Neighbors decorations

[happyhoix]

We have large lots in our neighborhood and the neighbors across the street always do a big display of inflatables. I think they had six of them for Halloween- which is fine, I’m sure the kids love it.

However- they took the Halloween ones down on the 21st and put up Thanksgiving turkey inflatables. Currently they have a rowboat full of skeletons sitting at the edge of their pond and four large inflated turkeys???

I suspect the problem is they have a whole squad of decorations to put up for Christmas (they have a five acre lot) and it usually takes several weeks to get everything up - so they are moving Halloween and Thanksgiving up to allow more time for the big show.

I’ll be interested to see if the blow up turkeys in pilgrim hats make it to thanksgiving.

Seems like a lot of work. And money. I throw a holiday wreath on the door if I remember to, do I guess I’m a party pooper. My neighbors probably hate my lazy ass.

[Tennesseer]

I think it is a waste of money and effort.  Decorate inside all one wishes.  But keep it simple outdoors.  Plus it opens up the possibility of theft overnight.

[andi9899]

I don't decorate indoors or outdoors. I only put up a Christmas tree for the kids who aren't even kids anymore.

[resolution]

Our first year at this house we had as many kids walk past the house as we had come up the steps to knock for trick or treat. I don't know if they expected everyone to sit outside with a table full of candy, but we kept seeing them hesitate, and some had discussions over whether they should knock or not, even with the porch light on.  My husband started waving at them through the mail slot in the door, which is how we got most of our trick or treaters.

Last year I added a lit up pumpkin man, and we still needed to wave through the mail slot, but we got around 500 kids.

This year, since we have half the downstairs windows boarded up, I painted the boards in addition to displaying the pumpkin man. Hopefully we won't have to flag down the kids again.

[TheOtherMe]

I decorate inside.  There is a wreath on the door that will stay there until the war Russia is waging with Ukraine is over.

Otherwise, no outside decorations.

No Halloween treats are given here either.  Where I live, there aren't many kids and I am not buying candy I have to eat myself.

And I hate the inflatables.  They are just plain ugly

[minnesotapaintlady]

Oct 24, 2023 14:24:38 GMT -5 resolution said:

Our first year at this house we had as many kids walk past the house as we had come up the steps to knock for trick or treat. I don't know if they expected everyone to sit outside with a table full of candy, but we kept seeing them hesitate, and some had discussions over whether they should knock or not, even with the porch light on.  My husband started waving at them through the mail slot in the door, which is how we got most of our trick or treaters.

Last year I added a lit up pumpkin man, and we still needed to wave through the mail slot, but we got around 500 kids.

This year, since we have half the downstairs windows boarded up, I painted the boards in addition to displaying the pumpkin man. Hopefully we won't have to flag down the kids again.

Holy crap!  500 kids??  That's a lot of candy!

I don't decorate, but we're out in the country, so no trick or treaters.  I still buy candy.  Because it's candy.

As for decorating, that's one of the few areas where I'm really good at being a minimalist.    Your porch is what I would consider tastefully decorated...if I actually decorated.  I usually throw a couple pumpkins and corn shocks out on the steps, but that's about it. 

[resolution]

Oct 24, 2023 14:54:35 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Holy crap!  500 kids??  That's a lot of candy!

We live on the main street of our town, and I think all the kids out in the county come in for trick or treat. People were stopping me at the grocery store asking me where I live, when they saw all the candy in my cart!

[jerseygirl]

We almost never get kids at Halloween. I keep a dish of quarters by door in case any knock.
I put up a wreath with flowers for spring/summer, then replace with wreath with autumn leaves followed by a Christmas wreath - that’s it

[soupandstew]

At the moment our front deck has life-sized human, dog, cat, vulture, frog and snake skeletons on it.  And a skull and tombstone in the front yard. I will be upping my game next year with something large and lit.  Many of my neighbors go full out starting in mid-September with orange or purple lights, large orange trees, 6-foot spiders, and inflatable everythings.  I saw one house today with a poseable 12-foot ghoul.  I am officially jealous.  He's positioned in a very realistic looking pool of fake blood with claw hands reaching up from the "liquid".  Every year the community association receives complaints about the graphic realism of this homeowner's decorations - have these complainers looked at TV or the internet in the last decade?  

