Tuesday, November 30, 2010

be of good cheer

Or how the Grobles put up outdoor Christmas decorations and stay out of jail.

Sunday dawned the perfect day to put up outdoor Christmas decorations. It was in the mid 50’s and sunny. And most importantly, Jimmy was home. We store the outdoor ornaments above the garage. Last time I went up there, I fell through the ceiling and cracked three vertebrae, so I needed a volunteer. Once we had everything down, we needed to figure out where the ornaments would go. We spent Christmas last year in California so we did not put many up. A year off seemed to erase our collective memory and offer us an opportunity of re-thinking what we would put where. In true democratic form, everyone had different ideas. An unspoken division of labor took place. I worked on the front of the garage. Pat and Jimmy worked on the yard. Bob and Fred provided security. We got half of the front yard stuff up and operable before the sun dipped below the trees and it got too cold to play in the yard.

Jimmy suggested that we run electric lines to all the flower beds. This would eliminate the need for a zillion extension cords. This would also help in preventing what I view as our Country’s biggest seasonal danger, which is the nation being engulfed in a coast to coast fire set off by overloaded extension chords sitting in the snow. See, the real enemies of this country aren’t guys in some capital. No, they are guys working in some factory somewhere who have figured out that when the 20 gazillionith light strand gets plugged into a jerry-rigged splitter the whole country will short out. Kind of what happened a few years back when an electric line in Ohio shorted out and sent the whole east coast into darkness.

You guys who only know what snow is from the news don’t have to worry, unless of course, you put Christmas lights on your palm trees.

See what happens when an over-eager imagination can’t spent time with plants.


The Ohio State flag is the coolest of all state flags.




10 comments:

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Wow, you guys really go all out! I can't wait to see it all lit up!

Eileen

Curbstone Valley Farm said...

Good grief, I feel like such an underachiever ;) All you need now is snow! Nice job!

Paul said...

I did Christmas lights one year. Now Alison does them while I'm at work to avoid further catastrophe! And yes there are some in the palm trees.

Floridagirl said...

Jim, Christmas lights on palm trees are a beautiful thing. My neighbor decorates his date palms by wrapping the trunks in white lights and stringing green lights along the fronds. Quite a sight! As for me, I don't want to deal with the thorns.

Seriously, you guys do go all out. I've always wanted to do such things, but we'll have to wait until hubby's retirement. For now, we will do our humble show, complete with way-too-many extension cords, then drive to the next town over to see the real lights. Do you live in one of those neighborhoods with the cars lined up to "see the lights" every night in December?

The Idiot said...

It's a bit early, isn't it Jim? I usually get Mrs IG a tree around the 23rd. Mind you, I have ordered a side of venison and a goose!

Ali said...

I am pretty impressed, that's showing some pretty solid commitment to Christmas lighting.

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

You are getting me in the mood to 'do something'.

I bet your lights look lovely lit. Do take some pictures, pretty please.

It looks cold in your neck of the woods.

FlowerLady

Lona said...

Sunday must have been the day Ohio gardeners did Christmas. LOL! I was out there too playing in the yard and on the front porch. Your decorations look wonderful Jim and I bet it is beautiful at night. I like the big snow flakes on the garage best of all.I am glad you had some helpers and some mangers in the work project. LOL!

Kathryn said...

looks good! the only time you see snowmen in southern California is during the month of December and they're made of lights, not snow. (or god forbid, those awful blow-up decorations)

Vesna Maric said...

And, where is snow? I cannot wait to see it all lit up.