The Observation Deck

This is a silly question, but nonetheless: what does everyone think of the growing presence of oversized lawn ornaments--which first showed up for Halloween and now are out if force for Christmas, complete with lights and blowers to recirculate fake snow?

I'm undecided. They seem a bit much, but on the other hand, the whimsical is appealing to me... and why not in your own front yard?

Winter is dark. I like the extra lights at Winter Solstice.

I think they're tacky and tasteless. But I also understand that it's someone's front yard and what I might feel is tacky someone else might things is the best thing since sliced bread. While I would never put something like that in my yard I'm not going to try and stop someone else from doing it.

it's christmas. and if putting up some tacky lights and lawn ornaments fills that family with joy then why deny them of that? when reading the opinion on this and other forums that this world is going to hell and all the gloom and doom that goes along with it, it's no wonder people look to their own front yards for a source of joy.

a couple of weeks ago, my husband and kids built a ten-foot snowman in our front yard. this snowman was gargantuan and so jolly that it almost made me sick. the neighbors even got in on the action and helped. it took all day to build. we put a spot light on it and would smile as we would watch pedestrian and car alike slow down to take it all in. well, over the course of the last week, our beloved snowman has been abused nightly. first, a penis showed up on him. then his three foot hat was stolen and found destroyed at the end of our street. a couple of days ago, his eyes were stolen and the spotlight found shattered in the front yard and this morning, i woke up to find half of his head severed off. every day i go out there and make repairs to our snowy friend and you know why? because he brings us joy in this season.

i was considering writing an article about the huge snow man. something about how he brought family and neighbors together. about how something so simple could bring people of all stripes together in this great city. but after seeing how that same simple snowman evokes such hate i've since rethought the idea.

don't be a hater. be a tolerator. and remember all the tacky stuff lining people's front yards will soon be gone and we once again will have regular life to look foreward to again. you know, all the gloom and doom.

I'm sorry about your snowman and the light. I'm not surprised that it was a target, because anything that big would be attractive to neighborhood miscreants... It's too bad that people can't leave other people's property alone.

Aside from the lights and other decorations, I enjoy seeing snow sculptures of all sorts (snow forts bring back particularly good memories...).

DH will testify to the fact that I'm not crazy about the overuse of icicle lights, but again, at this time of year, I appreciate any kind of decoration.

I like what I consider "taseful" stuff like luminaria, I like tacky stuff like our neighbor's inflatable Homer Santa and the inflatable "Chilly Willy" I recently saw. (p.s. to my neighbors, we're not thinking about doing an inflatable) I like the electric "Bah Humbug" sign that used to glow on Clifton Avenue.

I don't really care if it's tacky or ugly. Somebody is usually having fun and not harming anyone. Yes, there is a potential problem with excessive traffic around more elaborate displays which needs to be controlled, but as long as you aren't driving the neighborhood insane, who is it hurting?

I enjoy driving around to see what people have put up.

As I said previously, it's so dark & dreary at this time, that anything decorative brightens the landscape.

Anyway, a very happy Solstice to one & all.

i was considering writing an article about the huge snow man. something about how he brought family and neighbors together. about how something so simple could bring people of all stripes together in this great city. but after seeing how that same simple snowman evokes such hate i've since rethought the idea.

Kate, let me support you in the idea of doing a story on your snowman. Do you have any pictures? This would make a great winter story, plus has aspects of both family and neighborhood issues. Printing it in the paper would give our discussion here broader circulation.

I hope you do write up a story... And maybe the snowman can make a come-back when the snow returns!

Adults aren't the only ones who make decisions regarding lawn ornamentation and it's important to include the view of children on this issue.

And for as awful as some of the decorations are, I will sorely miss them in a few weeks when they come down and we go back to cold, dark nights!