I shot this after the first big snow December 4th. Decorations not complete yet. The snow on the trees really caught the area lights.

Ever since I was a child, Christmas lights have cast a magical spell over me. Mood, color, ambiance– combined to create a winter fantasy.

This year Michael and I decided to scale back on the interior decorating and focus primarily on the exterior of the house– since that is what the most people see.

With the unseasonable warm weather we had this year, I was able to work on outdoor projects longer– like repairing and painting stairs and porches, all the way in to November. The trees held their leaves much longer this year, postponing yard clean up as well. So, I didn’t really start decorating until the week after Thanksgiving.

The majority of the decorating took approximately 60 hours over two and a half weeks. I used over 900 feet of garland, 10 artificial trees, 65 bows, thousands of LED lights, 24 egg strobes and 10 laser projectors to complete the effect outside. Every year it’s a little different, depending on time, resources and whatever mood strikes me.

Inside, I didn’t put up any traditional, full-size trees but did decorate 12 ‘stick’ and tabletop trees (3 ft. to 9 ft. tall) along with some mantle and stair garland. In the windows I used 27 LED snowflakes, 28 sets of icicle lights and 36 battery operated candles. I experimented with LED ‘curtain lights’ in 6 windows in place of Christmas trees I’d used in the past.

321 Division St. on a beautiful sunny morning after a good snow.

Garland and bows decorate the fence around 321 Division Street.

The house before dusk.

321 Division Street just before sunset.

Looking across the front yard at our spiral tree with the church in the background.

Trees line both sides of the front driveway.

On the hill behind our house.

One of two light & bead trees I created from scratch.

321 Division from the street.

Christmas at home.

Front porch fully decorated.

The statue of Liberty on the front center porch.

The front parlor at 321 Division St.

In the dining room.

The side of the house.

The lights will be on display through at least New Years’ weekend.