Merry Christmas decorations with artistic flair

I've been looking forward to Christmas Day all week, after I got the invitation to come for pie, ice cream, and great conversation in the afternoon. Not only would Nellie and I be having a delightful time with Nick and his Mom, but the addition of little Toots and her Mom would make the afternoon complete. As a Bah Humbug sort of person, being able to ditch the whole shop-til-you-drop mentality of Christmas, and replace it with a delicious dessert, just makes sense. Of course, that expectation just had to be dashed. I haven't had so much as a sniffle in three years, and even then it only lasted a day or too. Not this year. This year, out of nowhere, came the onset of a cough that just gets deeper. So with great reluctance, and consideration for my friends, I bowed out. It felt even more a betrayal by the gods when K mentioned she had even decorated for the occasion. Now you must understand that Nick's house is the epitome of beautiful minimalism. I always get a deep sense of space and peace whenever Nellie and I trek over to visit. It is such a wonderful contrast to our house, which, while we have beautiful items of the antique and collectible variety, is much too much. Not hoarder madness, but a lot of stuff to dust. And yes, I have been working on downsizing...well, that's getting us off track. Since I'm not able to be a participant in today's pie gathering, K kindly sent pictures of her decorations (at my demand), and they are truly imaginative and wonderful, made from recycled materials, and totally in keeping with her minimalist tradition. I LOVE them. And just to rub in what I'm missing, they kindly sent a picture of the goodies.

The flowers are made from paper with cotton ball centers.

Festive trees and Larry the whale.

Apparently, Larry was feeling the spirit, and he wanted a hat made just for him.

Now, that's Christmas.

A bit of nostalgia

For those of us who grew up with the Peanuts comic strip in our local newspapers, you'll immediately recognize this Christmas motif. Charlie Brown with his stunted Christmas tree, and Snoopy happily hanging out on his house roof. Just a bit of cheer.

 

Speaking of all out Christmas in the front yard...

The last post showed the most spare decorations for Christmas cheer anywhere. This shows how far some people are willing to go.

And they didn't stop there. These very cute critters lined their driveway. Sorry about the sun reflection on the lens.

Yuletide flair

If you walk around any given neighborhood, you'll see packed yards with inflatable Santas on sleighs, cute penguins, angels, bright lights, wreaths, and other miscellaneous Christmas themed decorations. They are all fun to look at and I appreciate the work that went into creating such Christmas chaos -- especially since I didn't do any of the labor. While long-suffering partner loves to put up his tree and decorates the inside so nicely for the holiday, I take a more minimalist (that is to say very lazy) approach that is actually courtesy of a dear neighbor who provides me with the perfect ornaments. And in case you can't tell, she's a dog lover too.

The approach to the front door:

Getting closer:

Now you see it:

And don't forget the charmer over the mail slot which is left up year round because who doesn't want to get puppy kisses:

And that, my friends, is how Bah Humbuggers do Christmas.

The merriment has begun

I've mentioned before that I'm more of a Bah Humbug! sort of a person, but even I can be enchanted by some of the more untraditional holiday decorations. Being a dog person, this house stood out. Yup. Puppies.

HO HO HO and a stinky start to the day

Merry Christmas was all the skunk was trying to say at o'dark thirty this morning when we wanted to let Nellie and Rascal out for their business first thing. Fortunately, said skunk wasn't in our yard as the bomb went off and we were able to corral the doggos immediately. Sooo, interesting start to Christmas Day. As a Bah Humbugger, it was to be expected. But, lest you think the day has been spoiled, think again.

Nellie and I decided to go in search of the last amazing decorations in our far-flung neighborhood. We hadn't been able to take super long walks of late, so this was a big deal. We set out and not only enjoyed the fresh, crisp (but not cold) air, but the quiet that is Christmas morning. Our walk took us down a couple of streets noted for holiday decor. 

First, we spotted our favorite (goofy) snake who dresses appropriately for all seasons. 

Next, we ventured upon an assortment on the roof that made us wonder how and why all those figures got up there. Magic I suppose. My favorites: Minions and the tiger. What the Sam Hill tigers have to do with Christmas is the big question of the day.

Then, the house that truly goes all out for Halloween and Christmas, this wonderland:

And let us not forget the dinosaurs which somehow escaped extinction. And know about Santa. And don't eat penguins.

Keep your holidays safe and happy.

Is there such a thing as conjoined triplets?

It is rare to see inflatables still fully puffed up during the day, so it pays to notice. What caught my eye first was the dinosaur in the Santa hat. Seems Dinos are very in this year. Cute. But what really intrigued me was the Snow family figure. You tell me -- are they climbing on each other or are they somehow conjoined. Inquiring minds not only want to know, but want to know what in blue blazes is happening here.

Mistletoe for postal workers? Yes - a very special kind.

At this time of year, our neighborhood letter carriers are working harder than ever with junk mail, actual mail, and packages. In order to give them a little holiday cheer, I added a mistletoe booth above the mail slot. It'll cost them 25¢, but I think you'll agree the price is soooo worth it. 

                                    From Nellie and Rascal.

A derpy dog and a sparkly cow - say what?

I suppose if skeletons can wear Santa hats, then festive dogs and cows can certainly be expected to grace lawns during the holidays. Came upon this wonderful duo today. The dog has his tongue out in that way that says he's a bit of a goofball. The sparkles on the cow are meant to convey the twinkly season - I guess? Anyway, they are adorable. Too bad the inflatables in the back don't do justice to the scene when they are clearly too tired to stand up.

Well, Christmas decorations are up -- sort of

Those who know me understand that I'm the Bah Humbug of Christmas. The crass commercialism, the waste -- well, you get the picture. That doesn't mean that well done lighting and yard decorations are not appreciated. As Nellie and I stroll around the neighborhood in the evening, we've noticed an increase in inflatable figures. Some are very cute, though the Disney stuff is overdone and just ewww. (Remember: cranky old lady here). What isn't so good with inflatables is what happens when they are turned off during the day. It seems like just a bunch of trash in the yard then. As in:

There is one house, however, that allows their blowup reindeer to enjoy the season non-stop, so that's fun.

What makes more sense to me are decorations that look great night or day. These are here year after year, and have weathered rain and harsh sun. Whoever made them is quite artistic.

A little late but still in the spirit

Yes, Christmas has (sort of) come and gone, though many houses are still sporting lights and other decor of the season. One of my favorites just came to my attention yesterday, as Nellie and I were strolling down a street we hadn't visited in a while. You may remember the dinosaur from Halloween. She's changed her outfit to be a fearsome Santa:

On another note, as I was puttering around the yard, the seashell birds I tucked away in a hollowed tree stump made me smile. Happy new year:

Just in case someone thinks I had the talent to create that ensemble from coral and seashells, the answer is no. But I sure know cute when I see it.

Flying Santa Dogs?

Gotta say that my neighborhood has gone all out this year with the Christmas decorations. All the sparkly lights and candy canes and beautiful poinsettias are a joy. But I'm willing to bet you've never seen a flying Santa dog. Made of chicken wire and a great sense of humor, this dog took me by surprise. You really have to click on the pictures to be able to see detail, since it has no solid background to give it substance. Enjoy:

 Ho, ho, ho.