In the large house Hubby Tony and I used to live in, it took a couple of days to decorate for Christmas. We'd put up outside lights, swap out the items above the cabinets in the kitchen, empty and refill the large floor-to-ceiling bookshelves on either side of the fireplace in the family room, switch out some of the artwork, get out the ladder to place silk poinsettias in the niche above the front door, and put up the eight-foot tall tree in the living room. When it was done we collapsed on the couch to admire all of our work.
As part of the downsizing process last year, we got rid of the vast majority of the decorations. Yesterday I carried the boxed tree and four bins (one for ornaments, one for lights and garland, and two for everything else) up from the storage unit. It was fun to decide for the first time where each item went in our condo. The tree is pre-lit, so there were no lights to put on, and because it's smaller then the old one took much less time to decorate. When everything else was done I plugged the tree lights into the timer so they would go on and off automatically.
Today I started thinking about the outside of the condo. Our building is close to the main entrance and visible from the street.The owner of the unit across the hall from us has a strand of lights hanging from her eaves, which makes that section of the building look festive. I didn't have the supplies to do the same thing, but I decided I could wrap lights around the top rail of our deck to give our place some color.
I grabbed two strands of lights from the bin and plugged them into an outlet to check them. They worked fine. Outside, I connected the strands, curled them loosely around the rail, and plugged them in. Only the strand farthest from the door came on. UGH!
I didn't want to figure out what the issue with the strand was, so I took it off and replaced it with another one. This time when I plugged it in all of the lights came on. I walked out to the street to look at my project, and decided that the wrapping wasn't evenly spaced. Back upstairs, I adjusted things and plugged the lights back in. Now the second strand wasn't working again. AARGH!
I gave up, unwrapped both strands from the rail, and brought them inside. Just for grins I attached them together and plugged them into an inside outlet. The entire set lit up. BOO! HISS!
I decided that the lights were conspiring against me, and I chucked the project for the day. I haven't decided yet if I will attempt it again tomorrow.
Five years ago today: Adorning The Grounds
You are wonderful to persevere despite the occasional setback. I have faith you’ll get the lights going. We weren’t going to put up decorations since we are locked in, but my daughter insisted we should get into the holiday spirit. Sooo... today we put up our smaller tree and some table decorations. And you know what? It did lift our spirits.
ReplyDeleteEach morning when I come into the living area seeing the tree and decorations really helps the day get off on the right foot.
DeleteThis is a familiar story with Xmas lights. I usually buy cheap new ones from my local Rite Aid. I'm not decorating this year but I did put out some Christmas towels and soaps.
ReplyDeleteIf I was able to leave the house I would have been tempted to do the same thing, but I had to make do with what I had.
DeleteOh those lights seem like they are conspiring against you. Maybe time for all new lights.
ReplyDeleteYes! It's a conspiracy!
DeleteTime for new lights, the new LED lights are fun.
ReplyDeleteBy the time I can get out into the stores it won't be worth the effort to install lights.
DeleteI bet it was fun, setting up the tree in your new home for the first time. Certainly more fun than trying to light up the deck, I guess.
ReplyDeleteYes and yes!
DeleteMy neighbor wrapped her railing last year. I've considered it.
ReplyDeleteYou should....then post a photo of the result.
DeleteThere is something about the quality of goods they produce these days...
ReplyDeleteAmen!
Deletewow your preparations are going great as i can almost watch how busy you are with Christmas lights and tree dear Kathy :)
ReplyDeletesorry about strand problem ,sometimes we have to let it go for while and try it again after while ,things response well then ,talking through personal experience :)
blessings!
Yes, often stepping away from a problem will either fix it or reveal a different way of doing things.
DeleteIt is annoying when lights that worked perfectly the previous year suddenly decide to misbehave.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
It seems like most years a strand decides not to perform, but it's when tested inside (before all the work is done).
DeleteSounds like stuff that happens to me, a lot of the time. I like the way you handled this, good for you.
ReplyDelete