Inside I have a goodly collection of what I call my Halloweenies - lots of pumpkin-head figures, a set of yoga position skeletons, and so forth - they are more cozy that creepy.

At Christmas we do a large wreath and swag at the front entry with various somewhat whimsical yard decorations.  Inside is a pre-lit birch tree without decorations and various wintry-themed stuff.  

[countrygirl2]

I have up some ghosts on the porch where the chimes were. 2 inflatables, one a pumpkin and a dragon. A skelton in a tree and 2 revolving lights with figures in them.

We don't have trick or treaters out where we live but I enjoy the decorations.

Thanksgiving is a turkey and pumpkins. Christmas a bit more elaborate. Hubs thinks its silly, I will do it long as I can.

But since covid people just don't seem to decorate like they did yet all the stuff sells out quick.

[azucena]

I say you do you. If inflatables make you happy, go for it.

I'm personally getting a kick out of the trend of large $150-200 skeletons. They make me laugh. No interest in owning them or storing them.

[soupandstew]

After Halloween I'll take that stuff down and add a really pretty hand-painted wild turkey sculpture in the living room for Thanksgiving.  

I REALLY want to add more "Happy Holiday" stuff in the front this year because the last couple of years local freaks were melting down about "non-traditional" holiday displays like Disney stuff because that's not "the reason for the season".  They even wanted a completely separate category for judging in the annual Christmas lighting contest reserved for those celebrating "the true meaning of Christmas".  

[giramomma]

We don't decorate outside much.

I did contemplate taking the missy out for an evening drive to look at the decorations, as I think she would get a kick out of them.

[Cookies Galore]

Oct 24, 2023 14:54:35 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Oct 24, 2023 14:24:38 GMT -5 resolution said:

Our first year at this house we had as many kids walk past the house as we had come up the steps to knock for trick or treat. I don't know if they expected everyone to sit outside with a table full of candy, but we kept seeing them hesitate, and some had discussions over whether they should knock or not, even with the porch light on.  My husband started waving at them through the mail slot in the door, which is how we got most of our trick or treaters.

Last year I added a lit up pumpkin man, and we still needed to wave through the mail slot, but we got around 500 kids.

This year, since we have half the downstairs windows boarded up, I painted the boards in addition to displaying the pumpkin man. Hopefully we won't have to flag down the kids again.

Holy crap!  500 kids??  That's a lot of candy!

I don't decorate, but we're out in the country, so no trick or treaters.  I still buy candy.  Because it's candy.

As for decorating, that's one of the few areas where I'm really good at being a minimalist.    Your porch is what I would consider tastefully decorated...if I actually decorated.  I usually throw a couple pumpkins and corn shocks out on the steps, but that's about it. 

I buy minimum 500 pieces of candy as well. We only have 5,000 residents but it's a population dense town 0.8 sq miles), so it's easy for kids to walk. Plus, we're a safe community for kids in the town across the river to trick or treat, and another town line is just a few blocks from my house. So lots of candy!

[Tennesseer]

Oct 24, 2023 15:30:49 GMT -5 azucena said:

I say you do you. If inflatables make you happy, go for it.

I'm personally getting a kick out of the trend of large $150-200 skeletons. They make me laugh. No interest in owning them or storing them.

If your home is raised and you can access the area underneath it, put one of those skeletons under there. It will shock new residents in the future.

[azucena]

Oct 25, 2023 11:37:19 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Oct 24, 2023 15:30:49 GMT -5 azucena said:

I say you do you. If inflatables make you happy, go for it.

I'm personally getting a kick out of the trend of large $150-200 skeletons. They make me laugh. No interest in owning them or storing them.

