Blog Author
zuzu's petals
(view profile)
Recent Entries to this Blog Extended Season ~
Posted: 01 Dec 2007
Halloween Howls ~ 2007
Posted: 01 Nov 2007
Sizzlin' Summer ~
Posted: 21 Aug 2007
Lasts and Firsts ~
Posted: 06 Jun 2007
The Invasion ~
Posted: 26 May 2007

All Entries
 


It's Time For The "Christmas-Mystery" Award ~

Category: Zuzu's Homefront Blog | Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 11:05 pm

I used to decorate much more elaborately for the holidays . . .
. . . when I was younger.

One year, I built a couple of deer out of chicken wire
and some grapevine freshly cut from our back lot.





Hubby built a plywood sleigh, that was big enough to hold
a small cedar tree, which we picked up from a brush pile
at the side of the road.
I "harnessed" the deer to the sleigh with ribbon.



And the following year I built and added
a life-sized figure of St. Nick and another deer, this one lying down.


(No, that's NOT hubby )

We eventually developed a little bit of a reputation,
and the traffic flow on our street picked up noticeably
in the week or so around Christmas.
I got such a kick out of watching the cars slow to a crawl,
or even stop. And, each night, through the front windows,
we could see the spark of flash bulbs, and occasionally,
the steady gleam of a cam-corder light.
I was just so flattered to think that people wanted
to come and see what I'd done,
and some even wanted to keep or maybe share it on film.

Every year I made a new and different display.

Gosh, I used to go all out, back then! Looking at these old photos,
I wonder where I got the time and energy??
Well, I was younger . . . did I already mention that part?

Anyway, it was because of one of those "productions" of mine,
that our annual award tradition was born.

One day, near Christmas, I came home to find
a pretty little poinsettia plant on my doorstep.
With it, there was a short and very sweet, but unsigned. note.
It said how much they enjoyed seeing our display,
and how seeing it had been a much-needed bright spot
in an otherwise difficult season.
It was a sort of a "Thank you" note.

It really touched my heart.
It made me feel so appreciated and humble all at the same time.
I was reminded how we can sometimes touch a life
in a positive way without ever realizing it,
just by being who we are, and doing what we do naturally.

I asked around for weeks afterward,
but I never worked out who it had been,
all of our neighbors denied any part in it.
Hubby called it "The Christmas-Mystery Award"

In the years since then, my outdoor holiday decorations
have become distinctly more subdued,
I can't seem to find the energy and time that I used to have,
but hubby and I have replaced that old tradition
with a new one.

We started giving out "Christmas-Mystery Awards" each year.
I just pick up a little something extra when I'm shopping,
an ornament, a small gift or maybe a seasonal plant.
Then, while we're riding around, enjoying everyone else's
lights and decorations, we choose one place,
and leave the little gift, along with a card, saying
"Thank you for making our Christmas brighter with your lovely display"

I've got everything ready, we'll go out one evening later this week.
It's a lot of fun . . . . . . so long as we don't get shot or arrested.


This blog entry has been viewed 866 times
You're reading one of many blogs on GardenStew.com.
Register for free and start your own blog today.


Comments

 

Gardenstew wrote on Mon Dec 18, 2006 11:11 pm:


I'm so glad you found us here Zuzu because I really enjoy reading your witty posts and looking at your amazing work! Those reindeer would definitely turn my head. St. Nick would scare me though probably.

Imagine being the lucky person to pick up the "Christmas Mystery" award :-D What a surprise.




pondlady wrote on Mon Dec 18, 2006 11:25 pm:


How wonderful Zuzu. Your posts and pics certainly brighten my days.
And if that is not hubby, is he your paramour? (Can that be a man or must it be a woman?)




 

cajunbelle wrote on Mon Dec 18, 2006 11:37 pm:


ZuZu, your reindeer are lovely, and I love St. Nick. Of course, green is my favorite color and that shade of green is my very favorite green, so that helps in my liking him a lot. How did you do his face, it is so lifelike.

Your award idea is very nice, one I would like to do.




 

eileen wrote on Tue Dec 19, 2006 1:49 am:


Zuzu your deer as absolutely fantastic!! Neither wonder folks used to stop to take photographs. If I'd lived anywhere near you I'd have done the same.
I love the idea of a 'Christmas Mystery Award' so much. What a lovely way to 'make' someones Christmas.




 

glendann wrote on Tue Dec 19, 2006 7:36 am:


I to am so glad you found the Stew Zuzu.I love to see all the wonderful things you and hubby do .I have made so many friends in the Stew and love seeing all the great art that comes our way..I try to remember what I did without you all and the Stew .I can't, and you know what I don't want to either.





Leave a Comment


Login or register to leave a comment.









Archives All Entries
March 2024
February 2024
January 2024
December 2023
November 2023
October 2023
September 2023
August 2023
July 2023
June 2023
May 2023
April 2023
March 2023
February 2023
January 2023
December 2022
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
August 2022
July 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022
December 2021
November 2021
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
April 2014
March 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
November 2013
October 2013
September 2013
August 2013
July 2013
June 2013
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012
January 2012
December 2011
November 2011
October 2011
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
December 2010
November 2010
October 2010
September 2010
August 2010
July 2010
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006