I think the best part about living smack in the middle of town is being able to go all out for the holidays. Holiday prep is officially underway at Santa’s workshop, and I’ve been having so much fun with it.
The second coat of outdoor paint has been brushed on the lobsters. Now I just need to let it “cure” for a few days before I can move them out of my workspace in the barn.
The HH has been busy cutting buoys. I told him I needed 24 for my Christmas display. Then I suggested that since he already had all his stuff set up, he might as well cut a few more for Valentine’s Day.
Always the helpful wife. Yep, that’s me. 🙂 We can’t disappoint the neighbors!
I mean, if you had seen bats on someone’s house for Halloween and then lobsters at Christmas, wouldn’t you expect there to be some giant hearts on their house for Valentine’s?
Yes, yes you would!!! But that’s a project for another day. I can’t think about that right now. I must stay on task.
Did I mention I also bought {2} giant 48” wreaths? One for the barn and one for the house. And they light up too!!!
The HH put them together for me yesterday.
I have zero patience when it comes to fluffing up wreaths though {or artificial trees} so I asked my mother in law if she would do the fluffing for me.
She’s a whizz at fluffing. We haven’t decided if we’re going to put bows on the wreaths yet. What do you think? Do we need bows? We can’t decide.
We have plenty of time though, the decorations won’t go up until the day after Thanksgiving. Traditionalists, that’s what we are.
finished lobster ornaments
There’s still plenty of projects left to do. Next week she’s coming over to fluff the tree, and after that’s done we can get started on painting lobster ornaments for the tree.
I figure I’ll be able to get a few dozen stamped out and fired in the kiln before next week rolls around. Wednesday’s will be solely dedicated to craft projects for the foreseeable future.
We may have to pull a full all nighters to get it all done. We’ll see.
It’s a tough gig, but someone’s gotta do it. It’s so much easier though when you’re hopped up on hot beverages and scones and you’ve got holiday tunes playing in the background.
Have you started thinking about decorating for Christmas yet? When do you put your decorations up? Do you put them up before Thanksgiving or wait until afterwards? Curious minds want to know.
Have a great day everyone,
~Mavis
Nancy Settel says
I opt for the big bows. Since you are going all out might as well gooooo all the way out.
Holley says
This is so exciting! I cannot wait to see all your decorations! That lobster is huge!
I’ve got Santa’s workshop south going on down here in the north Georgia mountains. This year I have decide to go full on gingerbread! I have always loved gingerbread and usually have them sprinkled throughout my house. But this year I’ve decided that I’m ONLY putting out my gingerbread decor! So, of course, that meant I had to get craftly and make some new things! It’s a mess right now in my craft room, but it will all come together soon. I used to wait until after Thanksgiving to decorate, but I’m not this year! I’m bucking all the traditions this year and it feels right!
Carla says
We’re a bit of traditionalists here in Michigan too. We don’t “do” Christmas until after Thanksgiving. I will pick a nice warm [er] day in November to put my outdoor lights up, but we don’t plug them in until the Friday after Thanksgiving. Then, too, they usually come down a week after new years.
Wendy C says
Big bows for sure!
Dawn says
I think the wreaths need big red bows! I can’t wait to see your progress.
I start thinking about Christmas decorating after I get my Halloween display set up in October but I don’t put up any Christmas stuff until after Thanksgiving. I did think about putting them up earlier than usual this year but I’m having people over for Friendsgiving on the Saturday after Thanksgiving so it’s going to be later than usual this year instead.
laura says
i had NO idea the lobsters were so large!!! it makes me love them even more!! cant wait to see them installed! also, add the bows!
Donna Braun says
Instead of big red bows, use crossed big red lobsters.
Diana says
I was amazed at how many people already have their decorations up. The neighborhood I live in is 1 to 2 acres per house, so everyone does huge displays which take some time to set up. Each day more and more appear and are usually done by Thanksgiving.
Dawn says
If you had Santa Hats for the Lobsters, they could be used again in February.
