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Number of Christmas Light Bulbs Outside


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We went riding and looking at the many lighted displays of neighborhood homes, buildings, and other decorations around the city and on the big military base. There were some highlighted on the internet in other cities and states across the USA, which inspired us to take our grand daughter and see what our city had to offer on display.

 

Some appeared to me that it must have taken weeks to complete, with the help of a blue print, to figure out where everything goes. The amazing part is how in the world could they possibly count all those burning light bulbs?? I suppose some of them are really guessing. Some people were standing there counting the lighted bulbs.

 

Out of curiosity, we stopped a couple times where big crowds had gathered,and the big question was being discussed. Turns out, the owner said he had a total of 3,595 burning lights outside on display. Another 500 inside that could be seen from the outside, including on his Christmas tree.

 

He said, he turn on the lights, the 1st of December at dusk to about midnight, and off the 2nd of January. His electric bill is about $120.00 more for that months' bill. He said to get everything in place, it takes him and three of his sons, about eight days and his two older daughters does the bulb counting job. He did not say, but I bet it takes the girls a day or two counting all those lights.

 

They have a big "Lights On" ceremony filmed by the local TV stations, and hosted by the chamber of commerce and city officials. My little grand daughter was really excited by all the lights. I guess when you got that many children and grand kids, as he does, go for it. Seems like it would take years to accumulate that much stuff to put on display. You don't notice it during the day.

 

I could never afford a display that size. We use the same tree and lights year after year and I can't count the bulbs my wife has on it. I'm just a spectator with a walking cane.

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Fred,

Years ago, there was a farm down the road from me and on their front lawn was a huge old oak tree. Well one year they decided to light the oak tree with mini white lights. They outlined every branch, it was a breathtaking beautiful sight. They had over 10,000 lights on that tree. I forget how many hours it took them to string the lights on that tree. But no matter how many lights are used, it is the finished product. It is the sight and joy it brings to those at night.

Merry Christmas!

Pam

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Fred. probably the easiest count is by strings. If you have 10 strings of 50 each etc. and add them that way. Then to pack the hundred feetstrings together, the 50 feet ones etc. Perhaps strings can be color coded to know which box to go into for which size. Now, if a bulb burns out, the count won't be exact but who's going to count thousands of lights to tell the man there are only 9,993 in stead of 10,000?

 

Like in every town, there was a beautiful display that was always written up in the paper and on tv. The trazffic was impossible there and I believe they had to have off duty police to control it. Then, the man decided to let the display be put up in a public place that I believed charged a small admission and a deal was worked out or something. It wasn't the same. And then, there are always new people who are starting displays like that. I guess one tries to outdo the other and it gets to be a huge mess, but we always have to go see it, don't we?

 

Several years ago, the home of the National Enquirer (trash newspaper) would have an extremely large Christmas tree. It was free to go see and people would gather their friends together to travel the 40 or 50 miles to see it. The parking was a mess because so many would go. Then condo associations would rent buses and they went. Other displays were added and the "miniature train people would set up a displat also. It was fun to go with friends and then end up with having hot chocolate somewhere. Mr. Pope who I believed owned the paper died and I believe his wife continued it, but what there is now is a mystery to me.

 

In the end, your way of using the same decorations etc. is easiest and understandable, but there is always someone. I visited my land and down the dirt road was a house where they had a huge "plastic" blow-up type Santa. This on a dirt road that probably only they, their family and friends and the few neighbors on that road who went to the other end (to drive around the block since turning would be difficult) would see. I'd hate to think what would happen if the multitudes ever tried to go by for a look see. That dirt road would end up a mess of ruts. LOL

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Fred,

 

I've been fastinated this year by the Christmas decorations shows that have been featured on the Home and Garden TV channel this year. I think tonight they're having another big show. Of course, the most extravagent so far has been the White House. I expected it to be lavish, but never expect fresh roses, lilies, holy, fruit, etc., used as tree deocorations that are changed weekly all through December. They have a new theme each year and this year's was "all thing fresh and bright" (or words to that effect) picked out by the First Lady. It would sure be fun to be a White House florist with no apparent budget to stay within.

 

Jean

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