...And More Lights

These two are on Park between Market and D Streets. It looked like there might be a competition going on on this street. These two won for most decorated.

Yes, that's Santa on a motorcycle. Over to the side there was a snowman on a motorcycle as well.

I should have taken a picture of the side of this house too. The display continued on around the side yard with all kinds of lighted blow-up...things.

Lights...

Here are a few more light displays to light up your Christmas Day! Merry Christmas!

This one is on a little street just off 17th between Center and State. There's even a story about how this extreme light show came to be on a plaque near the garage. Check it out.
A close up of the impressive display. There were not as many blow-up displays, but there were many, many little lighted...things...all over. Quite the collection.

Lights Galore in Salem, OR

So here is the latest installment of Christmas lights gone wild:

This is on Commercial St. south, just south of where Liberty and Commercial reconverge. The lights on the law office in the middle of that "V" are pretty wild too. This one though...I mean, a bunny??

And here's another one. Thanks for all the tips on this D St. house. This thing deserves some kind of award!

Oh, and that's just the side yard...

Here's the front, although it was difficult to get it all because there is just so much.

And a little close up of some of the delights in this yard. Sorry I didn't get a close up of the defunct snow globe, but you can get a glimpse of it in the side yard picture.

The First Christmas Light Contestant Is...

...dedicated to Stephanie. Sorry you won't be able to sleep for all the lights shining in your windows, but thanks for the tips on where to find some "Ah-mazing" displays!


On 24th St. in Salem. There are many other similar displays along this street as well.

Update: Christmas Lights and Other Salem Happenings

I have begun the delightful journey of immortalizing the Christmas light extravaganzas throughout our fine city. I see that people are eager to help out and so I have some great tips. I already have some of the pictures, but I can't upload them until tonight, so you'll have to check back. Don't worry, it'll be worth it! :)

In other Christmasy news: I'm heading out to the White Christmas sing-along at the Grand Theater on High Street in downtown Salem tomorrow night. Yes!! I love musicals. I may even qualify as a musical geek. I don't know them all, I haven't seen nearly all the famous ones, but I just can't help loving them. I love the fact that people break into song and dance at the oddest moments and everyone acts like its normal. I wish more people in my life were like the audiences at musicals. When I break into song and dance people look at me funny and probably question my sanity. But I do it anyway. Because life should be more like the musicals! So there.

Christmas Light Explosion

Okay, so here's the deal. I am going to take pictures of some of the craziest, most...uh...abundant Christmas light displays that I see around town and post them up here on my blog. I cannot believe some of the stuff I see out there. Let me know if there is an extreme Christmas light display somewhere around town that I just can't miss.

Now, I'm not going for the tasteful, well lit yard with a few decorations. I am looking for the most explosive of decor. The kind that looks like the Christmas decor aisle at Lowe's AND Home Depot exploded on the house or business, because yes, I've seen some doozies at businesses as well.

So keep your eye out for the pics as I post them this week!

The Holidays in Salem

It's that time of year. Time for bundling up and getting in the Christmas spirit. I must admit. I haven't been doing very well at either one.

Usually I have a Christmas tree by now, but with master's classes, family emergencies, and the general busyness of life, I just haven't gotten around to it yet. I did put a red bow with some bells on my front door handle yesterday, thanks to a friend who donated the decor that leftover from a project. That may be about as Christmasy as I get this year.

As for the bundling up...well, I think I finally got into the spirit of that. I mean, I had to right, or I would be an ice cube by now (insert in your mind a cartoon image of me completely surrounded by a block of ice)! I don't really love winter clothes so it always takes me a while to find things I'm comfortable with and get into the layering mode.

I actually really like this time of year. I like the festive decorations. I love it when the wreaths go up on the lightposts downtown. I like to see Christmas trees lit up in stores and in people's windows. I love that people get out and go to parties, go shopping, and get together with family. I like Christmas goodies like fudge and sugar cookies. I don't really understand when people talk about the holiday blues, or the stress of the season. I generally feel pretty good about the holidays, the weather, and the end of the year.

But just wait until January. Now there's a depressing month.

In the meantime, I'll try to keep you all posted on the exciting happenings around Salem during the holidays!

The Grand Old Theaters of Salem

Salem is blessed with some very beautiful old theaters. In downtown Salem we have both the Grand Theater and the Elsinore Theatre. They are both wonderful places to spend a few hours immersed in the culture of Salem.

The Elsinore has a Classic Film Series which shows on Wednesdays for $5. If you haven't been to one of these films yet, I suggest you get right out and get in line for the next one. The films have been remastered and are shown on the big screen. They even have silent films with organ music in the background! They also have an array of other events on their schedule.

The Grand Theater is home to the Progressive Film Series as well as concerts and other events. Their newest addition to the schedule is a monthly musical film sing-along. I am super excited about this. I know that sounds a little corny, but I can't wait to sing along to my favorite musicals and not have people try to shush me! :)

So, if you're looking for a little culture, or maybe just a little entertainment, in downtown Salem, check out the website schedules for these two cool, old theaters and great events they have going on.

The Land of Sun and Snow

I went over the mountain to Central Oregon for Thanksgiving. My family rented a place at Eagle Crest and enjoyed a little (or a lot) of turkey and stuffing while relaxing in the cold, sunny weather.

On Wednesday it was so warm and sunny that I was laying out sunbathing on the deck. I felt like a lizard soaking up rays of sun to get me through the cold times. Every morning we would wake up to frosty grass and snowy mountaintops peeking through the trees. Every day at lunchtime we would sit out on the deck enjoying the warm sun. And every night we curled up next to the fire or sat around the table playing board games. I loved knowing that the sun would be back the next day and that I could walk out into the bright sunlight every morning for my morning walk.

I think I'm going to have to make some more treks over the mountain this winter. I don't really mind the rain, but every once in awhile I just need to soak up some bright, snowy sunlight!