CommunityGrinch
New elf
I know for the long timers around here, it is that time of year where we all see the brilliant Christmas lights and displays you have all spent countless hours; full of hype and hope before one-by-one we fade into oblivion - only a brave few making it through to actually putting a display together.
Here I stand before you, asking for your input advice and general knowledge sharing on preparing my relatively front yard into a display for 2024. (Please excuse the bins it is bin day, and the mess in the garage is because we are decorating and so boxes everywhere).
Important Notes
- We currently rent this property so can't really be drilling or building onto, modify the property.
- I seriously injured my neck two-years ago and live with 24/7 pins & needles in one of my arms, so trying to find as basic solution as possible.
- The garage door is our main entryway so trying to avoid using that - in fact I don't remember the last time I used the front door.
The Quick Story
As mentioned above I injured my neck a couple years ago. I have 24/7 pins & needles in one of my arms. I have had to learn that I now have limitations and can no longer do as much as I used to be able to. After having a period of having a sook and coming to those terms I have changed my outlook. This led to me this year on the last day of school buying a Grinch costume and standing out on that footpath handing out lollipops to the kids/parents who walked past.
The smiles, laughs and excitement on everyone's faces let to me being invited to a day care to delivery candy canes (today) and appear at a community event to give out presents. We (by that I mean primarily my wife) are currently decorating our front door way (hidden by the bush) as 'Christmasy' as we can as tomorrow we have people/families coming from the community to take 'Christmas Photos' with the Grinch.
Considering the excitement this has generated we wanted to take it a step up next year and hence looking into Christmas light display next year.
The Plan (currently)
Obviously considering the above our first port of call was thinking of LOR - due to the obvious issues with voltage etc we didn't feel this was the smartest option. We then loved the idea of something like a dumb-light set up, being able to buy props/lights from the stores here in Australia and gradually build our display over the years - we aren't looking to enter competitions we are looking to entertain and do something a bit more Grinchy to 'suit our theme'.
But there-in lies the issue, there are not many 'Grinchy' lights to just simply pick up. Plus when we do find/get a Grinch head display we want to be able to make it look like he is singing.
With the display basically thinking icicle lights along the gutter, rope lights through the shrubs/bushes on the right (there are 5), a Merry Christmas (although Merry Grinchmas would be better) light in the front window you can see and 'The Singing Grinch' in a bracket from the gutter again where the garage door is.
Your Input
I was hoping to find some sort of 'Starter Kit' however after reading the 101 understand why it isn't so easy. My main concern primarily comes down to the wire/fiddly bits when it comes to my pins & needles/numbness.
I would love your input on the idea and your opinion on my best next step?!