One last Christmas post...

The day is winding down, and I've got the last of my whiskey sitting in front of me.  It's been a nice, quiet day here with Michael and the dog.  Two long walks - in daylight!  I've been scanning some funny old books and have more to do before the night is over.

This has to be my favorite picture of all the silly vintage shots I found this year.  She's so dressed up, so gleeful over that cat clock, and there's a clown and a vaguely creepy doll in the picture!

I was going to write about the sad scourge of deflated inflatable decorations, but just can't be bothered at this point.  Maybe next year.  But here's a picture!

And one more - there's a group on Flickr just for these photos!






And with that, folks, this holiday is a wrap!

Slacking!

All right, I've been slacking off the last few days.  We've had some beautiful morning skies, which I normally don't have a chance to take photos of.  I made it home from the dog walk the other day in time to grab some photos.

Oooooooh!





Then it snowed.  The first time in almost two years!





Fortunately it was my day off, so I didn't have to worry at all about going in to work.  The roads weren't too bad, mostly it was slush.  I was glad it snowed, and glad it went away fairly quickly.

We drove past one of my favorite decorations here in town - Santa held captive!  He's been strapped to this chimney every year since at least 2007 (when I took this first photo of him).





I'd hate to see what they do to him the rest of the year...

Hot mama!

There's nothing quite like a sexy Christmas tree lady!

Maybe a  sexy Christmas tree blob.

Oh YEAH...

Zealous!

Some people around here are REALLY into the Christmas thing.  Lots of people put up trees, lights, and a smattering of outdoor decorations.

Then there are those that go above and beyond.

Sometimes, it's a matter of quantity.  There used to be a house here in town with so many lights in their yard you could see the glow from blocks away.  They had the lights, and painted plywood cutouts of every Christmas character you could think of.  Unfortunately, people grow old and die, and their yards no longer glow each year.

There is a house here in town that strives for the quantity prize.  They go crazy for lots of holidays, but Christmas is the big show each year.  The newspaper even published a story about them the other day!  Anyhow, I drove by the other day and I think they were just setting things up.  It was still looking a little sparse.




They even change it up every so often - here's a couple of pictures from 2009!









Santa on a pole!


Sometimes it's not quantity that counts, but enthusiasm.  This next fellow wins that prize in my book.





That's right.  A Christmas tree in the back of a truck.  There's even music!  He dashes around town, and I even saw him off-island the other day!

Such holiday cheer.

Or maybe insanity.

Neighborhood lights!

The holiday spirit has hit and many people in the neighborhood are putting up lights both inside and out.  I took a little stroll around the block last night to try and capture some of the highlights.  I took my "good" camera (an SLR) in hopes of getting a few good shots.  I'm not very skilled with the settings, and low light photography can be a challenge.

No problem!

Just wiggle the camera around, and everything becomes ART!











Ooooooh... Aaaaaahhhhhhh...

I'm not sure I'm a big fan of the new LED lights though.  They have such a cold feel, as opposed to the old lights.  One neighbor put some of those up, and it looks really nice.  They lined a fence, and the glow shines on a big oak tree.





Such a cozy warm feeling!  never mind the neighbor was putting them up in 19 degree weather the other night when we walked by.  What a trooper!

There's one more very special light display - small, yet very, um, uh... take a look yourself.





She's such a nice little old lady, I'm sure she has no idea.

Or maybe she does.

Local decor

I've been out and about the last couple of days, and managed to snap some photos of local Christmas decorations.  Lots of people are finally getting their lights out - I even saw a guy putting his lights up tonight in 19 degree weather!  Dedication.

Last night, we headed over to Anacortes for a friend's art show and dinner out.  Anacortes has a bit more going for it than my town, Oak Harbor.  For one, it has several art galleries so they can actually have a Friday night art walk!  And plenty of shops the go all out for the holidays.

First, we have the white flocked tree with pink lights.  Very nice.





Next, we have the distant lingerie mannequin, holding the lights as if she was the one decorating the tree.  You're not fooling me, toots!  Nice robe, though.




More art than "decoration," but I liked this little snowman that looked like he was trying to get the attention of the people across the gallery.  "Let me OUTTTTTT!"





Today I had a putter around downtown.  Overall, it was pretty lame.  The highlight was wandering through the antique shop and taking photos of creepy dolls.  You know how it is.

I did see a couple of little things, plus somebody decorating one of the taverns!  I always like their getup - it includes music playing outside.





Here's a cute little Rudolph figure!




And a nice little snowman ornament.  With a glitter broom!




Not everything out there is to be mocked.  Just most of it.  ;-)

Time to decorate!

Time to decorate!

Life before inflatables was so simple... youth were awed by stencils on the window!

Bing Crosby says you can "tape Christmas cards on your tree with loops of cellphone tape."

Get on it!

Can't make it out to get a real tree?  No problem.  ALUMINUM!

No excuses... get to work and do it up!  Your home is a reflection of YOU.  You don't want your neighbors to laugh at you, now, do you?

I didn't think so.

Let the fun begin!

I've decided to make the most of the holiday season this year.  Make the most fun of it, that is!

I was surprised how few people had their decorations up today when I took Syd for a walk after dark.  I suppose they were all busy fighting like crazed animals for "doorbuster" bargains on televisions and waffle makers and whatever the fuck else they're buying for themselves.  Fair enough.  I expect decorations to go up tomorrow.

Don't these people realize the season is short this year?  Thanksgiving is LATE.  Get on it people!  I'm putting my lights up tomorrow - I worked today so I have an excuse for not doing it today.  I really like the lights this time of year.  They make a difference on these short dark days.

But the other decorations... yikes.  Take above rifle toting snowman, for instance.  We passed a house with this exact decoration today.  Because what says Christmas more than a snowman set on shooting something to death?  Maybe he's just heading out to the Black Friday sales.

Nobody, nobody will get between him and that cheap off-brand tablet that won't be compatible with any of the apps people actually want to use.  NOBODY!