Emily says
I vote yes to bows. What made you pick lobsters for Christmas?
debbie in alaska says
I’m guessing because Maine is a huge lobster fishing area
SueD says
If we put up lights for Christmas, the OH will put them up on a warmish day in November, but they don’t get turned on before First Advent. The same with air blown inflatables. Inside, we start decorating on First Advent. There were neighbours decorating for Christmas before Halloween this year.
For your wreath, I like the idea of 2 giant lobsters crossed.
Kristen says
We don’t decorate for Christmas until after Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving deserves a stand-alone status. That being said, I really wish I was Canadian so there was a lot more time between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Christmas music – that’s another story. I’ve been known to start Christmas music in July. Because you can’t wait until after Thanksgiving to start Christmas crafting. And what’s Christmas crafting without music??
Linda Sand says
There a method for making giant snowflakes using plastic coat hangers and zip ties. Karen in the Woods had her grandkids help make them.
https://kareninthewoods-kareninthewoods.blogspot.com/2019/11/back-to-real-time-ceramic-tile-and.html
Scroll way down for instructions.
Michelle S. says
I definitely vote red bows, since the red will tie the look together with the lobsters. I am excited to see the finished results!
Lori K says
I am a traditionalist as well. Then I read something this week that made me rethink it. The turkey taste the same whether the Christmas decorations are up or not.
Cecile says
It would have been cute if you attached clips to hold solar lights either on the claws like they were holding the lights or on their antennas (is that what they are called? lol). Little wooden lobsters with holes drilled through where you could slip twinkle or fairy lights into the holes for your bouy garland would be cute too!
I think a big white bow with lobsters printed on it would be awesome for the wreaths. https://www.amazon.ca/Estivaux-Crayfish-Lobsters-Crafting-Supplies/dp/B0D6616PD5
Lesa says
I can’t wait to see your decorations! I saw a small tabletop Christmas tree made out of sea glass and topped with a seashell as the star. Thought about you when I saw it. I did a screenshot of it but don’t know how to share it on here.
sandy says
I love the lobsters. I mean-a giant lobster? You are going to start people driving by your house every holiday.
My son works for Disney-so I am fortunate to get last years Disneyland decorations. A huge garland to go across my front porch, a giant wreath, a giant orange ( we live in Orange) and assorted decor. He just sent me a photo of a 6 ft” light up wreath-in which I applied-“YOU BETTER GET ME ONE!”… we will see…I live in a historic district-people go all out on holidays. I have a peer pressure.
Nee says
Definitely do Bows!! Maybe one with Lobsters I am sure you will come up with something great!!
Dianne says
We are traditional here. Since Thanksgiving is the favorite of the two holidays, you will not see any tree or decorations until about the second week of December. Nothing gets put away until after New Year! Lobsters would be so cute on the wreaths, but you really won’t be able to tell until the wreaths are decorated. I would hang the bows on the bottom of the wreaths or it will cover up most of the decorations on the wreath.
Mel says
We have one string of lights that goes across the edge of a roof and runs to a wooden cutout of the Grinch, so it looks like he’s stealing the lights. We haven’t put it up in a few years, but we might this year.
I’m holding off on decorating until the day after Thanksgiving, even though we aren’t really celebrating this year. I’d start sooner, but most of our indoor decorations are just swapping out the toddler’s toys for Christmas themed ones, so I don’t want him to tire of those before actual Christmas.
Linda says
Bows!
I have to have help with decorations, so I will decorate when cleaner has come off surgery leave. In the past, the day after Thanksgiving was for putting up the tree, and NY day was for taking them down.
I absolutely hate fluffing trees, wreaths, anything. So, I have to convince Tommy to do it for me or have cleaner do it.
Christmas music starts the day after Thanksgiving, no later, and lasts through New Year’s Day.
Practical Parsimony
Susan says
I’m in the red bow club; it’s simple and elegant. Been singing Christmas songs for a week. We usually go all out with trees, outside lights and decs, first week of December, leaving up til after NY. Have mixed feelings about outside stuff this year tho; I live in mountains of East Tennessee and so many here have lost everything, I don’t know whether my outdoor decorations will lift spirits or further depress people who have nothing. I probably have too many decorations anyway, so as I go thru them, I will pare out things to share. It’s a strange feeling for Christmastime.