That’s what it cost for outside decorations at #20 and #11 this year.
The winter decorations are DONE, at least for now.
I managed to forage enough free greens from a Christmas tree farm and church fair throw-aways and scavenged enough holly and boxberry (procrastination being its own reward, I hadn’t trimmed the bushes until now) to complete the flower boxes at both houses, plus deliver a wheelbarrow full across the street.
The flower boxes at #20 were pretty frozen, but fortunately, there were still enough soft spots to get everything “stuck”.
I’ve hung a cedar/grapevine wreath on the back porch at #20 for 3 years now. Against the weathered shingles, it reminds me of the West Coast, don’t ask me why.
For the last two years, I purchased said wreaths from the nice ladies at the annual Woods Hole Renaissance Fair. Their creations are visual delicacies, but not cheap; I think the least expensive one I saw today was $25.
This year, I made my own, using last year’s grapevine wreath and $3 worth of cedar which the ladies at the Fair let me purchase, along with some other fancy greens that ended up in the flower boxes.
My wreath is not as artful as theirs, but it’ll do.
It’s supposed to snow tonight and tomorrow, but with plenty of hot cocoa, popcorn and mac and cheese, I’m “good”. Hope all those poor retail clerks get home safely.