Holiday Decorations Around Our Home Place - Time Out #488

Without a doubt, I have been living with a decorating magician for 43-plus years of marital bliss. Of course, her most commonly recognized name is Lady Deborah. She is so multi-talented with her decorating skills, both indoor and outdoor, she has become known decorator in our southwest Our Town neighborhood. It all began in 1983 in our former home, only 2 blocks as the crow flies, from our current homestead, where we have now lived for over 7 years. In our former long-term digs, both our large front yard and our open-concept sunken living room/dining rooms were always highly decorated for 2 specific holidays, Halloween and Christmas.  Occasionally, she decorated for other special holidays, too, such as Easter, July 4th, and Thanksgiving. However, her creative talents are on the greatest display before Halloween and Christmas.   

     We currently have a large, wooded area north of our present home, and the ground has been cleared beneath the tall trees. Therefore, this outdoor setting is ideal for her to place her scary Halloween goodies, such as life-size skeletons, howling wolves, flying bats, crawling spiders, rats, snakes, ghosts, and the newest addition for her 2024 display, a huge werewolf that has creepy motion-activated eyes. Once activated, the terrifying creature loudly howls, aggressively moves his arms and large tail, and totally surprises anyone that crosses in front of him on the concrete cart path. The werewolf was absolutely the centerpiece of her decorating efforts this past season, and on one mild weather evening in October, we observed about 15 fans and 4 golf carts outside. All were crowded in the spooky-decorated area, not far from our observation area inside our home dining room. In other recent years, Ms. Debbie had as many as 3 electrically-powered fog machines, belching out a thick haze of creepy fog, adding to the festive Halloween atmosphere.   

     Christmas decorating is a bigger event inside our home than outside. However, we always have our home's exterior outlined with many clear lights. In 2024, a large transparent deer trio, full of blinking LED lights, was located near the entry point from the street into our driveway. Inside our home, is always where the real magic unfolds for our holiday visitors. Our place is decorated with many sizes of Santa Claus, colorful garland, lights, assorted holiday animals, wreaths, ornaments, and all types of beautiful, unusual Xmas items. Lady Deborah has a flare for purchasing unusual Christmas decorations. Throughout the 102 counties, all the U.S. states and Canadian provinces we have visited over 43 years, she has had a keen eye for making unique Christmas decorating purchases. She always finds a place in our home to use her holiday decorating international/national finds.

     Of course, all the decorations whatever the occasion, have to be put away once the holiday celebration days have passed. I try to help her put the decorations in their proper places, but usually she has it completed while I am working at my office. Fortunately, our home provides adequate storage areas, both upstairs and downstairs.    

     The popular phrase "couples complement each other" certainly holds true in our case. My decorating talents are nil, but, hopefully, I have other skills I am able to utilize?  I certainly hope my bride thinks so?