If your home is raised and you can access the area underneath it, put one of those skeletons under there. It will shock new residents in the future.

I enjoy your sense of humor. With DD15 and DD11 and my career, I'm not in a phase of life where decorating provides joy. Not nearly enough hours in the day.

[toomuchreality]

Last year, I gave away all but a few of my Christmas decorations.
This year, I gave away my Halloween/Fall decorations. I don't have the energy to cart them from my unattached garage, put them up, then take them down and cart them back out to my garage and store them again. And since I don't get visitors, I'm over it.

DD2 and her husband however, do it up big time every year, with different decor. They've been having people come by, stop and take pictures for a couple of weeks. They've received the "yard of the month" award before. I think they have 5 or 6 GIANT inflatables up this year, along with colored lights and spot lights, etc outside, this year, so far. They also have changed their inside decor including a long black casket runner rug at the front door and a large skeleton head, round rug, pillows and and other inside decor.
Every year, they out do the year before, at Halloween. People come, just to see what they've done this year. And they give full size candy bars and treats, which is a draw.

I usually take my treats to their house and pass out treats, while they take their kids trick or treating. Last year, his mom did too, so I might not go, this year. But I did buy good treats to give out, wherever I end up. (Hostess snacks and bags of mini cheeseballs)

[Pink Cashmere]

I would like to decorate my house for the seasons, inside and out. 

I did a little, inside, our first year in this house, and Mister said he liked decorating for different seasons. 

This year, I put some fall foliage in 2 vases on the shelves in our den, but my pumpkins and the rest of the fall decorations must be in the attic, because I can’t find them. I don’t do attics, so whatever. If Mister really likes the seasonal decorations, and wants the fall stuff out, he’ll have to go in the attic and bring it down. Right now, I don’t really care I one way or the other, so I’m not pressing him about it. 

Somebody (not me) WILL have to go in the attic when it’s time for Christmas decorations though. But still, I only decorate inside the house for Christmas.

I would like to eventually work my way up to decorating outside for the seasons, and especially for Christmas. I don’t see me doing something huge like inflatables, for any holiday, because I’m lazy. But I can see autumn and even Halloween type stuff, and for Christmas, at least lights outside and some other Christmas themed things. I’m just not there yet. 

[toomuchreality]

Oct 25, 2023 23:06:58 GMT -5 Pink Cashmere said:

I would like to decorate my house for the seasons, inside and out. 

I did a little, inside, our first year in this house, and Mister said he liked decorating for different seasons. 

This year, I put some fall foliage in 2 vases on the shelves in our den, but my pumpkins and the rest of the fall decorations must be in the attic, because I can’t find them. I don’t do attics, so whatever. If Mister really likes the seasonal decorations, and wants the fall stuff out, he’ll have to go in the attic and bring it down. Right now, I don’t really care I one way or the other, so I’m not pressing him about it. 

Somebody (not me) WILL have to go in the attic when it’s time for Christmas decorations though. But still, I only decorate inside the house for Christmas.

I would like to eventually work my way up to decorating outside for the seasons, and especially for Christmas. I don’t see me doing something huge like inflatables, for any holiday, because I’m lazy. But I can see autumn and even Halloween type stuff, and for Christmas, at least lights outside and some other Christmas themed things. I’m just not there yet. 

I wouldn't get the stuff from the attic either. That's part of my issue, I no longer am willing, or able to put my stuff in or out of storage. I kept my Halloween decorations in my front room for the last year, which sucked. But since I don't get visitors, it didn't really matter. I moved it and cleaned under it once in awhile. Now, it's gone and I don't have to worry about it.

[happyhoix]

The year the tornado hit our house and we had to move out for 3 months then move back into the house with only subflooring I stuck a pole into a big house plant and wrapped a string of light around it and that was our Christmas tree.

Didn’t care.

[resolution]

Oct 25, 2023 23:06:58 GMT -5 Pink Cashmere said:

I would like to decorate my house for the seasons, inside and out. 

I did a little, inside, our first year in this house, and Mister said he liked decorating for different seasons. 

