk has Minnie and Mickie Mouse inflatables behind a toy train with Santa and the elves. The other side of the yard has an inflatable Santa and a nativity set. I think they've covered all their bases.
ReplyDeleteLooks like you have an Aussie with a sense of humour living in the neighborhood. The wiring job gives the Home Depot guy (Smith) nightmares!
ReplyDeletelol some these are on the 'weird' scale. We have a house around the corner that had 3 large 'ornament' balls piled in a corner by the steps. Next time by there were 2, then 1 then none. Then 1 again. It has been windy and I think they blew away/around and they only managed to find one somewhere down the street. We have two wreaths (fake) with red bows on windows on the porch. I leave the porch light on for the lighting. Since our house is white, I think it is enough. And a flag with a candycane. Okay, done. :)
ReplyDeleteTwo wreaths with red bows sound perfectly festive to me, especially since you've added a flag with a candy cane!
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