How The Griswold Stole Outside Xmas

I blame “Christmas Vacation” for my husband’s reluctance to attempt outdoor lighting and decorations during the holiday season. Watching the movie is annual tradition in our home, but I fear Clark Griswold’s electrical mishaps may have installed a wariness of Christmas lights in my own “Sparky.” The day after Thanksgiving finds me knee-deep in red and green storage bins and tinsel, as I deck our halls. My usual décor comes off the walls and is replaced with framed Santa prints and holiday sentiments. Glittering candles gleam from every surface. Candy canes fill Christmas mugs. Sam constructs a gingerbread house. The Nativity is carefully unpacked and surrounded by a heavenly host of angels I’ve collected over the years. The stockings are hung by the entertainment center with care and our plain white dinnerwear is packed away, replaced by elegant holiday-themed dishes. Though the inside of our home may seem like a winter wonderland, the only visible evidence of the season outdoors are two dispirited wreaths, flanking the front door/ Cindy Hval , SR Front Porch. More here.