I like lights - Every Holiday Deserves a Celebration!

I have this fascination with holiday lights.  In fact, I usually do lights for not only Christmas, but Valentines Day (President's Day), St. Patrick's Day, Easter, 4th of July (Pioneer Day - State Holiday), Halloween,  and Thanksgiving.  Even during Christmas, I swap out my nativity scene on the front porch with a New Year's theme for a variation.  On top of the holidays, I've also been known to put up lights for the Olympics, and occasionally, I even set up a lighted "U" for the University of Utah vs BYU Football Game.  Definitely on the obsessive side, but fun nevertheless.  This love affair, really started with the Christmas after my father died in 1976 (see related post).  He usually put up some lights, although not very extensive.  However in that Christmas following his death, I realized as a young 10 year old boy that if I didn't do it, that they might not get done that year.  Those early years were far from a spectacular spectacle, but they did add color to the holidays.  I also didn't understand too much about electrical loads and it is a wonder the house didn't burn down!

Cathy and I owned the house next door to the family home at
830 N 1500 W, which is really where the obsession started

We really have only lived in two houses in our 27 years of marriage, and they just happen to be next door to each other.  I think we would really stick out on the street but our neighbors across the street, Dennis and Linda McKone also have lights for exactly the same holidays.  I've teased new neighbors that the owners association (of which there is none) requires their participation, but for the most part, with the exception of Christmas, it has been Denny and Linda's home and ours.  It's technically not a competition but Denny always seems to get his up a day or two ahead of me.  He usually does his in good, sunny weather, I'm usually out there at 10 p.m. at night often in inclement weather trying not to kill myself.  My daughters have a favorite activity each holidays, which is to report to me that Denny and Linda already have their lights up.  The one time, I thought I bested them, it turned out Denny had been in the hospital and when I realized it a few days later,  I felt pretty bad about doing that victory dance.  They have been wonderful neighbors to us.

Denny and Linda McKone's House

A few years ago, we installed a solar system on our house.  It has helped defray costs, but doesn't do to well in the winter when snow sits on the panels.  As you can see from the usage history below, December/January is my highest utility use time.  It's ok, it brings me a lot of joy, but not too efficient!

I have been slowly converting lights as they wear out, to LED, but it's a gradual process, I do have a lot of lights!  Earlier, I wrote a blog about Christmas decorations that people gave me for my backyard.  One of those items are the old Christmas wreaths from Bountiful, UT.  Needless to say, they are beautiful but not very power efficient.

Christmas Wreaths purchased Surplus from Bountiful City
by my friend, Fred Ross

Dennis and Linda McKone's Home - We watch each other's
Fireworks on the 4th of July

Annual 4th of July Ice Cream Social and Fireworks

While lights just were put away for July, they will be back in October.  If you need a little holiday cheer, just be sure to drive down 1500 West in Rose Park.  Eventually that Homeowners Association will force compliance from the rest of the neighbors!

St. Patrick's Day

Easter