The garden is slowly reaching it’s ‘seen from space’ look with both house and vegetation festooned with strings of sparkling lights flashing and twinkling for all their worth using up the worlds energy resources as if they’re going out of fashion.
On one side of the garden we have our 8 foot snowman leaning over at an alarming angle desperately trying to look more like a garden ornament and less like a drunken sailor. It’s kept inflated by an internal pump in much the same way as a hot air balloon, and is at least 5 years old now… possibly 7 (not really sure). However, the parachute silk is starting to deteriorate under the relentless onslaught of time and ultraviolet rays and now tears really easily. I’ve patched up several rips with duct tape but there are clearly still small holes hiding in unseen places and (sadly) I think it’s reached the end of it’s useful life.
I’ll be really sorry to see the old snowman go – it’s been a part of our Xmas decorations for so long it’s almost like a part of the family! But life goes on and nothing lasts forever whether animate or inanimate and this one’s time is almost up.
We have a 4 foot inflated and illuminated Santa standing on a chair on the veranda… but really it’s just ‘not the same’. Size and incongruity rule with this sort of decoration so I think I’ll have to start looking around for a replacement… but don’t tell the wife. Recently the sound of tills clacking near me is enough to send her into fits of recrimination about my profligate ways!! Actually, a few weeks ago I saw a *really* nice inflatable 6 foot tall revolving merry go round populated with gnomes, elves and reindeer… but for some reason the wife objected when I said I wanted to take it home with me.
Internally you can’t move for dangly bits and streamers hanging from any and all available surfaces. In addition I stuck up lots of the kids artwork that was brought home from school so the walls are covered again… nice I call it!
Totally over the top others call it… but I’m deaf so I can’t hear them! 🙂
All the windows have something bright and shining in them… mostly silhouettes of Santa, Xmas trees or sleighs outlined in lights and as usual in our front room the tree is heavy with baubles and lights flashing their message of profligate use of precious energy. We’ve even managed to find tinsel garlands that have integrated lights so they flash *their* little message at us along with the rest.
Xmas Day is on the way!! 🙂
The Eclectic Interweb 
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I don’t decorate. I seem to lack the enthusiasm for it. And besides, the neighbours are more than making up for my shortcomings, this year. I’ve got two neighbours (next door and across the street) on their first year in the street, and they have done the Griswoldian sense of Christmas proud. Even the cats go out to watch the pretty (if somewhat excessive, its as bright as day) lights, and the Plovers flee elsewhere for the night.