As I’ve noted before, I’m rather a fan of yard Kitsch. (As long as its in other people’s yards, not mine and not my next door neighbors. [- It’s more of an, ‘admire from afar’ appreciation.])
So, it was with some enjoyment that I share this house. Every year, it’s good for some amusement. But finally, this year, we pulled over and took a couple of quick pics.
On an initial, quick review, one might find pleasure in the overall random color chaos. But if we zoom in, and pan around, we’ll see some real gems.
Starting on the left, there is a standard Santa alongside what appears to be a gingerbread house with a Santa hat wearing ginger man popping out of the chimney. Next to this is a gingerbread princess. Surrounding the princess are a large candy cane, a small candy cane, a couple of cut-out gingerbread me, an American flag and a nutcracker.
Panning right, we see some sort of stair critter peering from a melting snow mound. I can’t tell what species, but whatever it is, I think it has an eating disorder. I suspect that this is not a seasonal decoration, but intended as a year-round improvement to the yard aesthetic.
Tucked along the porch edge is a bright blue Eeyore with one blue hoof on the head of what appears to be a rabbit holding a lamp (or the glass elevator from Willy Wonka). And if you look in the left corner of this image, in front of the mini-stone bird bath, there appears to be a Mickey or Mini Mouse face-planted in the mulch.
As we continue our journey along the bedding, we find a small collection of Disney Dwarves and a Snow White (whose head is covered under a garbage bag). I wonder if all the dwarves are there, but some are hidden beneath the garbage. In front of the dwarves is a Pepsi can.
Panning further back, and up the fence, we see two Disney decorative plates: a Tinker Bell and a Beauty (of the Beast fame.) I suspect (or hope), that they are not official Disney merchandise given the fact that they are extra garish.
Now, let’s zoom out a bit to appreciate the right side of the image more holistically.
The top windows of the house have 3 light-up plastic wreathes. The porch, the tree, and part of the sidewalk path are garnished with different sized lights.
Tucked on the porch are colorful remnants: some decorations that did not make the cut. One wonders what the criteria is for failing.
Framing the stairs are two large ‘Noel’ candles and a rather puffy candy-cane.
An inflatable Micky monitors the sidewalk and a maliciously grinning Grinch closely inspects the dormant grass in front of the dirty snow. To the right of the Grinch is a stray garbage bag that might be suffocating some additional, unseen dwarves.
To the far right, we see a light-up faux pine tree scaffolding, topped with a star. Behind the tree is a bench painted with the American flag.
Now, let’s zoom back in to the centerpiece…
The pièce de résistance is the plastic Nativity scene which includes an orange cow; a porcelain-white (and yet-somehow middle-eastern) Mary (who seems to be staring into the void, contemplating her life choices); a pink shawed Joseph; two wise-men and a donkey with alien eyes kneeling in reverence over a cradle-less baby Princess Leah (who apparently lights up but is currently unplugged).
Behind all, the gingerbread man seems really delighted at having knocked out the third wise-man who lies supine behind Mary.
It delights me to think of the owner putting down the last of the decorations: the final touches. Standing back, hand on hips, a pleased smile and a knowing gleam in the eye. ‘There. That’s it!‘
I hope they had fun decorating, because I, at least, had fun looking at the decorations.
Happy New Year.
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