The Gator Christmas Tree is Done

Here's a cute photo of our beloved Gator tree. We are possily headed to the Nat'l Championship game AGAIN this year!

Last year, I used a 3 ft green tree for these ornaments. This year, I got a 4 ft blue tree, but orange and white lights on it, then decorated it as I did last year. I also have those gator football light strands that I put on it. The tree skirt is new this year. I made it back in October from Walmart felt. The mini statium and a few other accessories are from John's office.

Overall, it's a cute little corner in our living room. We like it.

Christmas at Disney

We went to a Gator game in Gainesville recently. We decided to stay in Orlando and hit a couple attractions with my Mom/Dad and little brother. Here, we are at Lego Land in Downtown Disney where I found a santa made from legos.

We also got a good idea about a toy box for next year made from wood. John said he could easily build one of these boxes. I am wondering how simple it would be to make it with hinges so that it can be folded up and stored...kinda like those folding tv tables.

Other than this, the ideas from Disney were just not flowing this year. All they had was stuffed animals and ornaments. I take that back...they did have a cool train set.

Made Progress on Garage Display

Yesterday, John helped me a lot on the garage. This weekend is the Stuart Airshow. The past three years, I can remember running out of the garage to look at the F-18s every time I heard them. Or, we were on the roof putting up lights...then you can really see them.

This year was no different; jet's flying overhead, 90 degree heat, and fake snow/glitter stuck to my arms and legs. Yesterday, we finished three-quarters of the starry, starry night backdrop. Then, John helped elevate the USA tree and the new USA toy soldier. I did a lot of the gingerbread stuff.

Now, it's about 11 am and John is headed to the roof to begin putting up the icicle lights which run the perimeter of the roof. I took the star from the peacock tree and put it on the USA tree (since it's a nice shiny star).

This Insect Bite was a Big Pain

I was over at the storage units rummaging through boxes a few weeks ago. Although the units are pest controlled and are always very clean, I guess I was bitten by a spider. In most parts of the country, spiders make their home in even the cleaned of spaces and love old untouched boxes.

So, I monitored the bite for a few days and kept drawing circles around the red swollen area. It got larger and larger with each day. The center of the bit was very hot and very hard. The photo below was taken on day three.

It ended up doubling in size from what is shown below. I went to the doctor because I felt there was a very slight chance is was a brown recluse bite. It turned out not to be a poisonous bite but I was put on an antibiotic just as a caution. I'm fine now, so all is well.

Finished a Caroler Scene

John's grandparents decorated with these three carolers; so although we don't know how old the weighted styrofoam trio is, we believe they are 40-50 years old.

I'm honored to have them at our house given their history. I wanted to give them center stage this year, so they are overseeing the entire vintage scene in the dining room. The past two years, they were in the garage scene.

A Snowy Snowman Man Scene

Last night, I finished the snowman scene in the living room. It's next to the cardinal topiaries. Here's the shot looking down from the ladder. Here's the shot looking down at last year's village scene.




After I finished this scene, I found a few more Annalee snowmen and a giant melting snowman I got last year. The scene is now finished. I really like it.

The Tropical Pantry Scene is Half Done

I have been looking forward to this scene for months now. Each of them has been painted with a family member or friend's name. For example, the ship is Matthew of the Caribbean, after my little brother. The tiki hit is named after John in honor of his new full-size backyard tiki hut. We even have a Swamp bar which is blue/orange and is an ode to Ben Hill Griffen Stadium in Gainesville where John went to college.

The Gold/White Kitchen Cabinet Scene

My friend and neighbor came over last night and today to help put together the pantry scene an the kitchen gold/white scene. Here is the gold scene almost done.

I think it took us 3 hours to get this done. I had to string the lights behind the fridge, then burry a few hundred white lights under snow blankets. Then, we got some old Grisham book to put under the 4 letters NOEL to prop them up. No jello boxes or soup can this year. We hung angel Annalees from the ceiling with fishing line. Then, we propped up two angels and a white Santa.

We want to do gold angel motionettes on the fridge like last year. They are still at storage, so I can get them tomorrow. I think I'm much more advanced this year than I was last year at this time. Tomorrow, the gator tree will be redone, the living room village will go up, the gold scene will be finished, and maybe the track lighting box will get done. It's such a pleasure to have someone help. Even though Halloween is a few days away, I'm already in the Christmas spirit.

Programmed Some More Today

I spent 3-4 hours today programming Carol of the Bells. I've added fades to beginning and end of each blink. I added the strobe lights. I mellowed out the north poles. I did some neat sweeps with the mega tree at the end of the song. I began The Chipmunk Song a few days ago and am having a hard time getting the beat tapped out in the software. I'm one of those that claps off beat.

I'm also monitoring a spider bite that I got at storage yesterday. John's at storage now with a trailer he borrowed from a friend. He's bringing back Annalees and village pieces for the decorating party we're hosting on Thrusday. I can't wait.

The 2007 Wine Table Village Scene

I was trying to find this photo earlier. Here is the 2007 wine table village scene. I was satisfied with the blue under the glass top, but I went back and put green garland around the edge. I need to figure out a better solution this year.