This year, I put some fall foliage in 2 vases on the shelves in our den, but my pumpkins and the rest of the fall decorations must be in the attic, because I can’t find them. I don’t do attics, so whatever. If Mister really likes the seasonal decorations, and wants the fall stuff out, he’ll have to go in the attic and bring it down. Right now, I don’t really care I one way or the other, so I’m not pressing him about it. 

Somebody (not me) WILL have to go in the attic when it’s time for Christmas decorations though. But still, I only decorate inside the house for Christmas.

I would like to eventually work my way up to decorating outside for the seasons, and especially for Christmas. I don’t see me doing something huge like inflatables, for any holiday, because I’m lazy. But I can see autumn and even Halloween type stuff, and for Christmas, at least lights outside and some other Christmas themed things. I’m just not there yet. 

I just decorate the front porch on the outside for halloween and christmas. It is right up against the sidewalk, so I don't have a front yard to worry about. We also have an upstairs front porch that I decorate for christmas. I don't have any ambitions to do more outside.

On the inside I just put up a christmas tree and a few decorations that look cat proof. I usually plan to put out an advent wreath and then never do it; our candles are all burned down to stubs and I don't remember to get new candles.

[moon/Laura]

We have an asshole in our neighboorhood who has all their christmas shit up in their yard already. WTF?! Admittedly, I *hate* christmas, but can we at least make it until mid-November?

[TheOtherMe]

Where's the Christmas music?  

People here have put lights on their houses because we have had some nice weekend weather.  It's a lot easier doing that now than when there is snow on the ground.  They only light them up when they test them at this time.

[pooks]

I don't decorate the outside of my house, because I am too lazy, but I love that other people do.  I even love when it is a little gaudy.  The Halloween decorations are my favorite because there is so much variation and creativity.  My neighbors go really predictable and simple for Christmas, but the Halloween stuff is pretty cool.  

[thyme4change]

We have lights out all year - we change the colors for different times of year/holidays. I know it pisses off the guy down the street - that is a bonus. We turned them purple and orange on Oct 1. We also put a skull out with lights on it.

I just put out 2 tomato cage ghosts. We have one grave and 3 black cat silhouettes. But my big winner is my mini skeleton dance party, including a disco ball, a twearking Skelton, a couple making out and the like. I wish I could attach a photo - but I can’t seem to do that anymore 🫤

[moon/Laura]

thyme4change You have to host the photo somewhere then use the "insert image" button. Or, take a cell photo and use Tapatalk > add attachment.

[thyme4change]

Oct 26, 2023 15:31:57 GMT -5 moon/Laura said:

thyme4change You have to host the photo somewhere then use the "insert image" button. Or, take a cell photo and use Tapatalk > add attachment.

Host? Like tumbler or Facebook?

[moon/Laura]

photobucket or some other image hosting service. FB doesn't always work but you could try.

[happyhoix]

Oct 26, 2023 15:04:07 GMT -5 pooks said:

I don't decorate the outside of my house, because I am too lazy, but I love that other people do.  I even love when it is a little gaudy.  The Halloween decorations are my favorite because there is so much variation and creativity.  My neighbors go really predictable and simple for Christmas, but the Halloween stuff is pretty cool.  

If you like gaudy you need to visit Rock City on Lookout Mountain TN. It’s a bunch of limestone formations and caves on the edge of the mountain, but every Christmas season they pile a bajillion light all over it, and pipe in Christmas music. There’s big inflatable s and big painted plywood starts and snowflakes and even real reindeer. Very gaudy! We used to go every year but it’s gotten so popular it’s jammed and DH refuses to go (he’s not into cheesy/gaudy like me) but I heard this year you’ll have to sign up for time slots in advance- so maybe we’ll try again.

Love to see all the little kids losing their minds in excitement.

[saveinla]

I was visiting my son last week and the town was getting ready for halloween. I saw a guy carrying a dead body (mannequin) and another couple people carrying skeletons.