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Putting up Christmas

December 4th, 2008

I’m a big fan of all the decorations that come with Christmas. We love to see other people’s houses all decorated up with lights and garland (although I’m not a huge fan of those blow up things). We usually take one evening during the season to drive around to look at all the Christmas lights.

We’re a bit old school, we love the big white Christmas lights (I know they use tons of electricity), I tried buying the LED ones but they just weren’t the same. So we put up 3 strands of the big C7 lights across the front of our house. To help save electric we bought at outdoor timer, so they’re only on for 4 1/2 hours each evening.

We always use real greens, this year I was able to find mixed white pine and cedar. Usually I can only find white pine and I add different kinds of greens to add texture. I also like to use things like pine cones and grapevine stars, I’m kind of a natural kind of decorator. Every year I decorate a little differently. This year I used grapevine stars mixed in with the garland.

Yesterday was the perfect day for hanging the greens. I was sunny and warm (until about 2, then the clouds rolled in and it got windy and cold). I was able to get all the Christmas decorations put up and a few other outdoor tasks finished up! I had some help from our new little friend, he sure was enjoying the warm weather as well.

He’s making his case to stay. He followed me around all day everywhere I went. He’s even been snooping around the garage (hopefully he’ll catch a few mice in there!). It was so warm I even took off my gloves, and he stole them to play with.

So what kind of Christmas decorating do you do outside?

By the way, there’s a new poll about when you decorate for Christmas.

8 Comments to “Putting up Christmas”
  1. farm mom on December 4, 2008 at 8:08 am

    We don’t decorate outside. But we always decorate our tree the weekend after thanksgiving. That kitty is adorable. How are his charms working on you? Because I’ve gotta admit, they’re working on me, and the last thing I need is another cat!! :)

    Reply to farm mom's comment

  2. Mom on December 4, 2008 at 9:25 am

    The kitty does look a lot like Jeffrey did. Do you suppose he will get as big as Jeffrey did? It looks like he has adopted you.

    Reply to Mom's comment

  3. Ed Jones on December 4, 2008 at 10:52 am

    Good morning.

    Just stumbled onto your blog whilst looking up the Algonquin Mill Fall Festival. Since I am a longtime chef of the pancakes therein, couldn’t pass by without thanking you for the compliments.

    And indeed, I was putting up decorations on the square in Carrollton yesterday, so I got somthing to relate to this post. We don’t have our huge tree on the square any more, but the new decor is traditional in its way.

    For a long time I was the supply guy at the Mill fest. These days I’m building a hike and bike trail and parks. Hope to see you in Carroll often!
    Ed

    Reply to Ed Jones's comment

  4. Kelly on December 4, 2008 at 4:18 pm

    I have not gotten around to decorating the outside…probably won’t get done but we are all decked out on the inside! I love the beautiful white lights!

    Reply to Kelly's comment

  5. Susy on December 4, 2008 at 5:50 pm

    Great to hear from you Ed! My husband and I have been going to the Mill Festival since we moved to Carroll County 6 years ago – we LOVE it! We love the pancakes, always tell everyone to get them. I can’t believe I ate them twice this year and I didn’t even get a photo of them, perhaps next year.

    Are you building hike/bike trails in Carroll County? If so Mr Chiots and I would love to know where they are. We’re big hikers.

    Reply to Susy's comment

  6. Susan/Wild Yeast on December 4, 2008 at 6:15 pm

    I love your greens and white lights. I’m lucky if I get wreaths on the front doors but I do start forcing paperwhites the first week in December, does that count?

    Reply to Susan/Wild Yeast's comment

  7. Lee on December 6, 2008 at 12:18 pm

    That cat looks so happy to be there. I think your family just got bigger.

    Reply to Lee's comment

  8. Fresh Pine Garland | Chiot's Run on December 2, 2009 at 4:46 am

    […] or tomorrow. Oddly enough it was December 3 last year when I put up my garland (I have these great photos of Dexter, helping me, before he was officially ours). I need to gather everything I’m going to need to get our […]

    Reply to Fresh Pine Garland | Chiot’s Run's comment

About

This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

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