Holiday Spirit on Not My House

Not a sprig of evergreen or a single bulb at my house. Not an angel or a garland or candy cane.

And then I drive by this place!  WHOA.

Serious decorations.  I wonder where they store them the other eleven months.  The traffic must stop as gawkers drive by.  Like me.

By a friend’s special request, the first holiday house spotted and captured at night. Last year, or maybe it was the year before,  I used to drive around and shoot inflatable turkeys and then Santas on rooftops and even an inflatable nativity scene and when I got out of the car I could hear the air blowing.   Somehow I lost interest in this subject matter.  On the way to Virginia, one lawn had 37 inflatables the inhabitants told me.  After that spotting, I just didn’t feel moved to try and capture the blowing hot air filling the bright, colored cloth. Everyone had them on their lawn or so it seemed. I stopped saying, “Holy Cow, I can’t believe that display!” and raise my camera to shoot.

It’s not that I am Scroogella or anything. I enjoy other people’s efforts to brighten the darkness (and sunset comes before 5PM these days), I just got out of the “seeing” the decorations and photographing them. .

But I’m back- what else could I do?  This scene could not be ignored.

These  lights demanded my attention and capture.

Discovered because I went to a CD release party in Regent Square. Who knew it was waiting around the corner?

But then

Unexpected Mail

Home after being away for ten days. Steve bought a pizza for us. Found a pile of mail in the front hall; catalogs, bulk mail, a Bed Bath & Beyond coupon, a notice of a tangelos and grapefruit delivery, a bank statement and the water bill. A few Christmas cards and the Barbie scrubs I ordered  for Christmas from Etsy. A nice card with a Starbucks giftcard from Cj. AND a “Mug Rug” with a Norfolk VA postmark from Colleen, a long time friend of Joanne in Omaha.  Joanne insists that Colleen and I have met but we haven’t– yet! Colleen stitched a quilted “mug rug” and sent it to me with a lovely card. (Depending on when you are reading this, I am writing on the 9th Day of Christmas so it is 9 Ladies Dancing, 10 Lords-a-Leaping, Mary.) I love the numbers on the fabric.  There were instructions for a cup of tea and room for two cookies on the side but I didn’t want to cover up the fabric for the photo. What a happy surprise to find a handmade gift in the sea of fliers and junkmail! And how fortunate Steve had some cookies to supply for the shot.  What a great way to end the vacation. And Deb B I like the quote on your handmade card.

“How we choose to think,

Determines what we will see,

And so it is that we,

Create our reality.”

(a quote but no attribution, maybe someone will help find the source)

 

It is a happy 2011 already. Thanks friends.

*If you want to see the Blog Year in Review 2010  and the Top Posts- click here for late post 1/2/2011

 

Thank goodness Steve had some cookies a patient brought him. Delicious with Good Earth tea. (after the photo)

A Different Light of Christmas

The introduction of the portable electronic world to the children. Matthew came to tell me to get the camera. They never noticed I was there., YIKES. Mesmerized is the word.

A new DS for Christmas captures everyone's attention.

Electric Nativity with Santa and Carolers Combo

Thanks for all the condolences and comments on the passing of Fred (yesterday’s post).  Must have been a bit distracted because there were 2 errors in two sentences and of course the date isn’t 2011 yet.  I am going to have to hire a proofreader for when I am tired.   Thanks to V and Keith.    So is the preference white lights or colored lights?

Christmas Decorations at Night
I am still thinking of the around-the-year storage for these items.

Here is one of the final Christmas lights at night series for Christmas Eve.  It can’t be as much fun to dismantle as it is to decorate!

Inflatables to the nth Power + Reflections on the Car = ?

A math problem with no answer.  It could take years to calculate.  At Thanksgiving we saw a yard with 31 inflatables but they were all deflated in the daylight, it just isn’t the same effect.  Joan B found this house for me, too.

And I spoke to the owner and she said her husband had been ill and they had really scaled down this year (2008).  Pre-blog  I realize I have been at this for a time now. Shot on the  Northside.

What can the electricity bill be this month?

How Many Snowmen in this Collection?

When we got to the party Friday night I saw this display of snowmen in the front entrance hall.  Later, I asked if I could photograph it and blog it and was given permission but  I was told that the edict is, “No more snowmen!”

But the grouping is sweet. Turns out Tim never had a collection. And so the snowman collection began.  But then it had to stop!

Not sure which one was the first snowman in the collection.

Still thinking about a collection begins.
L. wrote and said she collects Creches. When is a collection complete?

Christmas Camels in the City

He looked straight at me.  I don’t think he wanted me to take his picture. I heard a deep camel growl.   The streetlight behind outlined his head shape just so.  There was an ox and a donkey, I’d say they were “lowing”. An angel passed out candy canes.  I went inside and the sanctuary was filled with the sound of Go Tell it on the Mountain. Christmas has come to the city, right on Penn Circle North, across from Home Depot! There was a second camel who seemed less agitated by the whole scene.  People were crossing the street and taking pictures with their cell phones.

Night Light- Two Houses

Driving back from Murrysville I saw the lights on the porch at Clayton, the home of Henry Clay Frick.  Evergreen swags dangling from the portico.  Drove around the block to come back and use the driver’s side window as my makeshift tripod.  Lots of photos in the dark lately, it’s dark so early! Wednesday night Steve and I ate dinner a Grant Avenue Bar & Grill  and when I pulled down the alley I saw the Candy Cane/ Snowflake house. Scroll down to see the Millvale House.

Decorated for the upcoming Holiday tours.
First Christmas House spotted in Millvale.