My outdoor holiday lights are up! How about yours?

QuickSilver said:
Every year hubby and I drive around looking at lights... I enjoy looking, and the more lavish the better! But no way do I want to be out in a Chicago winter taking them down.
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I enjoy looking at the decorated houses too, I use to decorate the outside, but no more, nor do I put up a tree, just put out a few decorations in the house, just enough that the kids know it is Christmas at mo-mo's.
 

Last year, I tried to go without putting up a tree. However, about a week before Christmas I ended up putting up a smaller tree on a table in the living room.. I just couldn't NOT have one.
 
Compost! What a great idea! And I could do the stuff left by the animals at my nativity scene, too!
 

I tried skipping the tree a couple of years ago. It only made me feel more alone than ever. The next year (and since) I put up the little tree that we had in DH's hospital room and put the few little ornaments that it had, then added all my memento ornaments that always meant the world to me. Some came from friends, some from my Very Best Aunt, some from family and friends who are now gone from this world.

Davey...I think folks in the northern climes try to get their lights up before the serious sNOw and cold blow in. You're in Florida...just sayin...
 
I am not sure if I am or I ain't. I love to look at others and last year I put them up for the first time in 9 years. Youngest grandson is 13 and may be over once before Christmas. I do not do gifts either since they are older. As for the kids, if I find something I want to buy them I give it to them then. I try to give them birthday presents and that takes the stress off buying 15 presents at one time. Plus friends. We get together and share a meal. And the kids get plenty from their parents and their aunt and uncles. I can't afford what the kids like these days. Especially since all 3 of the ones that aren't on their own are teenagers. Hubby and I have never exchanged gifts. I stopped some years ago as I bought him one and he never bought me one. He always said "You have the checkbook!" But he didn't have a problem writing checks (back then) for golf or whatever he needed. Not down about it, just telling it like it is. Goes into a store on my birthday or a week before and says "What do you want?" A good man but not in the least sentimental.
 
Nobody in England puts up any Christmas decorations before December [that I have ever seen.]I like to have a tree in the house [2 this year I think!]Also a wreath on the door, and a garland on the mantel with lights on it.That's about it. I don't know anyone who does outside lights [though obviously, they sell them here, so some people must do them.]
 
Yep! Had 4 small flags, on sticks in the ground, by our front porch. We were the only residents that had flags out. Guess the others don't think about it or celebrate it. Had a great breakfast and dinner that day.

Falcon said:
No, But my flag is up for this Veterans Day. Is yours ?
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Classic Rockr, I think you are right, but we are not ALL saying that outside lights are horrible.Just if it's way over the top.Driving in Devon last year, I saw some outside trees with lights in them that looked rather magical.Generally, In Europe, there probably aren't the big displays put up, as in the US, but having said that, I think Belgium and Germany do quite a lot.
 
I don't think we do them as early as you either.But nothing wrong with you putting them out now if you want to, if you like them, but don't leave them up until next April.;)
 
We won't decorate until the second week of Dec. and then take it all down the week after New Year's Eve. Anyway, depending on if I get my RC surgery before or after Christmas, will depend on how much décor outside and inside is put up. I think my wife will definitely want our 7 1/2 foot artificial tree w/lights on it, put up and lighted garland strung around the fireplace. Both look very cool! I can help her with it. We bought the artificial tree two years ago. Got tired of driving all over the place to find the perfect real tree! Don't know if our Christmas Village will go on our dining room table or not. It takes up the entire table.

My wife loves to decorate for Christmas. I like to decorate also, but she LOVES to decorate. We love to drive around and take photos and video of Christmas Light displays.

One thing we have noticed since the Twin Towers terrorist attack in 2001, not as much outside Christmas décor is up. We definitely noticed this in Las Vegas, when visiting there. When we were there in Dec 2000, all kinds of outside Christmas décor was up, including outside the hotel where we stayed. We were really shock the following 5 years we went there for the National Finals Rodeo.........very little-to-none. Still a lot of inside décor, thank goodness!
 
We're going up north for Christmas this year, leaving about the 15th and not coming home until well after Christmas, so I'm not doing much decorating at home. I'm so looking forward to seeing Williamsburg decorated for Christmas. Hoping there will be a little snow, since I haven't been north for Christmas for over 30 years. In fact, I haven't played in the snow since....uh, well.........that would be this July when I was runningView attachment 11041 around in the snow barefoot at 12,000 feet up in the Rockies (OK, Floridians get craaaazy when they see snow...)
 
Reindeer on the roof, giant Santa, every inch covered with outdoor lights, already in Nov.?
We're lucky to even have garish tinsel hanging in the city streets, but Melbourne does put up a huge tree in the city centre.
Almost forgot to mention the whimsical, imaginative display in the 'Meyer' windows where sometimes parents and children wait for hours in line for a look!
Christmas Day could be a picnic in the park, a traditional meal at home, or at a pub/restaurant.
I always decorate and put up a small tree, buy silly, fun presents and wrap them with gaudy paper and ribbons.
Remember fondly the days when we drove the children around looking at Christmas lights and decorations, the most amusing ones always being at the neighborhood funeral parlor! :christmas1:
 
jujube said:
We're going up north for Christmas this year, leaving about the 15th and not coming home until well after Christmas, so I'm not doing much decorating at home. I'm so looking forward to seeing Williamsburg decorated for Christmas. Hoping there will be a little snow, since I haven't been north for Christmas for over 30 years. In fact, I haven't played in the snow since....uh, well.........that would be this July when I was running around in the snow barefoot at 12,000 feet up in the Rockies (OK, Floridians get craaaazy when they see snow...)
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burrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. I got terrible chills just looking at that pic. Have fun. Snow is something I'll never miss, I don't think, I can't imagine at least not unless the sun gets too much closer to our surface that is. :D
 
Our tree is up and doing the finishing touches of tinsel on it..........looks great! Some other inside décor that includes a Christmas Stocking for each of us and two Santa hats on our coat rack. Next will be some outdoor stuff........a lighted/moving reindeer, tall lighted candy canes on both sides of the sidewalk coming up to our front door and some lights on our bushes. No roof lights this year due to my shoulder.
 
Quite a lot of outside lights round here; often really pretty; but I don't put any up outside.
granddaughter coming to help me with the tree etc tomorrow; which you can see through the window; middle floor!
 
Vivjen said:
Quite a lot of outside lights round here; often really pretty; but I don't put any up outside.
granddaughter coming to help me with the tree etc tomorrow; which you can see through the window; middle floor!
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Nice jen, what would we do without granddaughters? Mine has gone to work at the local school as a teacher's aid and I miss having her to talk to and I could always count on her to help me, she is really stretched thin now with 3 children and a job.

I don't put up a tree or lights, just put out some decorations and cook for my family Christmas day.
 
Last year photo. Roof lights aren't up this year due to my shoulder injury, BUT the rest of the outside lights are "up and running" as of yesterday. Wife was so surprised when she came home from work and seen them on.
The white thing on the left side, in front of the living room window, is our lighted Buck Deer. It's head moves. People drive by slowly to take a look.
Our outside is the most decorated in the entire apartment Outside1.jpgcomplex!
Electric candles are in all three windows.
 

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