Countdown to Christmas -Day 11

Last night was the big night for Porch Tour. The streets were closed off and people walked from house to house in the neighborhood. Many of the porches have scheduled entertainment. We host a party for the playgroup. They usually dress in costume as well. This year they decided to take a break. So we were the only ones dressed. It was cold so we would stroll for a while and then return to warm up. I didn't take many pictures because I was in most of the pictures. People ask us to pose with them and our friends take their picture. I didn't even think to take a picture of the table with the food! We had chicken nuggets (Chik-fil-et), spinach-sausage turnovers, roasted red potato bites, sausage balls, cookies, buffalo chicken dip with chips, brownies and key lime tarts. After the tour was over we moved our party up the street to a friend's house to her party! I'm exhausted!

Countdown to Christmas - Day 12

The Victorian Woodsman is in our backyard. One year a couple of our friends dressed as woodsmen and posed with the figure. When people would get really close they would move and scare them to death. These were mature, grown, professional men who had a little bit of "Christmas Cheer" in them!

Going up the street on the next block.

Our pediatrician's house...

Finally back at the house across the street- this is Peggy Sue. She was new last year. They say she has an attitude. All I know is that she is very tall and very heavy!

Countdown to Christmas - Day 13

Welcome to the Victorian Porch Tour 2008. I'll begin with my front yard. Years ago during Porch tour my new husband and I stood on this very corner talking to friends about how much we would love to live in this neighborhood! Little did we know that this very house would one day be our home.

Here is our Santa, although he does not belong to us, he is assigned to our porch each year and is a treasured member of the family. Some of his snow blew away last night during the bad weather. Tomorrow when the weather is supposed to clear up we will go around and fix the snow around the neighborhood.

His face was molded and painted by my artist friend. He is about 6 feet tall and very heavy. He has fallen before so DH screws him to the porch for the week! Over the next few days I will show you more of the porches-be prepared- there are about 50!

Christmas Countdown - Day 14

In our bedroom I have a Wizard of Oz tree. I didn't plan on having this - but I needed something unbreakable to put on this tree and Vintage Whimsy had some vintage light covers and I already had some Wizard of Oz ornaments so I put this together..............

I may have to add to this collection!

The first night of Porch Tour was rainy. Some of the figures had to be covered with plastic tarps. But, there were still a lot of cars driving through. I hope we can get everything fluffed back up tomorrow. We did go to a party tonight and I ran into a friend that I had not seen in about 20 years. We taught together around 1985! So we sat in a corner and talked - it was like a high school reunion only better! Funny how with some people you can pick right back up like you just saw them yesterday!

Countdown to Christmas - Day 15

Here are the real stockings- Santa stops here!

Fiesta plates that Mom got for me.

Hidden Mickey!

The kid's ornaments from school + some paper mache dogs from 2 years ago.

Candy tree- I've never counted all my trees- not sure I want to know.....

Set up day went well- it would have been better with a few more volunteers- I am a team leader , usually we have teams of 3 to 4. Yesterday I only had one other girl on my team. I think it worked out OK because we both work fast. We finished our houses and helped other teams that were not done after lunch. It started raining during the night so I hope things are not blown over! I'll ride by on my way to Violin Lessons today but, I can't get back to fix anything til after school.

Countdown to Christmas - Day 16

Next year the dining room will look very different after the face lift. So this year we have the big tree in there- next year-maybe not...

Another Bedford Falls Village is in the dining room above the piano. I gave the first buildings of this set to DH on our first Christmas together. He gave me an engagement ring!

The monster tree all decorated = 2 days of my life!!!

Paper mache house I made to look like our house.

These are the paper mache Santas I made in 2002. Some of you will recognize the light bulb shape!

Santa collection with pictures of the kids with Santa!

Evil elf....

Mantle with Grandma's china + my Christmas plates to match.

Today is "Set Up" Day for the Porch Tour. Yesterday we spent the day getting the displays delivered to the porches. I worked from 8:30 until 4:30 and was worn out! Some of those Santas are heavy! Today we go around and unpack them, fluff them and sprinkle snow. It will be another looonnnngggg day! Wednesday we light them up for the first time for drive through traffic. Saturday night we close the streets and walk in costumes. There is all kinds of entertainment and several parties going on. The houses are not open to the public but, our friends know they can come in and eat and drink. Sometimes we find strangers who have followed friends in so we just feed them too!

Countdown to Christmas - Day 17

Guess who has been playing in the village?