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Events: it's that time of year
Dec. 6th, 2020 11:25 amI put up the lights yesterday. I meant to put them up last weekend, but it didn't happen for various reasons, so they went up yesterday.
I do a line of blue icicles and line of white and can usually get them up in an hour. This is because I have a system and it's worked well for more than ten years.
And after that it's just wrapping presents and writing out cards and Christmas is done.
This year was more tedious as two strands of the white had gone out and one of the blue strands was a different blue than the others. I decided, due to how it works, I could swap out a blue with another and the different shade would be on the peak.
Also, much to my chagrin, I discovered the hook at the peak was missing, so the lights are more of a trapezoid this time around than a triangle. I'll have to hire a guy with a ladder to replace it, but that will be for next year.
Tim across the street was putting up a tree on his porch when I started, so of course he finished before I did. Both of us were distracted by another neighbor out walking her dog. The dog had a toy she was carrying, because another neighbor had put out a collection of dog toys at the curb.
Amazon delivered a package next door at Al and Ester's. You may remember Al as the neighbor who had the brain tumor. Anyway, Ester came home shortly thereafter and said (hand to her chest), "NOW it's Christmas."
"Oh, what'd you get?"
"No, your lights," she said. "I love your lights. That's how I know it's finally Christmas."
I had no idea they meant that much to anyone. We never know, do we?
I do a line of blue icicles and line of white and can usually get them up in an hour. This is because I have a system and it's worked well for more than ten years.
- Turn off porch light (to give it time to cool)
- Go to attic to get lights, open attic window and tie off rope
- Test lights and note needed replacements
- Unwind lights across the front of the house and make replacements
- Using a bamboo pole with a notch in it, string lights on existing hooks
- Tie remaining strand to rope, go up up attic with pole and pull up strand
- Hook lights to hooks on peak. Yes, this is its own step and a tedious one.
- Toss down pole, put up tinsel wreath, go downstairs
- Attach extension cord, finish hooking
- String up lights on porch
- Get on stepladder and replace porch bulb with adapter, plug in lights, tie up cord
- Turn on lights, put box away in attic, bring down wrapping paper and cards
And after that it's just wrapping presents and writing out cards and Christmas is done.
This year was more tedious as two strands of the white had gone out and one of the blue strands was a different blue than the others. I decided, due to how it works, I could swap out a blue with another and the different shade would be on the peak.
Also, much to my chagrin, I discovered the hook at the peak was missing, so the lights are more of a trapezoid this time around than a triangle. I'll have to hire a guy with a ladder to replace it, but that will be for next year.
Tim across the street was putting up a tree on his porch when I started, so of course he finished before I did. Both of us were distracted by another neighbor out walking her dog. The dog had a toy she was carrying, because another neighbor had put out a collection of dog toys at the curb.
Amazon delivered a package next door at Al and Ester's. You may remember Al as the neighbor who had the brain tumor. Anyway, Ester came home shortly thereafter and said (hand to her chest), "NOW it's Christmas."
"Oh, what'd you get?"
"No, your lights," she said. "I love your lights. That's how I know it's finally Christmas."
I had no idea they meant that much to anyone. We never know, do we?
