When I was a child, my Dad would illuminate (read festoon),our house for the season with strings of lights. They went around the windows and doors, along the sun deck railings and of course along the eves of the roof.
We usually had the most lights of any house in the neighborhood and he topped the roof with a large blue Star that could be seen for miles. It was a bit excessive, but in the 70's, excess seemed to be the order of the day.

I don't have any on my house...never have, but some displays are truly tasteful and beautiful.
My next door neighbor did something different this year and it is really stunning. He has a medium sized plum tree in his front yard that stands a little off from his front door and he meticulously lined every branch with plain white lights. With the snow covered ground all around it, that plain tree has become breath takingly delicate and beautiful; resembling an enlarged version of a blown glass figurine.

How about you folks? Are there lights on your house or are there any stunning displays around where you live?

With love, Erika

Our street used to light up the neighborhood, when we were all young.
Now that we've aged into our 60s and 70s, we're lucky to get a wreath
on the door.. I do manage, with a little help from DD, get my little pre
-lit tree in the window, for me and my grands, and to cheer the neighbors.

I used to decorate the inside doors and mantle with lights and such,
but alas, no more.

We have done nothing this year as we will split holidays between 2 states. Don't want to leave a tree or lights or garlands up, while we are gone, for the cats to take down.>^..^<

ANN

Edited to add that I do have a double thumbed red amaryllis blooming. The 4 flowers on the first are out and in posistion- the second 4 are starting to open. It is fascinating how these flowers unpackage and arrange themselves!

I do have a few lights up. However even after all these years down here, not having snow, is weird at Christmas. That is one thing I do miss. The reflection of those lights off the snow. ginnie

Spray some snow on your shrubs..
We did that on our inside tree, when I was small.

We have absolutely no outdoor decorations this year. We barely decorated this year, with us celebrating on Thanksgiving weekend and then surgery the following week.
We don't even turn the tree on. As far as I'm concerned we can take it all down and put it away. Just not in the mood this year.

I live in an apartment complex, so unable to decorate outside. When my ex and I first moved in together, we were renting a house, and had fun decorating, I'd carried over a bunch of decorations, that my stepdad had passed down to me.

There's some pretty amazing displays all around me. Last year, I did the annual Christmas Eve lightseeing one town over, this year, I stayed in the same town.

I wish, I did more, around my home, but getting the tree up and decorated and putting up some displays, is plenty. I am sure to do more, as the boys grow older, and I am less torn with energy spent, chasing them around. (er, um, following them around with a dustpan and vacuum boys will be boys, )